Major Problems with BMW Z4 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used BMW Z4 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for BMW Z4

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of BMW Z4.

Model Year Complaints
2020 Z4
1
2019 Z4
1
2016 Z4
1
2015 Z4
2
2014 Z4
4
2013 Z4
3
2011 Z4
26
2010 Z4
8
2009 Z4
17
2008 Z4
14
2007 Z4
30
2006 Z4
77
2005 Z4
175
2004 Z4
377
2003 Z4
389

Worst 3 BMW Z4 complaints

2007 BMW Z4 BODY Victims: 1 Mileage: 98900 miles

2003 BMW Z4 AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 35000 miles

2005 BMW Z4 STEERING Victims: 1 Mileage: 1200 miles

Browse BMW Z4 complaints by category

Problems with STEERING, AIR BAGS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from BMW Z4 owners.

Problem Category Number of Problems
STEERING
just purchased a used bmw z4 and realize that the steering is sticky. in researching this problem found that this...
868
~ 47597 miles
AIR BAGS
tl* the contact owns a 2013 bmw z4. the contact stated that the air bag warning indicator and "passenger side...
73
~ 63837 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
on 01/05/2012 bmw service center replaced an idrive part and reprogrammed the car. when i picked up the car i...
51
~ 48549 miles
ENGINE
tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw z4. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph the vehicle stalled. the...
25
~ 25801 miles
WHEELS
the tire on my z4 rub the inside wheel well causing the tire to blow out. when i took the...
23
~ 29597 miles
ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING
tl* the contact owns a 2007 bmw z4. while attempting to reverse from a parking space at approximately 5 mph...
22
~ 18905 miles
COLUMN > STEERING
tl*the contact owns a 2005 bmw z4. while driving 45 mph the power steering became stuck in position and as...
12
~ 33395 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
while in motion the vehicle accelerates for 2 to 3 seconds periodically on highway and in city. while in motion...
11
~ 47406 miles
SERVICE BRAKES
while parking in parking lot depressed the brakes and the car accelerated. continued to brake and the car kept accelerating
11
~ 44582 miles
SUSPENSION
tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw z4. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph the vehicle began to...
10
~ 38733 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
headlights are pointing directly at the ground within 15-20 feet of the front of the car. driving at night is...
9
~ 56764 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
mini cooper made by bmw. trouble light appears. engine switches to low power. can happen at freeway speeds without notice....
9
~ 20808 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
whenever slowing down to a near stop the engine will randomly stall. this can occur at anytime but is more...
8
~ 27700 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
the parking brake failed with an amber indicator showing on the dashboard when starting the car. had to put the...
6
~ 69235 miles
POWER TRAIN
i had a very frightening transmission malfunction on saturday march 7 in my 2015 z4 (three months old). i was...
6
~ 37904 miles
SEATS
recently purchased a 2008 bmw z4. after a week of ownership the airbag light came on. fault code points to...
5
~ 45337 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
abs brake dsc annunciator lights illuminated immediately following abs activation during cold weather (10-12 deg. f). fault code is 5df0...
5
~ 60560 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
two in tank fuel pump replaced--first one at 11 225 miles-- second fuel pump replaced at 23 385 miles---fuel pump...
5
~ 45848 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE
a tractor trailer hit my car a bmw z4 convertible ct license plate in the rear left as i was...
5
~ 67554 miles
SEAT BELTS
tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw z4. the contact stated that while a passenger was seated in the front...
5
~ 42320 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER
during a cold driving rain storm with driver & 1 passenger started to drive. (very 1st drive in this car...
5
~ 61790 miles
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR > AIR BAGS
a failed front passenger air bag seat sensor mat causes the air bag warning lamp and the passenger air bag...
4
~ 62089 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING
tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning. the contact...
4
~ 25000 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN
this report concerns a safety issue with a 2006 bmw z4 with a 3.0 engine and automatic transmission. the vehicle...
4
~ 25480 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS
tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. the contact was driving approximately 75 mph on normal road conditions. the "air...
4
~ 63600 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
the consumer had the vehicle fixed under recall campaign number 04v-182000 but the recall failed. *jb...
4
~ 2000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
car is a new (11 /21/09) bmw z4 with less than 2 000 miles. when driving in suburban traffic at...
3
~ 5667 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN
my 2009 bmw z4 was parked in my driveway at about a 65 angle to the rear of my toyota...
3
~ 4039 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES
26sep12 the tire pressure monitoring system will provide a false failure when there is certain electrical interference (e.g. cell towers)....
3
~ 28967 miles
EQUIPMENT
i own a 2003 bmw z4 and have had two fuel pumps and filter replacements. the car has approximately 21...
3
~ 11667 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2005 bmw z4 3.0i faulty fuel pumps. i have had 3 fuel pumps replaced on my car and still have...
3
~ 13983 miles
VISIBILITY
poor visability out of convertible concelled during test drive. car has limited sight on right with top up. *ak...
3
~ 51577 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
center compartment is accessible without a key. there is a solenoid to lock the compartment but all one has to
3
~ 24579 miles
FRONT PASSENGER > OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION > SENSOR
the airbag red light on dash appeared and stayed on also passenger yellow airbag light stays on .took to bmw...
2
~ 68257 miles
TIRES
tl* the contact owns a 2014 bmw z4 equipped with uniroyal sentry tires size: 225/45r17 (na). while pulling out of...
2
~ 27000 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS
when i was driving home from work today my car experienced a power steering issue where the steering wheel would...
2
~ 45750 miles
STRUCTURE
in the fall 2010 my bmw 2004 z4 stopped automatically opening and closing the convertible top. according to the mechanic...
2
~ 50365 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE
tl*the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that he cannot internally or externally open the passenger side...
2
~ 77500 miles
FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE
there is a potential problem with the front shock tower supports and front chassis assembly on the bmw z8. it...
2
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING
center high mounted stop lamp (third brake light) easily chips/breaks that would allow water from rain or washing to sip...
2
~ 12550 miles
PARKING BRAKE
the parking brake failed with an amber indicator showing on the dashboard when starting the car. had to put the...
1
~ 67000 miles
CRANKCASE (PCV) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM
tl* the contact owns a 2008 bmw z4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v683000 (engine and engine...
1
INFLATOR MODULE > PASSENGER SIDE > FRONTAL
tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that the front passenger air bag warning indicator remained...
1
~ 100000 miles
OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL > OTHER > EQUIPMENT
two years ago in the summer i drove my car back on the highway and the steering wheel was very...
1
~ 24000 miles
PUMP > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING
[xxx] 2003 bmw z4 3.0i. the pump failed on the highway complete loss of the power steering no previous sign...
1
~ 56230 miles
POWER STEERING FLUID > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING
steering "stickiness". steering intermittently becomes harder then "releases". it feels like the power steering fails temporarily causing the driver to...
1
~ 11700 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS
the passenger airbag system is not working properly... is not sensing when my wife is seated... lm always nervous thinking...
1
~ 40000 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION
1. rear sway bar mount loosens over time. 2. rear sway bar mount may fall off if not tightened every...
1
~ 35000 miles
RACK AND PINION > STEERING
tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. while traveling at speeds of 25 mph the steering wheel became increasingly...
1
~ 32000 miles
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
steering has a "notched" or "sticky" feel to it when traveling on highways at speeds around 50mph and higher. when...
1
~ 10700 miles
STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR > STEERING
tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw z4. while driving 40 mph the steering wheel locked without warning. the steering became...
1
~ 17400 miles
MACPHERSON STRUT > FRONT > SUSPENSION
there is a potential problem with the front shock tower supports and front chassis assembly on the bmw z8. it...
1
HANGER,BRACKET > LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY > SPRINGS
there is a potential problem with the front shock tower supports and front chassis assembly on the bmw z8. it...
1
SIDEWALL > TIRES
consumer noticed that both rear tires bulged while parked. vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that both inside
1
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
while driving at any speed driver's side door would pop open intermittently. consumer would have to pull over to close
1
~ 16000 miles
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw z4. the contact stated that when driving at speeds above 60 mph or...
1
~ 10000 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
my car stalled on the road going fifty miles an hour on university city blvd. in charlotte north carolina. i...
1
~ 18000 miles
RETRACTOR > FRONT > SEAT BELTS
seat belt locks and will not release. *jb...
1
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT
while driving west on i-70 near exit 218 (elev 10 300' west of denver) my 2003 bmw z4 stalled. after...
1
~ 5000 miles
DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN
2003 bmw z4 3.0 with the smg transmission (w/ sport package). the following instance has happened twice within the current...
1
~ 2300 miles
GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN
consumer stated while at a stop transmission slipped into neutral. as a result vehicle was almost rear ended. *ak 2003...
1
GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) > STEERING
the vehicle lost power steering the mechanic stated the steering gear box needed to be replaced. *jb...
1

FAQ

What year BMW Z4 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 15 years, BMW Z4 models of 2020, 2019, 2016 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for BMW Z4?

BMW Z4 models of 2003 and 2004 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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BMW Z4 specs
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Performance

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Exterior

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