2019 BMW Z4

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine2
000
Steering1
000
Electrical System1
000
Air Bags1
100

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Starter Assembly › Relay25V636000Park outside
Filed Sep 23, 2025199,674 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.

Risk. A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 14, 2025.

Engine21V598000
Filed Aug 2, 202150,024 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available.

Risk. Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights20V516000
Filed Aug 27, 20204,265 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The headlamps are able to be adjusted horizontally. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."

Risk. Should the headlamps be adjusted horizontally, there could be increased glare and reduced visibility for oncoming drivers, or reduced visibility for the vehicle operator, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlamp vertical and horizontal adjustment plugs, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. BMW owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly20V355000
Filed Jun 15, 20202,779 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 Z4 sDrive30i, 2019-2020 330i xDrive, M340i and M340i xDrive, 2020 X3M and X4M, and Toyota Supra vehicles. In certain driving conditions, such as high temperatures and rough road surfaces, a steering gear tie rod may become damaged, possibly resulting in a fractured tie rod.

Risk. A damaged or fractured tie rod may affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW and Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear tie rods, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Engine19V732000
Filed Oct 15, 2019217 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 330i, 330i xDrive, and 2019 Z4 vehicles. The needle roller bearings of the counterbalance shafts may have been improperly installed, potentially causing the counterbalance shaft to loosen.

Risk. If the counterbalance shaft loosens, severe engine damage could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera19V684000
Filed Sep 27, 2019257,473 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk. The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Nov 26, 2025FL

The contact owns a 2019 BMW Z4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Steering
Filed Jul 5, 2024VT

Reporting premature part fail. -The 2019 BMW has 14,300 miles. The vehicle recently failed VT state inspection for "Play in control arm ball joints" Normal ball joint replacement is usually in the 60,000 mile range. The 1st recommended check of steering components per BMW service manual is is "6th engine oil service (approx 60,000 miles)". There was no warning of the premature fail. The failed parts will be replaced and used parts preserved for inspection if needed.

Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2024MI

My grill shutters are faulty and the problem has been persistent and the vehicle is only at 30,000 miles. This is the same part that was issued an extended service contract by BMW for various other models. I believe my model is rare enough to not be included but it should. The existing recall/warranty is “SIB 01 12 19 FRONT GRILLE UPPER/LOWER ACTIVE AIR FLAPS: LTD WTY EXT TO 15 YEARS/150,000 MILES” and I believe mine should be included in this as it is the same engine as these various models. The grill shutters are experiencing the same fault and they do not open and close properly as the models listed. I receive code P05AF which is signals the lower shutters are not closing.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Nov 19, 2021OH

The automatic emergency did not engage the brakes as described to by the dealer, BMW genius and the BMW website. The car was in a collision at low speed (under 35mph) with the car in front of me which put me at risk. BMW sent an engineer from N.J. to inspect the car. The is under warranty and it was in perfect working order. The engineer determined that the system did not engage because the accelerator was depressed, I was told that the system does not work when the accelerator is depressed but that is not how the system is advertised and it is not how it was described in ALL of the BMW marketing materials.

Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2020200 milesVA

MY NEW CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND I HAVE BOUGHT IT INTO SERVICE APPOX 5 TIMES. THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND WHEN I GET IT HOME IT GOES ON AGAIN WHEN I START THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER IT CAME ON AGAIN AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230200Routine
20221300Routine
20211500Routine
20205600Routine
2019 — this page5600Routine
20164100Routine
20155100Routine
20147300Routine
20137300Routine
20125400Routine
201146600Routine
201010500Routine
200922400Routine
200819200Routine
200733221Fatalities reported
200691231Fatalities reported
2005190000Routine
2004411120Above average
2003414400Above average
20024000Routine

Compare every Z4 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 23, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.