RoadVitals

2020 BMW Z4 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.
5
Latest Jul 21, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 BMW Z4, 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

  • Brakes220.0%
  • Electrical220.0%
  • Engine220.0%
  • Steering220.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Suspension110.0%

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

Brakes

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

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THERE IS MAJOR SQUEAKING/WHINING/GRINDING NOISE IF EVEN A TINY BIT OF WATER GETS IN THERE AND LAST COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT. AND WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE SQUEAKING/WHINING GETS LOUDER. AND WHEN DOES DO THIS THE SUSPENSION IF YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP WILL BOTTOM OUT AND MAKE GRINDING NOISES. BMW HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR COUPLE TIMES FIRST TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS RUST. SECOND TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID 11376404 · filed Nov 26, 2020

WAS IN A DRIVE THRU ON 9/6/2020 WAITING OUR TURN. APPROX. 7 CARS IN FRONT OF US. AS WE ARE SLOWLY MOVING UP TO ORDER, CAR IN IDLE, FOOT ON BRAKE. AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, WHEN WE WERE UP TO 3 CARS, STILL IDLING AND FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR HAD FULLY ACCELERATED, BRAKE NOT HOLDING THE CAR, INCHING FORWARD DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT INTO REVERSE. TRIED AGAIN TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT INTO DRIVE, STILL INCHING FORWARD, AT THIS TIME I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON TO STOP THE CAR. RESULT OF COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. WE HAVE PHOTOS BUT NOT ON THIS COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID 11363216 · filed Oct 7, 2020

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The engine starter failed on my 2020 BMW Z4 M40i. The vehicle experienced starting failures and the repair shop diagnosed a faulty/shorted engine starter assembly. The symptoms and component failure match the exact defect description of active safety recalls NHTSA 24V-576 and 25V-636 (Starter Motor Fire Risk due to electrical short circuit/overheating). However, when checking my specific 17-digit VIN, the manufacturer has excluded my vehicle from the recall population. Because this is an identical component failure that poses a severe vehicle fire and safety hazard, I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate a recall expansion to include my vehicle's production batch. I have retained the diagnostic reports and repair invoices as evidence.

NHTSA ID 11751896 · filed Jul 21, 2026

Engine starter safety recall came out in September 2025, with no remedy or parts existing for fixing it. 5 months later, and no timeframe is provided for a remedy. This is a major fire risk given the amount of rain now that could corrode the starter and lead to a fire.

NHTSA ID 11719116 · filed Feb 19, 2026

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

Engine

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

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The engine starter failed on my 2020 BMW Z4 M40i. The vehicle experienced starting failures and the repair shop diagnosed a faulty/shorted engine starter assembly. The symptoms and component failure match the exact defect description of active safety recalls NHTSA 24V-576 and 25V-636 (Starter Motor Fire Risk due to electrical short circuit/overheating). However, when checking my specific 17-digit VIN, the manufacturer has excluded my vehicle from the recall population. Because this is an identical component failure that poses a severe vehicle fire and safety hazard, I am requesting that the NHTSA investigate a recall expansion to include my vehicle's production batch. I have retained the diagnostic reports and repair invoices as evidence.

NHTSA ID 11751896 · filed Jul 21, 2026

WAS IN A DRIVE THRU ON 9/6/2020 WAITING OUR TURN. APPROX. 7 CARS IN FRONT OF US. AS WE ARE SLOWLY MOVING UP TO ORDER, CAR IN IDLE, FOOT ON BRAKE. AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, WHEN WE WERE UP TO 3 CARS, STILL IDLING AND FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR HAD FULLY ACCELERATED, BRAKE NOT HOLDING THE CAR, INCHING FORWARD DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT INTO REVERSE. TRIED AGAIN TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT INTO DRIVE, STILL INCHING FORWARD, AT THIS TIME I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON TO STOP THE CAR. RESULT OF COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. WE HAVE PHOTOS BUT NOT ON THIS COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID 11363216 · filed Oct 7, 2020

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THERE IS MAJOR SQUEAKING/WHINING/GRINDING NOISE IF EVEN A TINY BIT OF WATER GETS IN THERE AND LAST COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT. AND WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE SQUEAKING/WHINING GETS LOUDER. AND WHEN DOES DO THIS THE SUSPENSION IF YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP WILL BOTTOM OUT AND MAKE GRINDING NOISES. BMW HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR COUPLE TIMES FIRST TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS RUST. SECOND TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID 11376404 · filed Nov 26, 2020

BMW'S LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM ACTUALLY PULLS THE CAR'S STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT, AND COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR RUN OFF THE ROAD. I EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM ALMOST PULLED MY VEHICLE INTO THE ADJACENT LANE.

NHTSA ID 11289091 · filed Dec 14, 2019

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

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WAS IN A DRIVE THRU ON 9/6/2020 WAITING OUR TURN. APPROX. 7 CARS IN FRONT OF US. AS WE ARE SLOWLY MOVING UP TO ORDER, CAR IN IDLE, FOOT ON BRAKE. AS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, WHEN WE WERE UP TO 3 CARS, STILL IDLING AND FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR HAD FULLY ACCELERATED, BRAKE NOT HOLDING THE CAR, INCHING FORWARD DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE ACCELERATION. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT INTO REVERSE. TRIED AGAIN TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WENT INTO DRIVE, STILL INCHING FORWARD, AT THIS TIME I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON TO STOP THE CAR. RESULT OF COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. WE HAVE PHOTOS BUT NOT ON THIS COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID 11363216 · filed Oct 7, 2020

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

Suspension

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

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THERE IS MAJOR SQUEAKING/WHINING/GRINDING NOISE IF EVEN A TINY BIT OF WATER GETS IN THERE AND LAST COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT. AND WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE SQUEAKING/WHINING GETS LOUDER. AND WHEN DOES DO THIS THE SUSPENSION IF YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL BUMP WILL BOTTOM OUT AND MAKE GRINDING NOISES. BMW HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR COUPLE TIMES FIRST TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS RUST. SECOND TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID 11376404 · filed Nov 26, 2020

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 .