Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the airbags, electrical, and acceleration and cruise control. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023One recall on this model year told owners to stop driving until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2023 BMW iX: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 BMW iX. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | AWD | 324 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 BMW iX, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
A driver airbag that may not deploy dominates these reports, and most describe a recall repair stalled by a parts shortage. Dealers and BMW customer service tell owners it will be weeks to months before replacement airbags arrive. Some have waited 3+ months. People leasing the car say they cannot return it, buy it out, or sell it while the repair is still open. One report describes an airbag fault message at startup around 6,000 miles. In one crash at about 2,000 miles, the airbags did not deploy.
The car suddenly loses motive power while driving. Reports describe shutdowns on the freeway and at about 35 mph. One driver lost power steering and power brakes, and another saw a "Malfunction, Pull Over" message. A dealer blamed one failure at 30 miles on an undetermined high-voltage battery fault. Other complaints describe an Emergency Call System warning plus a chemical burning smell, which a dealer linked to an overheating control module. Another describes a crash from unintended movement, after which BMW said it found no defect.
Unintended acceleration while parking appears in all 3 complaints, and every one ended in a crash. Injuries reported include whiplash and neck pain. Drivers say the car surges forward at low speed, about 5 mph in one case. It happens right after shifting into drive or while easing into a space, and the car hits a building or other vehicles. One incident happened in B mode. None of the reports names a confirmed cause, and one owner expects BMW to blame driver error.
The car either drops into neutral with a drivetrain fault message or moves when it should stay put. In one report, the car will not go back into drive even after a restart. In the other, a car the driver believed was in park accelerates over a curb and sidewalk into a storefront while passengers are getting out. The airbags do not deploy and the hazard lights do not come on. Only 2 complaints are on file, but both describe the driver losing control of the car's movement.
A "steering effort has changed" warning appears in one report. That owner says many other iX drivers have seen the same warning and had the steering rack replaced by the dealer. A second report describes a full shutdown in the middle of the road that leaves the driver unable to accelerate, brake, or steer to the side. The dealer blamed the Combined Charging Unit, and the car stayed at the dealer for a long time. Only 2 complaints are on file.
Excerpts from complaints iX owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The dealer says it will be many weeks to months until they have replacement airbags available. I had a phone call with BMW USA customer service and they say the same thing. It is not a timely repair. I want to return car from lease but BMW refuses to accept it. I also cannot buy car off lease to sell to someone else. I hope NHTSA will require BMW to take back this unsafe car because they cannot make timely repair. Thank you.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
Air bag may not deploy on drivers side causing potential death to a driver that is already a chronic neck pain, poising a worse threat to the driver. I bought a car that I thought was safe and had air bags. The letter says remedy is unavailable and they can't tell me when it will be. The car has been in the shop with multiple problems and shut downs as well.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
Car suddenly went into neutral and a drivetrain fault error message popped up. Unable to set to drive to continue driving. Powered off car and back on and same error message.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 3 iX years we cover, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the second model year of the iX's first generation (2022 on).
BMW updated the iX for 2026, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2026 (not on a 2023)
Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive50, iX M60, 2022 i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage, resulting in an electrical short-circuit.
Risk: A short-circuit in a high voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive or charge their vehicles, and to park outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 23, 2022. A second letter will be mailed when remedy parts become available. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Owners will also be contacted by phone.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2025 i4, 2022-2024 IX, 2023-2024 I7, and 2024 I5 vehicles. The electric drive motor software may shut down the high-voltage system, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: The electric drive motor software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 5, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2025 IX, 2023-2024 I7, and 2022-2023 i4 vehicles. The high-voltage battery cell modules may not have been assembled properly, resulting in stress on the module frame and possible module failure.
Risk: Battery module failure may lead to a shutdown of the high-voltage system which can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, module failure increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace specific high-voltage battery cell modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed September 11, 2025. Another notice will be sent once the remedy becomes available, anticipated December 31, 2025Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive50, iX M60, i4 eDrive40, i4 M50, and 2023 i760 xDrive hybrid electric vehicles. The high voltage battery combined charging unit (CCU) may not have been manufactured correctly, resulting in improperly connected and/or assembled components inside the CCU.
Risk: An improperly connected or assembled CCU can interrupt electrical power while driving and result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery combined charging unit (CCU), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 iX xDrive50 and iX M60 vehicles. The driver may unintentionally reactivate the cruise control system while turning the steering wheel at low speeds, resulting in a sudden increase of vehicle speed.
Risk: A sudden increase in vehicle speed can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 iX xDrive50 and 2023 i4 eDrive35, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 Hybrid Electric vehicles. The high voltage battery cell monitoring circuit may have improperly secured electrical connections which can result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery cell monitoring circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60 and 2022-2023 X1 xDrive28i vehicles. The front driver's air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly and may not deploy as intended during a crash.
Risk: A driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 i4 eDrive40 and iX xDrive50 electric vehicles. During vehicle start-up, the artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault and fail to generate the external pedestrian warning sound. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.".
Risk: Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the external artificial sound generator software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60, i4 eDrive35, i4 eDrive40, i4 M50, and 2023 i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The high voltage battery electronic control unit (ECU) software may cause an interruption of electrical power.
Risk: An interruption of electrical power may result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the high voltage battery ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one 2023 iX M60 hybrid electric vehicle. The transmission final drive gear in the electric drive unit may have an improperly manufactured weld seam.
Risk: The gear weld seam could break, resulting in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: A dealer will replace the electric drive unit, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on November 30, 2022. The owner notification letter is expected to be mailed November 28, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60, 2022 i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles equipped with hybrid electric powertrains. While in Valet Parking Mode, the Central Information Display (CID) may not display critical safety information, such as warning messages and/or warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays.".
Risk: A display that does not show critical information, such as warning messages and/or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the display's head unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX XDrive50, and iX M60 vehicles. The air bag malfunction indicator light and display message may not illuminate in the event of a problem with the air bag control or pedestrian protection systems, due to incorrect software.
Risk: An air bag malfunction indicator light that fails to warn the driver of a problem increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Cars shoppers compare with the BMW iX, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
