Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2023 BMW X4 with NHTSA between 2024 and 2026.
The largest single group is the driver assist & collision avoidance.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 6 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 29
Against the median year of the BMW X4. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
90.9% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2023 BMW X4
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
327.3%
3 crashes, 0 fires
Brakes
218.2%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Other & Unspecified
19.1%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
19.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Airbags
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
19.1%
Median failure at 90,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
19.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 42,000 mi
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2023 BMW X4 SUV AWD
—
—
—
—
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2024peak 3Jul 2026
Recalls on the 2023 BMW X4
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202633126,247 units in Canada
Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine starter may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the starter could overheat. Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall no. 2026-040. Safety Risk: A starter that overheats can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: To reduce the safety risk, BMW recommends not using the remote start function and not leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running until the recall repairs have been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the engine starter.
Recall 20260406,958 units in Canada
Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine starter may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the starter could overheat. Safety Risk: A starter that overheats can create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: To reduce the safety risk, BMW recommends not using the remote start function and not leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running until the recall repairs have been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the engine starter.
Recall 2024544587,250 units in Canada
Label
Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". Canadian regulations require the information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safety Risk: This error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. The company has corrected the tire and loading information label for all new vehicles.
Recall 202364679 units in Canada
Powertrain
Issue: On certain vehicles, the integrated transmission control unit (ITCU) may not be sealed properly. As a result, transmission oil could leak into the unit and cause the transmission gears to seize. If this happens, there could be a loss of power to the wheels. Safety Risk: A loss of power to the wheels could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the ITCU. The dealer will also inspect the transmission fluid and replace it, if necessary.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 42,000 milesAurora, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while idling at a stoplight, the vehicle caught on fire. The driver was able to exit the vehicle safely. There were no reported injuries. A Police and Fire Department report was filed. The Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #11750092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
A week ago, the steering wheel locked and the braking system and airbags and cameras malfunctioned. We took it for service at BMW. They said the battery caused the malfunction. On thanksgiving day, we were going around 25-30miles per hour when we slammed on the breaks and the breaks didnot function and we could not stop the car. The automatic emergency breaks never activated. We lost power of braking and brakes locked and we impacted a car in front of us with damages to our car and the other vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11628189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DCCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
A week ago, the steering wheel locked and the braking system and airbags and cameras malfunctioned. We took it for service at BMW. They said the battery caused the malfunction. On thanksgiving day, we were going around 25-30miles per hour when we slammed on the breaks and the breaks didnot function and we could not stop the car. The automatic emergency breaks never activated. We lost power of braking and brakes locked and we impacted a car in front of us with damages to our car and the other vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11628189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A week ago, the steering wheel locked and the braking system and airbags and cameras malfunctioned. We took it for service at BMW. They said the battery caused the malfunction. On thanksgiving day, we were going around 25-30miles per hour when we slammed on the breaks and the breaks didnot function and we could not stop the car. The automatic emergency breaks never activated. We lost power of braking and brakes locked and we impacted a car in front of us with damages to our car and the other vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11628189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
False acceleration
NHTSA complaint #11585620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
False acceleration
NHTSA complaint #11585620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 42,000 milesAurora, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while idling at a stoplight, the vehicle caught on fire. The driver was able to exit the vehicle safely. There were no reported injuries. A Police and Fire Department report was filed. The Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #11750092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madisonville, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have a [XXX] child who is in a car seat, fully locked in. He is able to open the door handle from the inside. The door handle is in arms reach. Totally unsafe, the child can open the door with the car in motion. It has happened numerous times. My sister has the same car with a [XXX] old, being able to do the same thing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11741905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Denver, CO
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield crack around heating elements and rearview mirror mount. There 3 cracks that extend to top of windshield to a horizontal crack. These look like one hook, J and a staightline that forms right angle to the one about a foot long behind readview mirror mount. There are no rocks chips evident. This occurred in a time span of 80 minutes. I actually heard the popping or cracking like when a plastic bottle air is restricted during elevation climb or desent but did not know what it was. Elevant was about 12,000 feet.
NHTSA complaint #11733114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2023 BMW X4. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 52,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 90,000. The State of Mississippi advised the contact to reach out to the State of Tennessee for assistance.
NHTSA complaint #11677731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
A week ago, the steering wheel locked and the braking system and airbags and cameras malfunctioned. We took it for service at BMW. They said the battery caused the malfunction. On thanksgiving day, we were going around 25-30miles per hour when we slammed on the breaks and the breaks didnot function and we could not stop the car. The automatic emergency breaks never activated. We lost power of braking and brakes locked and we impacted a car in front of us with damages to our car and the other vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11628189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DCCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
A week ago, the steering wheel locked and the braking system and airbags and cameras malfunctioned. We took it for service at BMW. They said the battery caused the malfunction. On thanksgiving day, we were going around 25-30miles per hour when we slammed on the breaks and the breaks didnot function and we could not stop the car. The automatic emergency breaks never activated. We lost power of braking and brakes locked and we impacted a car in front of us with damages to our car and the other vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11628189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A week ago, the steering wheel locked and the braking system and airbags and cameras malfunctioned. We took it for service at BMW. They said the battery caused the malfunction. On thanksgiving day, we were going around 25-30miles per hour when we slammed on the breaks and the breaks didnot function and we could not stop the car. The automatic emergency breaks never activated. We lost power of braking and brakes locked and we impacted a car in front of us with damages to our car and the other vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11628189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
False acceleration
NHTSA complaint #11585620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dallas, TXCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
False acceleration
NHTSA complaint #11585620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #11585620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedar Lake, IN
SERVICE BRAKES
PURCHASED A CUSTOMIZED BMW X4 NOV.2022 FROM BMW DEALERSHIP. DEC. 2022 BRAKES HAVE A LOUD SCREAMING NOISE WHEN REVERSE. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND VEHICLE WAS SEEN APPROX. 6 TIMES BY SERVICE DEPT ABOUT THE BRAKES. CORPORATE COMPLAINT FILED ABOUT LOUD NOISE OF BRAKES, CORPORATE SENT OUT AN ENGINEER OUT TO TEST DRIVE THE X4 TO UNDERSTAND AND DESCRIBE THE BRAKE NOISE. I WAS TOLD THE NOISE WAS FROM DUST OF THE VEHICLE BEING NEW AND ITS NORMAL. THE TRUCK STILL HAS LOUD SCREAMING NOISE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY BMW DEALERSHIP WITH CORPORATE CLOSING OUT THE CLAIM.
NHTSA complaint #11573760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.