BMW Z4 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 1,271 consumer complaints across the 15 model years of the BMW Z4 (2003–2020) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 414. Across all years, the part named most often is steering (982 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Z4 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | 3,000 | 6 | 165 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 5 | 200 | 6 | 242 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 5 | 11,212 | 1 | 80 | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 7 | 26,000 | 3 | 116 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 7 | 38,650 | 3 | 145 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 5 | 65,900 | 4 | 141 | — | Not enough data |
| 2011 | 46 | 36,000 | 6 | 133 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2010 | 10 | 8,066 | 5 | 161 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 22 | 17,500 | 4 | 138 | — | Falling |
| 2008 | 19 | 60,000 | 2 | 34 | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 33 | 47,000 | 2 | 46 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 91 | 54,000 | 2 | 51 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 191 | 46,500 | 0 | 43 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 411 | 47,000 | 1 | 39 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 414 | 41,575 | 4 | 35 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Steering982 76%
- Air bags92 7.2%
- Electrical system71 5.5%
- Engine cooling42 3.3%
- Engine35 2.7%
- Wheels24 1.9%
- Brakes20 1.6%
- Body and structure18 1.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2012: “Noticed whining noise from engine although it drives normally. Bmw dealer confirms timing chain needs replacement. My car is at 8 years, 66k miles - just over the 7/70 warranty extension for timing chain. I understand there is a class action lawsuit still pending on this known issue. It has been dealership serviced since it was purchased with full records.”
NHTSA complaint #11350908, filed 2020-08, 65,900 miles2004: “Power steering is intermittent. Almost never works when first started but after driving for 20-30 minutes, if I turn the car off and back on again, it works and the dash light goes out. I can even do it while driving, shifting to neutral, turn car off and then back on and the power steering comes back on. Very frustrating to drive like this ... And dangerous too!”
NHTSA complaint #11298946, filed 2020-01, 130,000 miles2006: “Steering appears to be sticking or staying at a certain point in the steering radius. I almost veered into oncoming interstate traffic. I compensated immediately, but it released its stick and turn to much and almost veered into traffic I was in. Very scary, very dangerous. There was a possibility of much injury or death because of this issue. Bad”
NHTSA complaint #11192705, filed 2019-03, 70,500 milesOther BMW models
3,165 complaintsBMW 328I
2,576 complaintsBMW X3
2,016 complaintsBMW 325I
1,377 complaintsBMW 3 Series
832 complaintsBMW 528I
830 complaintsBMW 330I
813 complaintsBMW 335I
808 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology