NHTSA Safety Recalls
BMW Z4 Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 24 recall campaigns for the BMW Z4, across 12 model years from 2003 to 2022. The 2020 has the most (6); the fewest among years with a recall is 2016 (1).
- Model years
- 12
- Recall campaigns
- 24
- Most recalls
- 2020
- Owner complaints
- 1,282
2003–2022, with a recall
6 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 1,282 complaints with NHTSA about the BMW Z4 across 20 model years; the most, 414, concern the 2003.
Owners marked a crash on 20 of the BMW Z4 complaints (2%) and a fire on 7.
Across all BMW Z4 model years, owners name the steering most often (at least 983 complaints), then the air bags (92).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the BMW Z4 in 2010: 179, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the BMW Z4 is engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv), in 10 model-year listings.
The newest BMW Z4 recall, 26V056000, was reported on January 30, 2026 and concerns the electrical system: starter assembly.
NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2005 BMW Z4, model year owners have filed complaints about.
BMW Z4 years to avoid
Too few BMW Z4 model years have a complete complaint window to rank them: 2 of the 5 needed.
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 1 | — | not ranked |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | 3 | not ranked |
| 2019 | 6 | 5 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2016 | 1 | 4 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2015 | 0 | 5 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2014 | 0 | 7 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2013 | 0 | 7 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2012 | 0 | 5 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2011 | 0 | 46 | 10 | not ranked |
| 2010 | 5 | 10 | 4 | not ranked |
| 2009 | 4 | 22 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2008 | 2 | 19 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2007 | 2 | 33 | 4 | not ranked |
| 2006 | 2 | 91 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2005 | 0 | 191 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2004 | 1 | 411 | 9 | not ranked |
| 2003 | 4 | 414 | 51 | not ranked |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.BMW Z4 years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the BMW Z4
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)10
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY4
- ENGINE4
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS3
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY3
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA2
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
BMW Z4 model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every BMW Z4 recall campaign (24)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V056000January 30, 2026 | electrical system: starter assembly | 2021–2022 | fire and injury | 87,394 |
| 25V636000September 23, 2025 | electrical system: starter assembly: relay | 2019–2022 | firepark outside | 199,674 |
| 24V608000August 13, 2024 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump | 2016 | fire | 720,796 |
| 23V707000October 20, 2023 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2010 | crash | 157,796 |
| 23V099000February 17, 2023 | visibility: power window devices and controls | 2022 | injury | 3,193 |
| 22V119000March 2, 2022 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2006–2010 | fire | 917,106 |
| 21V598000August 2, 2021 | engine | 2019–2021 | crash | 50,024 |
| 21V554000July 21, 2021 | seat belts | 2021 | crash and injury | 21,537 |
| 20V700000November 12, 2020 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2020–2021 | fire | 49 |
| 20V516000August 27, 2020 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2019–2020 | crash | 4,265 |
| 20V355000June 15, 2020 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2019 | crash | 2,779 |
| 19V850000November 27, 2019 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2020 | crash | 245 |
| 19V732000October 15, 2019 | engine | 2019 | crash | 217 |
| 19V684000September 27, 2019 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019–2020 | crash | 257,473 |
| 19V273000April 4, 2019 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2006 | fire | 184,505 |
| 17V683000October 30, 2017 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv) | 2007–2010 | fire | 740,561 |
| 14V176000April 10, 2014 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2010 | crash | 156,137 |
| 13V044000February 7, 2013 | electrical system | 2009–2010 | crash | 516,791 |
| 09V327000August 11, 2009 | electrical system: wiring | 2009 | crash and injury | 195 |
| 04V247000May 24, 2004 | air bags | 2003 | crash and injury | 51 |
| 04V182000April 12, 2004 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2003–2004 | crash | 13,769 |
| 03V214000June 9, 2003 | tires | 2003 | crash | 180 |
| 03V032000February 4, 2003 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2003 | injury | 2,635 |
| 26V438000 | electrical system: starter assembly | 2022 | fire and injury | — |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the BMW Z4. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: October 13, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted