BMW Z4 complaints by model year
1,280 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2009 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 2006 | 91 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2005 | 190 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 411 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2003 | 414 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2002 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2011–2022. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
BMW Z4 recalls (28)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Z4 model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V056000 | Jan 30, 2026 | Starter Motor May Overheat and Cause a Fire | 2021, 2022 | 32.2% |
| 25V636000 | Sep 23, 2025 | Engine Starter May Corrode and Overheat | 2019–2022 | 60.3% |
| 24V608000 | Aug 13, 2024 | Water Pump Connector May Short Circuit | 2012–2016 | 38.8% |
| 23V821000 | Dec 6, 2023 | Transmission Gears May Seize | 2023 | 97.3% |
| 23V707000 | Oct 20, 2023 | Camshaft Timing Bolts May Loosen Causing Stall | 2010, 2011 | 35.9% |
| 23V099000 | Feb 17, 2023 | Windows May Close Without Key Present/FMVSS 118 | 2022, 2023 | 99.3% |
| 22V119000 | Mar 2, 2022 | PCV Heater May Short Circuit | 2006–2011 | 35.8% |
| 21V598000 | Aug 2, 2021 | Loss of Braking Assist | 2019, 2020, 2021 | 95.9% |
| 21V554000 | Jul 21, 2021 | Passenger Seat Belt Malfunction/FMVSS 208 | 2021 | 98.8% |
| 20V700000 | Nov 12, 2020 | Fuel Tank Weld May Fail | 2020, 2021 | 83.7% |
| 20V516000 | Aug 27, 2020 | Horizontal Headlamp Adjustment Possible/FMVSS 108 | 2019, 2020 | 95% |
| 20V355000 | Jun 15, 2020 | Steering Gear Tie Rods May Become Damaged | 2019 | 99.3% |
| 19V850000 | Nov 27, 2019 | Loss of Headlight Function | 2020 | 88.5% |
| 19V732000 | Oct 15, 2019 | Counterbalance Shaft May Loosen | 2019 | 99.1% |
| 19V684000 | Sep 27, 2019 | No Back-Up Camera Display Image/FMVSS 111 | 2019, 2020 | 96.6% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
BMW Z4 FAQ
How many recalls has the BMW Z4 had?
NHTSA lists 28 recall campaigns that cover at least one BMW Z4 model year from 2002 to 2022. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which BMW Z4 year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2005 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (190) and the 2021 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common BMW Z4 problems?
Across the 2011–2022 model years, owners most often name the electrical system, steering, engine in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the BMW Z4 get?
EPA rates the 2023 BMW Z4 at 26 to 28 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.