RoadVitals

2016 BMW M4 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Dec 8, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 BMW M4, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine929.0%
  • Suspension516.1%
  • Fuel system412.9%
  • Brakes13.2%
  • Interior & seats13.2%
  • Electrical13.2%
  • Steering13.2%
  • Heating & air conditioning13.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DIAGNOSED WITH COOLING SYSTEM ISSUE, 2ND COOLING SYSTEM DRY/LOW OR LEAKING, TRANSMISSION ISSUE, CODE 537, POWER TRAIN ISSUE, CAR IS QUICK SHIFTING AND SKIPPING FROM 5TH TO 7TH GEAR WITH A BUZZING SOUND, AND WITHOUT A DROP IN POWER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 5 MONTHS AGO FROM A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TEXAS. IT SHOWS ON THIS SIGHT THAT THERE'S 3 RECALLS.

NHTSA ID 11338878 · filed Jul 12, 2020

THE CRANK HUB ON THIS VEHICLE CAN SPUN AND BRAKE INSIDE THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IF THAT HAPPENS ON A HWY FOR EXAMPLE THE VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY LOOSE POWER AND I CAN BE INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT WHICH MAYBE FATAL.

NHTSA ID 11309554 · filed Feb 16, 2020
All 9 reports naming engine

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2016 BMW M4. The contact stated that under previous ownership, the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 15V782000 (Power Train) at a local dealer. The contact stated that two years later, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was included or repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 18V713000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer, where it was diagnosed with an imbalanced drive shaft. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the costs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ID 11703660 · filed Dec 8, 2025

DIAGNOSED WITH COOLING SYSTEM ISSUE, 2ND COOLING SYSTEM DRY/LOW OR LEAKING, TRANSMISSION ISSUE, CODE 537, POWER TRAIN ISSUE, CAR IS QUICK SHIFTING AND SKIPPING FROM 5TH TO 7TH GEAR WITH A BUZZING SOUND, AND WITHOUT A DROP IN POWER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 5 MONTHS AGO FROM A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TEXAS. IT SHOWS ON THIS SIGHT THAT THERE'S 3 RECALLS.

NHTSA ID 11338878 · filed Jul 12, 2020
All 8 reports naming powertrain (other)

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Both front steering bearing carriers (knuckles) cracked... this is a well documented defect on the M4 GTS model that BMW has not addressed.

NHTSA ID 11523605 · filed May 24, 2023

The car only has 500 miles. It is a show car not taken out of the garage. Went to change oil and inspection sticker. Found to have a bad front knuckle. It is cracked. Many forums on this. This car is limited and has very low miles by owners. This should not be occurring

NHTSA ID 11469056 · filed Jun 13, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Filled car with gas and drove home , came out 10 minutes later to a puddle of fuel under car , from the fuel tank on the rear driver side

NHTSA ID 11595365 · filed Jun 19, 2024

SPONTANEOUS CAR FIRE - JULY 16, 2018; 10:30PM - 2016 BMW M4 CONVERTIBLE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 22K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. IT HAD LAST BEEN SERVICED SIX MONTHS AGO AT 18,806 MILES FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY ISSUES IN THE 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WE WERE DRIVING FROM DENVER TOWARDS SALINA, KS ON I-70 ON OUR WAY TO OK TRAVELING 75-80MPH. THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, THE AC WAS ON HALF AND THE WINDOWS AND TOP WERE UP. IT WAS DARK AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WITH NO WARNING, DARK NOXIOUS SMOKE STARTING POURING INTO THE CABIN, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE AC VENTS. THE SMOKE BURNED OUR EYES AND CAUSED US TO START COUGHING AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND BREATHE. BECAUSE IT WAS DARK OUT, WE COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY TELL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. WE ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN, BUT THAT INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING INTO THE CABIN, SO WE ROLLED THEM BACK UP. WE PULLED OVER AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. OTHER THAN THE SMOKE, ALL OF THE CAR FUNCTIONS WERE STILL WORKING. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE, BRAKES WERE WORKING, HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING, AC WAS WORKING, WINDOW CONTROLS WERE WORKING. NO WARNINGS OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. A FEW MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST FLAMES BEGAN COMING UP THROUGH THE TOP OF THE HOOD BY THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT AND THE CAR COOLED, A FLATBED TOW TRUCK TOOK IT TO SALINA.

NHTSA ID 11209334 · filed May 22, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTO START/STOP TECHNOLOGY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY STALLED OUT AND FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WITH CAR, AND HAS STATED THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND OFFER NO REMEDY. AFTER MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSIONS, EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE AND HESITATION, ENGINE MISFIRING AS WELL AS BLUETOOTH AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILURE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH MY CAR SINCE ABOUT 13,000 MILES TILL NOW WHICH IS 40,220. BMW HAS DENIED ISSUES WITH THE CAR ALTHOUGH RECENTLY THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE MISFIRING AND THE ENGINE RUNNING HOT AND THE MALFUNCTIONS NAVIGATION UNIT.

NHTSA ID 10980434 · filed Apr 25, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW M4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AFTER THE PASSENGER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED AT ERHARD BMW OF FARMINGTON HILLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,458. UPDATED 09/20/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID 10992505 · filed May 31, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

SPONTANEOUS CAR FIRE - JULY 16, 2018; 10:30PM - 2016 BMW M4 CONVERTIBLE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 22K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. IT HAD LAST BEEN SERVICED SIX MONTHS AGO AT 18,806 MILES FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY ISSUES IN THE 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WE WERE DRIVING FROM DENVER TOWARDS SALINA, KS ON I-70 ON OUR WAY TO OK TRAVELING 75-80MPH. THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, THE AC WAS ON HALF AND THE WINDOWS AND TOP WERE UP. IT WAS DARK AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WITH NO WARNING, DARK NOXIOUS SMOKE STARTING POURING INTO THE CABIN, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE AC VENTS. THE SMOKE BURNED OUR EYES AND CAUSED US TO START COUGHING AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND BREATHE. BECAUSE IT WAS DARK OUT, WE COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY TELL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. WE ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN, BUT THAT INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING INTO THE CABIN, SO WE ROLLED THEM BACK UP. WE PULLED OVER AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. OTHER THAN THE SMOKE, ALL OF THE CAR FUNCTIONS WERE STILL WORKING. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE, BRAKES WERE WORKING, HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING, AC WAS WORKING, WINDOW CONTROLS WERE WORKING. NO WARNINGS OR WARNING LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. A FEW MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST FLAMES BEGAN COMING UP THROUGH THE TOP OF THE HOOD BY THE WINDSHIELD. WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE ENGINE AREA WAS IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT AND THE CAR COOLED, A FLATBED TOW TRUCK TOOK IT TO SALINA.

NHTSA ID 11209334 · filed May 22, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE BILLET ALUMINUM STEERING KNUCKLES/STEERING CARRIERS ARE CRACKED AT ONE OF TWO BOLT POINTS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND BMW SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THIS BILLET ALUMINUM PART IS SPECIFIC TO THE 2016 BMW M4 GTS, A LIMITED EDITION BMW M4. APPROXIMATELY 800 M4 GTS'S WERE EVER BUILT AND THESE PARTS ARE FAILING AT ALL MILEAGE VALUES. THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON BIMMERPOST.COM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS. BMW WILL NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE IF THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE; MINE HAS 6,500 MILES. IF THE SECOND BOLT FAILS, THE COMPONENT WILL NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE STRUT AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURY AND POTENTIALLY DEATH. I NOTIFIED BMW AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM AFTER 4 WEEKS OF REVIEW WITHOUT ANY REASON.

NHTSA ID 11405983 · filed Apr 1, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW M4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AFTER THE PASSENGER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED AT ERHARD BMW OF FARMINGTON HILLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,458. UPDATED 09/20/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID 10992505 · filed May 31, 2017

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .