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BMW · NHTSA safety record

2016 BMW M4

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 22 safety complaints about the 2016 BMW M4 with the US government. Of those, 2 mention a fire, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the power train and the body structure.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 9 complaints, 41% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 33,000 miles, the median across the 13 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers April 2017 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

22 complaints on file

22

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

2

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 9 · 41%
POWER TRAIN 8 · 36%
SUSPENSION 6 · 27%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 14%
STEERING 2 · 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 · 5%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 · 5%
SEATS 1 · 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 · 5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 · 5%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 22.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 5.

8 6 4 2
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2016 BMW M4. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

18V713000 · October 11, 2018

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 BMW M3 Sedans, 2016-2017 BMW M4 and M4 GTS Coupes and 2017 BMW M4 Convertible vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the flange may fail resulting in a loss of propulsion.
The risk
A loss of vehicle propulsion can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify vehicle owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 2,661 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

16V653000 · September 9, 2016

The defect
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 BMW M2 Coupe vehicles, 2015-2017 M3 Sedan vehicles and 2015-2016 M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible vehicles. During servicing of the rear differential for a prior service action, the rear sub-frame bolts may have been reused instead of being replaced. Reuse of the existing bolts may cause the bolts to loosen.
The risk
Loose rear sub-frame bolts may adversely affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear sub-frame bolts with new bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 3, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 196 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

15V782000 · November 23, 2015

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 M3 Sedan vehicles manufactured May 30, 2015, to September 2, 2015, 2016 M4 Coupe vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to September 11, 2015, and 2015-2016 M4 Convertible vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to August 4, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft with a slip-joint that may not have been filled with grease. As a result, the slip-joint may fail over time.
The risk
If the slip-joint fails, there would be a loss of power to the rear axle and therefore the vehicle would stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driveshaft, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 14, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 42 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 injured · fire · 22,000 miles

SPONTANEOUS CAR FIRE - JULY 16, 2018; 10:30PM - 2016 BMW M4 CONVERTIBLE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 22K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. IT HAD LAST BEEN SERVICED SIX MONTHS AGO AT 18,806 MILES FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY ISSUES IN THE 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WE WERE DRIVING FROM DENVER TOWARDS SALINA, KS ON I-70 ON OUR WAY TO OK TRAVELING 75-80MPH. THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, THE AC WAS ON HALF AND THE WINDOWS AND TOP WERE UP. IT WAS DARK AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WITH NO WARNING, DARK NOXIOUS SMOKE STARTING POURING INTO THE CABIN, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE

NHTSA complaint 11209334, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

fire · 41,458 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW M4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PASSENGER SEAT BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AFTER THE PASSENGER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED AT ERHARD BMW OF FARMINGTON HILLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,458. UPDATED 09/20/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA complaint 10992505. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 37,096 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW M4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS COMPLETE ACCELERATION WAS LOST. THE CONTACT STATED WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ERHARD BMW OF FARMINGTON HILLS LOCATED ON 38700 GRAND RIVER AVE, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335, PHONE NUMBER: (888) 494-0358, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT TWO MONTHS LATER A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE

NHTSA complaint 11018802, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
I am writing to report a critical structural safety defect involving the front steering knuckle (wheel carrier) on my 2016 BMW M4 GTS. Upon inspection, the original factory steering knuckle has developed severe structural cracks on both the top and bottom sections of the component. Safety Risk & Hazard:The steering knuckle is a primary load-bearing suspension component responsible for securing the front wheel assembly, brakes, and steering linkage. Because this vehicle has developed cracks on both the top and bottom of the knuckle, it is at imminent risk of total catastrophic failure. A complete fracture of this component will result in immediate wheel detachment, total loss of steering

NHTSA complaint 11762645, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

97,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 BMW M4. The contact stated that under previous ownership, the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 15V782000 (Power Train) at a local dealer. The contact stated that two years later, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was included or repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 18V713000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer, where it was diagnosed with an imbalanced drive shaft. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the costs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA complaint 11703660. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filled car with gas and drove home , came out 10 minutes later to a puddle of fuel under car , from the fuel tank on the rear driver side

NHTSA complaint 11595365. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Both front steering bearing carriers (knuckles) cracked... this is a well documented defect on the M4 GTS model that BMW has not addressed.

NHTSA complaint 11523605. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
The car only has 500 miles. It is a show car not taken out of the garage. Went to change oil and inspection sticker. Found to have a bad front knuckle. It is cracked. Many forums on this. This car is limited and has very low miles by owners. This should not be occurring

NHTSA complaint 11469056. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

6,500 miles

THE BILLET ALUMINUM STEERING KNUCKLES/STEERING CARRIERS ARE CRACKED AT ONE OF TWO BOLT POINTS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND BMW SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THIS BILLET ALUMINUM PART IS SPECIFIC TO THE 2016 BMW M4 GTS, A LIMITED EDITION BMW M4. APPROXIMATELY 800 M4 GTS'S WERE EVER BUILT AND THESE PARTS ARE FAILING AT ALL MILEAGE VALUES. THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON BIMMERPOST.COM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS. BMW WILL NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE IF THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE; MINE HAS 6,500 MILES. IF THE SECOND BOLT FAILS, THE COMPONENT WILL NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE STRUT AND

NHTSA complaint 11405983, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW M4

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2015 12 3 —

Other 2016 BMW models

X1 159 X3 82 X5 74 528I 59 328I 57 428I 43 I3 33 320I 25

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every BMW on this site — 257 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst