BMW, Toyota Supra: Engine Starter May Catch Fire critical
On affected vehicles, the engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.
BMW X4 recalls
24 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
- 24 recalls
- 17 rated high or critical
- 2 do-not-drive / park-outside
- 60 owner complaints
- Jan 30, 2026 newest recall
BMW and Toyota Supra Starter Relay Fire Risk critical
Certain BMW X3, X4, Z4, and Toyota Supra vehicles have an engine starter relay that can corrode over time. Once corroded, the relay may overheat and short circuit. This electrical problem can increase the risk of a fire, whether the vehicle is being driven or is already parked.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
BMW X4 Roof Crack May Damage Head Air Bag high
The roof frame near the head air bag on the inner-left side may have a crack. If it does, the crack can damage the head air bag as it deploys, so it may not protect the occupant properly in a crash.
BMW X4, X5 Water Pump Connector May Short high
An electrical connector on the engine's water pump was not properly sealed, so it can be exposed to water. If water reaches it, the connector can short circuit.
BMW, Toyota Supra Transmission Control Units May Leak Oil high
Some BMW X3, X4, X5, X6 and Toyota GR Supra vehicles have a transmission control unit with a cover that was not welded correctly. Because of this manufacturing issue, automatic transmission oil can leak into the control unit. If oil gets inside, it can cause the transmission gears to seize up, which suddenly takes away the vehicle's drive power.
BMW X3, X4 Steering Gear May Loosen high
BMW is recalling certain 2024 vehicles, including 2 Series Coupe, 3 Series, X3, and X4 models. The steering gear on these vehicles may not have been tightened properly, which can allow it to become loose. If the steering gear loosens, it can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
BMW M340i, X3, X4 Seat Frames Improperly Welded high
On certain BMW 330i, M340i xDrive, X3, X3M, X4, and X4M vehicles, the frame of a seat may not have been welded to the seat rails properly. Because the weld may not be secure, the seat frame might not hold and support the occupant the way it's supposed to if the vehicle is in a crash, which raises the chance of injury.
BMW X3, X4 Transmission Leak May Cause Rollaway high
Some BMW X3 and X4 vehicles have a transmission mechatronics unit that may not have been assembled correctly, which could cause an internal leak.
BMW X4 Rear License Plate Not Illuminated low
On some 2022 X4 vehicles, the rear license plate may not be lit up properly because the license plate lamp cutouts are positioned incorrectly.
BMW X4 Tire Label Has Wrong Information medium
The tire information label on some BMW X4 SUVs may show the wrong tire size and air pressure numbers. This means the label does not meet a federal safety standard for tire labeling. If someone relies on the incorrect information, the wrong-size tires could be installed, or the tires could end up improperly inflated. Either of these increases the risk of a crash.
BMW and Toyota Supra May Lose Brake Assist medium
During engine start-up, a problem with the engine's control software may cause a loss of brake assist. Full mechanical braking, without the assist, would still be available. Losing brake assist increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will update the engine control software on affected vehicles, free of charge.
BMW X3 And X4 Passenger Air Bag Shutoff high
On certain 2018-2019 BMW X3 and 2019 X4 models, the system that senses whether the front passenger seat is occupied may have been put together incorrectly. This can make the system think the seat is empty even when someone is sitting in it, which turns off the front passenger air bag.
BMW X3, X4 Fuel Tank Weld May Fail critical
Some BMW X3 and X4 vehicles have a fuel tank inlet check valve where the weld holding it in place may fail. If this weld fails, the pipe that fills the fuel tank can separate from the tank itself. Once separated, fuel from the tank may leak out of the vehicle.
BMW backup camera may show partial or blank image medium
BMW is recalling certain 2019-2021 cars and SUVs across many models because of a problem with the backup camera. When the driver shifts into reverse, a small part of the picture behind the vehicle may be hidden, or the screen may not light up at all. Because of this, the vehicles do not meet the federal safety rule for rear visibility. Dealers will check the backup camera software and update it if needed.
BMW X3, X4 and M5 rearview camera image partly blocked medium
BMW is recalling certain X3, X4, 5 Series and M5 vehicles, including the X3 sDrive 30i and xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5 and 550e models. A small part of the picture shown by the rearview camera may be slightly blocked. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet the federal safety standard covering rear visibility.
BMW and Toyota Sports Cars: Steering Tie Rod May Fracture high
Certain 2019 Z4 sDrive30i, 2019-2020 330i xDrive, M340i and M340i xDrive, 2020 X3M and X4M, and Toyota Supra vehicles may have a steering gear tie rod that becomes damaged. This can happen in certain driving conditions, such as high temperatures and rough road surfaces. This damage can develop gradually before resulting in an actual fracture of the tie rod.
BMW seat belt buckle sensors may misread belted occupants medium
BMW is recalling certain 2020 X3, X4, 3 Series, 8 Series and M models. Sensors inside the front seat belt buckles can wrongly read a buckled-up driver or front passenger as not wearing the belt. Because of that, the airbags and the seat belt tighteners may not go off the way they should if the car is in a crash. Dealers will check the front seat belt buckles and replace them if needed.
BMW X3 and X4: Airbag Panel Piece Risk high
The casing around the instrument panel on these vehicles may not have been fastened tightly enough to the passenger air bag. If the air bag has to inflate during a crash, it could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces to break off and strike the driver or passengers. Dealers will replace the instrument panel casing for free.
BMW X3, X4 Steering Rack Pinion May Break high
BMW is recalling certain 2020 X3 M40i and X4 M40i vehicles. Inside the steering system, there is a rack and pinion, and the teeth on the pinion gear may break while the vehicle is under load. If the pinion teeth break, the driver could lose control of the vehicle's steering, meaning the steering wheel would no longer properly turn the wheels.
BMW, Toyota Supra backup camera image can vanish high
On certain BMW, Rolls-Royce and Toyota Supra models, the backup camera and display settings can be adjusted so the rear-view image no longer shows on the screen. Once set this way, the system keeps that setting the next time the vehicle is put in reverse, so no camera image appears.
BMW X3 And X4 Front Bearing Failure critical
Some BMW X3 and X4 SUVs have front axle swivel bearings that may not have been properly heat treated during manufacturing. This can leave the bearings weaker than they should be, and they could break.
⚠ NHTSA advises: do not drive this vehicle until repaired.
BMW X3 and X4 Front Seatback Weld Failure medium
On certain X3 and X4 vehicles, the frame inside the front seatback, on the driver's or passenger's side, may not have been welded correctly. This can allow the seatback to suddenly fold forward or backward instead of staying upright. If this happens during a crash, the seat may not hold the occupant in place the way it should, which increases the risk of injury.
BMW X3, X4 Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy high
The instrument panel on these vehicles may have been manufactured incorrectly. Because of how the panel was put together, it may affect whether the front passenger air bag deploys the way it is supposed to. This means the air bag positioned in front of the passenger seat may not function correctly when it needs to inflate, affecting the passenger sitting in that seat.
BMW X3 and X4 Rear Brake Caliper Coating high
The pistons inside the rear brake calipers on these vehicles may not have enough protective coating applied to them. Without sufficient coating, the rear brake calipers may not work as well as intended, which can reduce how well the rear brakes perform when the vehicle is stopping.
BMW problem guides that cover the X4
- BMW Electrical Recalls Involve Battery Fires and Starter Connection Problems · 28 recalls
- BMW Air Bag Recalls Cover Deployment Failures and Passenger Protection · 14 recalls
- BMW Power Train Recalls Involve Transmission and Motorcycle Drive Failures · 13 recalls
- BMW Hydraulic Brake Recalls Involving Leaks, Calipers, and Brake Assistance · 11 recalls
- BMW Exterior Lighting Recalls Cover Headlight Failures and Loose Lamps · 10 recalls
- BMW Steering Recalls Involving Loose Connections and Unexpected Wheel Movement · 10 recalls
- BMW Seat Recalls Involve Loose Bolts, Welds, and Head Restraints · 9 recalls
- BMW Equipment Recalls Cover Tire Labels, Chargers, and Motorcycle Accessories · 8 recalls
- BMW Seat Belt Recalls Cover Retractors, Sensors, and Missing Warnings · 8 recalls
- BMW Suspension Recalls Involving Bearings, Control Arms, and Motorcycle Struts · 8 recalls
- BMW Backup Camera Recalls Address Missing and Obscured Rearview Images · 5 recalls
- BMW Fuel System Recalls Cover Leaks and Incorrect Gauge Readings · 5 recalls
- BMW Engine and Cooling Recalls Include Stalling and Fire Risks · 4 recalls
- BMW Engine Recalls Cover Oil Leaks and Brake Assist Loss · 3 recalls
X4 model years compared
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
BMW X4 recall questions
How many recalls does the BMW X4 have?
NHTSA lists 24 safety recalls covering the 2018–2025 BMW X4. 17 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "BMW, Toyota Supra: Engine Starter May Catch Fire" (NHTSA campaign 26V056000), reported Jan 30, 2026.
Which BMW X4 model year has the most recalls?
The 2020 BMW X4 has the most, with 10 recalls. The 2018 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 1. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
Is there a do-not-drive or park-outside recall on the BMW X4?
Yes. 2 BMW X4 recalls carry a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA: BMW and Toyota Supra Starter Relay Fire Risk (25V636000); BMW X3 And X4 Front Bearing Failure (19V678000). These apply only to the affected vehicles, so check your VIN.
How do I check whether my BMW X4 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised BMW dealer, including for second owners.
Buying a used X4?
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: