BMW Z4
Owners filed 1,280 complaints across 20 model years of the BMW Z4. The 2003 drew the most (414); the 2023 the fewest (0).
Model years20
Complaints1,280
Recalls60
Fires7
Deaths2
Every BMW Z4 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2022 | 1 | 3 | — | — | Visibility | Routine | |
| 2021 | 1 | 5 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2020 | 5 | 6 | — | 1 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2019 | 5 | 6 | — | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2016 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | Seat Belts | Routine | |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | — | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Routine | |
| 2014 | 7 | 3 | — | 1 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2013 | 7 | 3 | — | 2 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2012 | 5 | 4 | — | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Routine | |
| 2011 | 46 | 6 | — | 1 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2010 | 10 | 5 | — | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Routine | |
| 2009 | 22 | 4 | — | 1 | Wheels | Routine | |
| 2008 | 19 | 2 | — | — | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2007 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Steering | Fatalities reported | |
| 2006 | 91 | 2 | 3 | 1 | Steering | Fatalities reported | |
| 2005 | 190 | 0 | — | 2 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2004 | 411 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Steering | Above average | |
| 2003 | 414 | 4 | — | 5 | Steering | Above average | |
| 2002 | 4 | 0 | — | — | Steering | Routine |
Which BMW Z4 years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2003 is the weakest year on record, with 414 complaints concentrated in the steering. It carries 4 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.