2018 BMW 2 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 3 of 4 complaints (75%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 11 in 2017 to 4 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,500 | 2,750–3,500 | 2,750–3,500 | 2,750–3,100 | 2,850–3,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–27 | 22–28 | 22–28 | 25–28 | 24–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–23 / 26–35 | 19–24 / 28–35 | 18–24 / 27–35 | 21–24 / 32–35 | 21–24 / 31–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 330–410 | 318–401 | 318–411 | 318–356 | 324–361 | |
| Complaints filed | 18 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 11 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 2 Series have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2018 BMW 2 Series get?
EPA rates it 22–28 MPG combined across 11 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 BMW 2 Series?
EPA estimates $2,750–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
EPA-Rated Configurations (11)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,750 (low) | 318 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 34 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 324 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 23 mpg | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 333 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 362 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 19 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 401 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 365 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 362 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 18 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 411 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 365 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 24 mpg (high) | 33 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,850 | 325 g/mi |
Show 1 more configuration
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 21 mpg | 32 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 360 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · Campaign 18V465000 · Jul 17, 2018
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.
Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL · Campaign 17V719000 · Nov 17, 2017
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2, and X3 xDrive 30i SAV vehicles. These vehicles may have an error in the software for the instrument panel, causing the display to not properly illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
Consequence: If the display does not illuminate during start up or does not illuminate various control and warning symbols while driving, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.