BMW i4 Complaints

79 consumer complaints on file.

#11750807July 16, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
On July 4th, 2026 we were driving home in a storm. The windshield wipers failed while in the automatic setting, completely shutting off, creating a safety hazard. We pulled to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. Afther the reboot they had resarted, but agian failed within ten minutes. We pulled over again giving the car more time to cool/reset and contacted BMWs internal SOS service. They could not hear due to the rain coming down on the car. Eventually we were able to proceed home with the wipers on a low setting. We took the vehicle to the dealership. They were unable to reproduce the defect, calling it an anomally in one video. The BMW techs are the only one to have inspected the vehicle. As for warnings, there were none. It was just a system failure mid-storm with no proceeded or forwarned error codes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742828June 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Sunroof spontaneously exploded with no sign of impact
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741305June 1, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
As I was easing my 2024 BMW i4 xDrive40 onto Church Street from a cross street on May 11, 2026, my car suddenly accelerated and crashed into the car in front of me. The acceleration was "un-commanded." The accident occured a bit before 2:20 pm. Driving conditions were ideal. I had the car in Eco Mode, and I was using one-pedal driving (braking when one eases up on the accelerator pedal). When the car becan accelerating. I believe that I had time to depress the brakes, but it was to no avail. There were no reportable injuries and no police report. My car has automatic emergency braking, and on two separate occasions the car braked suddenly when "it" thought that I was approaching a car to quickly. It did not function in this instance to stop my car from crashing into the car in front of me. I had never previously seen the car behave like this. I had owned the car since its initial purchase in August of 2024.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740342May 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The dashboard turn signal indicators are blocked by the steering wheel unless I adjust the steering wheel to a very high position that makes driving unsafe. When the turn signals are on, there is no clicking noise like many cars have. I suggest that BMW update the vehicle software to allow the driver to adjust the location of the turn signal indicators within the digital dash display, or also include turn signal indicators in the heads-up display.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739767May 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
While driving my 2023 BMW i4, the vehicle suddenly displayed multiple drivetrain and chassis malfunction warnings shortly after charging the vehicle at a ChargePoint station. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power/propulsion while driving, creating a serious safety concern. After stopping, the vehicle began rolling backward unexpectedly and several systems appeared to malfunction. The center display/screens became partially or fully unresponsive/blank and multiple warning messages appeared simultaneously. Due to the loss of propulsion and safety concerns, CHP assistance was required to safely move the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was later towed to BMW service for inspection and diagnosis. I am concerned this may involve a failure related to the electrical system, high-voltage battery system, propulsion system, drivetrain, or vehicle software. The sudden loss of power while operating the vehicle created a dangerous driving condition. The vehicle had approximately 76,000 miles at the time of the incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736985May 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
am writing to report an incident involving my vehicle. While entering my driveway, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated and did not recognize that the garage door was closed. As a result, the vehicle collided with the closed garage door and subsequently struck the structural beam on the wall near the garage entrance. The impact was significant, and all six airbags deployed. At the time of the incident, I was driving, and my teenage son was seated in the front passenger seat. Both of us sustained minor injuries. However, the incident resulted in substantial damage to both the vehicle and the garage/property.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11735391May 3, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving on frewway in HOV lane next to tall concrete center barrier, side collision mitigation system suddenly began to aggressively and continuously jerk steering right and left. After about 10-20 seconds this caused loss of control, with vehicle turning around 180 degrees and, during the spin, impacting the center concrete wall, causing deployment of all airbags. Traffic was very heavy, and although there were no injuries or collisons with other vehicles, the loss of control was life-threatening. This route was driven previously under exactly the same conditions (clear, dry day in HOV lane) with no problem more than 20 times. This problem occurred about two weeks after the latest BMW software update. BMW was informed and what they might do is unknown.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731151April 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On [XXX], while driving on a public highway, the vehicle shut off and came to a complete stop as I was going around a roundabout. I was in the inside lane, had just finished charging in Yuma, Az., and was just about to get back on the freeway heading back into California. Thankfully, there was no one behind me at that moment and I was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. After arriving at my destination in Winterhaven, CA, I later saw that I had two missed calls from BMW Roadside Assistance. They called to check on my welfare as, unbeknownst to me, the vehicle sent out an alert as a result of the incident. 12/30/2023, I took the vehicle to BMW of San Diego (where I leased the car from) regarding the above mentioned incident as well as repeated Drivetrain Malfunction warnings. The vehicle had 43,770 miles on it. By 1/12/2024, the dealership informed me they could not replicate the problem, and what I found most alarming, was they could find no evidence that it ever happened. I asked if they could promise me it would not happen again, they could not. This caused me great fear for myself and for others. All they could offer was that I could file a claim with BMW of North America, which I did that same day. It was not until 3/19/2024 that BMW notified me they rejected my claim. On [XXX], as I was returning home from El Centro, CA, I received a warning message, "URGENT HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM CHECK UP" and directing me to the nearest service center. Again, I took the vehicle to BMW of SD, stopping to charge along the way, because the range was dropping rapidly. The mileage was 95,074, still under warranty. Again, they found nothing and made me take the car back. Ultimately, on [XXX], another alert "Range reduced: Limited charging possible. Have problem checked by the nearest service center." At BMW of El Cajon I was told that Cell Module #2 had failed and would need to be replaced, but now the car was out of warranty and my cost would be $23,366. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727132March 25, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I had a rear-end collision on [XXX}. The car was scheduled for repair on 3/19/2026. On [XXX] at ~70,000 miles, my 2024 BMW i4 eDrive35 (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced a drivetrain malfunction with reduced speed. The dealership diagnosed an internally faulty A/C compressor with metal shavings contaminating the system and recommended replacement of the compressor, condenser, chiller, expansion valve, and system flush. BMW denied goodwill repair and my insurance claim was also denied. I have filed a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and request NHTSA document and investigate this defect due to potential safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723423March 10, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The vehicle experienced two sudden and complete losses of power, on December 29, 2025, and again on February 18, 2026. In both instances, the vehicle became inoperable while in motion and required towing. These failures created hazardous roadside situations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722997March 9, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am reporting a recurring, catastrophic suspension defect in my 2023 BMW i4 eDrive40 that results in life-threatening rear tire failure. Despite adhering to all maintenance schedules, the vehicle's rear axle geometry fails to maintain stability, leading to extreme, accelerated inner-tread wear while the center and outer tread remains healthy. Timeline of Events: Initial Incident 5/4/2025 (21,493 miles): Suffered a sudden rear tire blowout while driving due to the inner tire wall wearing down to the metal cords. The dealer (BMW of Fort Lauderdale) performed an alignment and replaced the tires on my expense. Recurring Failure 3/6/2026 (35,200 miles): Less than 14,000 miles after the dealer-certified alignment, the new rear tires have reached a catastrophic state. The inner shoulders are completely bald (2.7mm inner vs 4.8mm outer), exposing the safety protector and creating an imminent risk of a second high-speed blowout. Manufacturer Response: The authorized dealer inspected the vehicle on 3/9/26 and stated the "alignment is within factory specifications," yet they refused to address why a vehicle "in spec" is destroying safety-critical components in under 14k miles. This indicates either a fundamental design flaw in the suspension components (e.g., bushings or control arms unable to support EV weight/torque) or defective factory alignment parameters provided by BMW for this specific model. Safety Hazard & Lack of Warning: This defect is a "silent killer." The failure occurs on the innermost edge of the tire, which is physically obscured by the vehicle’s body and cannot be seen during a standard walk-around. Because this EV has no regular service intervals (like oil changes), there is no professional opportunity to inspect the inner tires. A driver has no way to predict or diagnose this before a sudden, high-speed blowout occurs. BMW claims the car is "within spec," which indicates a fundamental design flaw that makes the vehicle un-roadworthy and dangerous
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720715February 26, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2024 BMW I4. The contact stated that while driving 25-50 MPH in the intended lane, the vehicle vibrated and was drifting out of the intended lane. The contact was able to correct the vehicle back into the intended lane. Additionally, the contact stated while driving and approaching a wall or a gate, the Forward Collision Avoidance front sensors failed to function as intended and did not warn the contact of a potential crash. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle jerked forward. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while shifting into park(P). Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's side door handle required to be pulled several times for the door to open as intended, and the parking brake failed to disengage as intended on one occasion. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no issue was found; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720407February 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving about 30 mph when I was prompted with the following error message, “Drive train fault, restart not possible, High Voltage Battery,” I was able to drive home which was about 1 mile away. I drove the car home, parked it and turned it off for 45 minutes then I attempted to turn it on but was unable to and continued to receive the same message. Side note, this vehicle was purchased from BMW Beverly Hills on 1/25/26 and not a month went by before I ran into this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713771January 27, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving on the freeway. The sun shade was closed but had it been open, the glass would have entered the cabin and potential for harm. In addition, the loud bang was a distraction and had there been more heavy traffic there was potential for accident. There was no identified object that hit the sunroof. The car was taken to the dealership for repair and inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707369December 28, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Crashed my car because brakes failed.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706959December 24, 2025
POWER TRAIN
On [XXX] in Columbia SC, my vehicle reported a drivetrain failure at approximately 1800 and advised me to pullover immediately and contact roadside assistance. I promptly parked in the safest space I could approximately within 50 yards of receiving the alert. The vehicle would no longer move once parked to include neutral. BMW roadside assistance took 48 hours to pick up and transport the vehicle to my dealer in Florence SC. I was informed of a recall on the vehicle by the dealership and advised they would not be able to diagnose and repair until they obtained a part from another dealer that allowed them to put it into neutral. Very few updates were provided by the dealership. On 23 December I was informed the vehicle was repaired and ready. I was informed the problem was with the 12 volt battery. The battery was not replaced as it was deemed to be functioning properly after the computer system was updated. I picked up the vehicle on [XXX] with my daughter to drive it 2 miles to our home. 1.5 mile after leaving the dealership the warning came on again causing my daughter to not be able to move the vehicle out of the road at an intersection. The car could not be put into neutral to move it. BMW roadside assistance informed it would be 48 hours before the vehicle could be towed despite me telling them that it was in the flow of traffic. They advised me to locate a tow truck and I would be reimbursed. I contacted USAA roadside and they were able to have a tow truck to the vehicle 3 hours after the failure. I consider this failure to be very dangerous as the vehicle cannot be placed into neutral to move it out of the flow of traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705991December 18, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While merging onto an interstate at speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and came to a complete stop in an active traffic lane. Approximately six weeks earlier, abnormal drivetrain behavior (hesitation and torque interruption) was reported to the dealer. The dealer attributed the issue to tires and recommended tire replacement. No drivetrain diagnostics were performed. Immediately following the incident, a drivetrain malfunction warning occurred. BMW remotely restricted vehicle operation to allow limited driving back to my residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer. BMW subsequently confirmed catastrophic electric motor failure requiring full motor replacement. The incident created an immediate risk of collision with surrounding traffic and represents a serious safety defect involving unexpected deceleration and loss of propulsion.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705500December 17, 2025
POWER TRAIN
•August of 2023: BMW i4 leased from BMW of Gwinnet place. During the sales process, the customer was assured that BMW has many years of expertise in electric vehicles. Trade in vehicle valued for $11,000 as a downpayment. •July 25, 2025: Customer notified of a recall for BMW i4. During interactions with BMW of Gwinnet sales team, customer was assured that this is a “simple programming fix”. Vehicle dropped with service department on the following Monday for recall fix. •October 11, 2025: First Powertrain failure message received while operating the vehicle, vehicle delivered to service department the same day. BMW Gwinnett service team was prompt and accommodating with a loaner vehicle. oService technician notified customer that he depended on BMW Germany to troubleshoot and fix the car. oCar returned to customer on October 29. When asked if the electrical power cells were tested the answer from service technician was negative. •October 31, 2025: Second alert on i4 dashboard “Possible Drive Train”. Message disappeared on its own but certainly does not make customers feel safe driving the vehicle. oExchanged text messages with service technician on November 3. According to text, BMW Gwinnet service manager instructed customer to keep driving the car “to see if the warning light comes back on”. •November 17, 2025: Third message, stating “drive carefully, drive train fault”. Customer delivered vehicle to BMW Gwinnet service department for the third time in 4 months. Vehicle has been with the dealer ever since. Attempt to chance controlling unit did not work. BMW NA denied request for trade assistance, car is still at the dealership as of 12/17/25.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11700075November 18, 2025
POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a recurring safety issue with my 2023 BMW i4 (VIN: [XXX] ), currently at 28,426 miles. The vehicle has experienced three separate incidents of unexpected and complete loss of power while driving. The first incident occurred in March 2025. The vehicle suddenly lost all propulsion without warning and came to an immediate hard stop. I was later informed this was related to a wheel-positioning sensor. The second incident occurred in October 2025. I had been told that a recall software update would resolve the problem, but the vehicle experienced another loss of power while in motion, showing the issue was not corrected. The third and most concerning incident occurred in November 2025. Multiple error messages appeared instructing me to stop driving immediately, and the vehicle again lost power while moving. A complete loss of propulsion in traffic—especially while merging or pulling into a roadway—creates a severe safety hazard because I am unable to move the vehicle out of the way of oncoming traffic. This puts both myself and other drivers at risk. BMW has acknowledged awareness of issues related to these systems during previous service visits, but the defect continues to occur despite attempted repairs and software updates. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this matter, as repeated power-loss events pose a significant safety risk that could lead to crashes, injuries, or fatalities. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11699707November 16, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof of my BMW i4 exploded and shattered while I was driving under light rain on 45-mph road. The explosion was very loud and scary. Luckily sunroof sliding shade was closed otherwise shattered glass will fall inside of car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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