BMW i4 Complaints (2023)

44 consumer complaints on file.

#11511840March 14, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Our BMW i4 is equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay. CarPlay gets its geo-location (ie, GPS) data from the car. Since CarPlay is also an extension of your iPhone, the phone also is getting its GPS data from the car. In some situations, the car sends the wrong GPS data to CarPlay, and then all the mapping applications in CarPlay (and on your phone) have the wrong location. When this happens, the car is shown way off course, and the navigation app starts giving you rerouting instructions to get you back on course. Of course, these instruction are nonsensical and the locations are sometimes comical -- we live near a body of water, and the car is often shown driving through the water. This can only be corrected by rebooting the cars iDrive system or by disconnecting your phone completely from the car. This is a safety issue for two reasons. First the car gives you erroneous navigation instructions which can confuse you and potentially lead to an accident. But more importantly, the car is giving your phone the incorrect geo-location. This means that when you look at any map on your phone it shows you in the wrong the location. Modern iPhones have an SOS feature. If your car crashes, it will call 911 and relay your location. However, it will send the *wrong* location because it only knows what the car is telling it. This problem has been seen in several different BMW models; most often with cars that have iDrive 8. Based on BMW owner community forums, BMW dealers were made aware of the problem as long ago as June 2022. BMW USA has acknowledged the problem, and if pressed will say "we are working on a resolution" but refuse to give a timeframe for a fix. In the meantime, they say "don't use CarPlay maps". But of course that doesn't address the phone GPS / SOS issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11511830March 14, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The on-board GPS sends incorrect information to Apple CarPlay devices, including both location and dead reckoning. This means that any application on the phone--including SOS and 911 calls—sends inaccurate location information when this is occurring. It is intermittent but acknowledged by BMW as an issue. Since CarPlay specifications for wireless CarPlay note that all GNSS information comes from the car to the phone, this is 100% a BMW issue (although they point to Apple). There are reports this happens with Android Auto, as well. There are also reports of this impacting the location BMW thinks the car has, including the My BMW app, which may also impact BMW's emergency services (untested by me for obvious reasons).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509728March 1, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2023 BMW I4. The contact stated while turning into a parking space, the vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration and crashed into a post and then into a wall. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that there were no injuries sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,098.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11504941February 1, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On December 9, 2022, I tried to start my car in my garage. The car would not start..The dash read stop auto train failure contact roadside assistance. After calling my car salesman who told me I had to contact roadside assistance myself, I did so. Roadside assistance informed me they were unable to diagnose/correct the problem, and called a tow truck. The car was towed to dealership that day and has been on the lot ever since. After many consultations with the BMW people in Germany, the analysis was that the cell monitoring circuit module needed to be replaced and the replacement part is scheduled to arrive Mid-March, 2023.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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