BMW Z4

Where it stands out against its peers

• Electrical system: more complaints than 98% of 2014 cars — 43% of its 21 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 17%.
• Engine and engine cooling: more complaints than 99% of 2014 cars — 29% of its 21 complaints, where an ordinary 2014 car has 2%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

37% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 12V302000

  SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ASSISTANCE MAY INCREASE THE STEERING EFFORT REQUIRED TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF A VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

  BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING ASSISTANCE MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING JULY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 1-800-525-7417.

• 13V454000

  A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

• 14V627000

  A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

• 19V684000

  The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

• 19V732000

  If the counterbalance shaft loosens, severe engine damage could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

• 19V850000

  Headlight failure can reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlight control units, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

• 20V355000

  A damaged or fractured tie rod may affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  BMW and Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear tie rods, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

• 20V516000

  Should the headlamps be adjusted horizontally, there could be increased glare and reduced visibility for oncoming drivers, or reduced visibility for the vehicle operator, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlamp vertical and horizontal adjustment plugs, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. BMW owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

8 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Loss of power assist braking

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2013, closed October 2013.

  Became recall 13V454000.

• Sticky Steering

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2010, closed June 2011.

• Bmw airbag light illumination

  Engineering analysis, opened January 2008, closed December 2008.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

BMW filed 36 bulletins about the 2023 Z4.

• Electrical system: 7
• Equipment: 7
• Steering: 6
• Structure: 3
• Engine: 2
• Fuel system, gasoline: 2
• Visibility: 2
• Engine and engine cooling: 1
• Exterior lighting: 1
• Power train: 1
• Other: 4

• 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. · May 2026
• When driving over an uneven road surface, a “thumping” noise can be heard from the front axle. Seeattached video V 31 01 26. Under certain weather conditions, a “groaning” noise may be heard during… · February 2026
• When turning the steering wheel while stationary or when driving on uneven roads; cracking, creaking, or knocking noises may be heard. · August 2025
• After prolonged straight-ahead driving (e.g. highway driving), there may be a temporary, slightly noticeable increase in steering forces when steering out of the steering wheel center position. This… · May 2025
• While driving on an uneven road, a “clicking”sound is heard from the front bow/cowl panelarea of the convertible top. · April 2025
• The customer may hear an intermittent “humming” or “foghorn” type sound in vehicle. It sounds like a lowhum that last for only a few seconds. This can occur with the engine operating or may be heard… · March 2025
• The convertible top does not open or close. · January 2025
• When turning the steering wheel while stationary or when driving on uneven roads; cracking, creaking, or knocking noises may be heard. · November 2024

28 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.