What BMW Z4 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See BMW Z4 safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 115 |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 165 |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 242 |
| 2016 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116 |
| 2013 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 145 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 141 |
| 2011 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 133 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 160 |
The vehicle systems named most often in BMW Z4 complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
There is a strong chemical smell when the AC is turned on and the system is loosing refrigerant. There is a common issue on these cars of premature evaporative core corrosion.
The engine starter failed on my 2020 BMW Z4 M40i. The vehicle experienced starting failures and the repair shop diagnosed a faulty/shorted engine starter assembly. The symptoms and component failure match the exact defect description of active safety recalls NHTSA 24V-576 and 25V-636 (Starter Motor Fire Risk due to electrical short circuit/overheating). However, when checking my specific 17-digit VIN, the manufacturer has excluded my vehicle from the recall population. Because this is an identical component failure that poses a severe vehicle fire and safety hazard, I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate a recall expansion to include my vehicle's production batch. I have retained the dia…
The contact owns a 2010 BMW Z4. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH when attempting to depress the accelerator pedal the vehicle decrease speed independently. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an dealer where it was diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed him there are no recalls. The approximate failure mileage was 161,000.
ON 3 APRIL 2026 I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 BMW Z4 SDRIVE 30I E89 N52K (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THAT HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT, SUDDENLY A STEERING ASSISTANCE MALFUNCTION TROUBLE LIGHT APPEARED AND I LOST ALL ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT!! THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL RETURNED. ON APRIL 4 I LOST THE STEERING CONTROL AGAIN AND TOOK IT TO A BMW REPAIR SHOP. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE EPS (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CONTROL). UPON INVESTIGATION, A SPECIFIC RECALL EXISTS FOR 2012 BMW Z4 REGARDING THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) SYSTEM. (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #12V302000: ELECTRIC POWER STEERING C…
Car hesitate/stutters when cold and you try to accelerate from a standstill with partial throttle. No engine codes are set. BMW could not duplicate issue.
Engine starter safety recall came out in September 2025, with no remedy or parts existing for fixing it. 5 months later, and no timeframe is provided for a remedy. This is a major fire risk given the amount of rain now that could corrode the starter and lead to a fire.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW Z4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
My 2015 BMW Z4 vehicle has a coolant pump safety recall. It reportedly could cause a short circuit and thermal event or fire. I bought the vehicle while living elsewhere and am now in a small community with 4 major automobile dealers but not BMW. The nearest BMW dealer is about 220 miles away. I contacted that dealer. The service rep said it is 1.5-2 day repair and a loaner vehicle may be available. The repair time sounds wrong but is what she said. She said the dealership would not work with any facility close to me to make the repair so I must drive the 440 plus round trip miles for BMW dealer repair. Repair of 1.5 to 2 days means I would either need lodging and waste least 2-3 days of my…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, Vehicle test, and/or Programmingprocedure- the BMW Footwell Module (FRM) may become unresponsive. As a result, one or more of the following vehicle electric system-related issues may occur: Headlights including the high beams, and/or taillights are not turning on or off Interior lights are not turning on Turn indicators are not working Instrument cluster indicator lights stay on The IHKA climate control system is not working Power windows are not working Folding mirrors are not working, and/or a Functional remote-contro
Fastening Elements Return
When getting in or out of the vehicle, a groaning noise can be heard from the opening (aperture) in the seat backrest. The noise may be heard from one or both of the front seats.
The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 186,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, Vehicle test, and/or Programming procedure- the BMW Footwell Module (FRM) may become unresponsive. As a result, one or more of the following vehicle electric system-related issues may occur: Headlights including the high beams, and/or taillights are not turning on or off Interior lights are not turning on Turn indicators are not working Instrument cluster indicator lights stay on The IHKA climate control system is not working Power windows are not working Folding mirrors are not working, and/or a Functional remote-contr
When turning the steering wheel while stationary or when driving on uneven roads; cracking, creaking, or knocking noises may be heard.
Customers may report issues with the alarm system not functioning correctly. These concerns may includeone or more of the following: Missing confirmation sound (function cannot be selected or deselected in the Central InformationDisplay (CID) menu). Alarm system deactivated (interior mirror light off). Alarm does not function. DWA LED without function after locking (no flashing/flashing). Acoustic acknowledgement is unavailable or cannot be enabled/disabled via the CID menu underdoors/windows. Tilt alarm sensor âSINEâ cannot be reached via diagnostics.
It was found that the rubber mounts of the wishbone or the tension strut were not correctly pressed in due to a manufacturing fault at the supplier's end. This can lead to an acoustic abnormality in the vehicle.
When driving over an uneven road surface, a âthumpingâ noise can be heard from the front axle. Seeattached video V 31 01 26. Under certain weather conditions, a âgroaningâ noise may be heard during steering movements
When performing a vehicle test, diagnostic trouble code â 8013FE Software run time errorâ is found in theIHKA module. If this fault is set for two consecutive life cycles, it will turn on the check engine light on vehicles with an I-level lower than 24-11-570. This fault memory entry does not cause an impairment of functionality of the automatic air conditioningsystem.
Coolant is leaking from the oil filter housing.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in imprope
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: electrical system, engine and engine cooling, engine. 97 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
