CSR

BMW · NHTSA safety record

2020 BMW X4

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

14

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 BMW X4 have filed 14 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2019 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 3 of them (21%). The typical failure was reported at 2,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 10 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (10)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

25V636000 · September 23, 2025

Park outside until repaired

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

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 199,674 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

21V598000 · August 2, 2021

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

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 50,024 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

21V096000 · February 19, 2021

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles. When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 13,858 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

20V598000 · September 30, 2020

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 312 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

20V355000 · June 15, 2020

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

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 2,779 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

20V164000 · March 19, 2020

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, X4M, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, M8 Gran Coupe, X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and 840i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The sensors in the front seat belt buckles may inaccurately detect a belted occupant as unbelted, possibly causing the air bag and seat belt pretensioners to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
The risk
If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 3,316 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

20V152000 · March 18, 2020

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i, and 2018-2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3M vehicles. The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces of the panel to strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 15 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT

19V738000 · October 16, 2019

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 BMW X3 M40i and X4 M40i vehicles. The steering rack pinion teeth may break under load, resulting in a loss of steering control.
The risk
A loss of steering control increases risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW has notified owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 20 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

19V684000 · September 27, 2019

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

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 257,473 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT

19V678000 · September 25, 2019

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, and X3 M40i vehicles, X4 xDrive30i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The front axle swivel bearings may not have been properly heat treated during manufacturing, reducing their strength and possibly causing them to break.
The risk
Broken swivel bearings can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW has notified owners and instructed them to not drive their vehicles. Dealers will replace the front axle swivel bearings, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 368 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 14.

AIR BAGS 3 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 21%
SUSPENSION 3 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 21%
SEAT BELTS 2 14%
ENGINE 1 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 7%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 7%
POWER TRAIN 1 7%
SEATS 1 7%
STEERING 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 4.

2019 2026
2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

AIR BAGS

crash · towed · 2,000 miles

ON JUNE 21, 2020, ON A CITY STREET. MY WHITE BMW WAS TRAVELING WESTWARD AND A BLACK BMW WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND. THE BLACK BMW RAN ITS RED LIGHT TO MY GREEN LIGHT. WHEN WE COLLIDED IN THE INTERSECTION THE COMPLETE FRONT END OF MY WHITE BMW IMPACTED THE BLACK BMW DRIVER'S SIDE, FROM APPROXIMATELY FROM THE FRONT TIRE, TO JUST INTO ITS REAR DOOR. THAT IMPACT CAUSED THE BLACK BMW'S SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, AND EITHER AT THE SAME TIME OR UPON A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A BOLLARD, ITS FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALSO. TO MY SHOCK AND DISMAY, NON OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY WHITE BMW DEPLOYED,. ALL AIRBAGS ARE STILL IN THEIR RESPECTIVE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL OTHER

NHTSA complaint 11330951, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

towed · 58,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X4. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. Upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. The drivetrain malfunction warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the rear differential had disconnected from the drive shaft. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.

NHTSA complaint 11527973. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
I am filing a safety complaint for my 2020 BMW X4, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle recently began making a noticeable noise while turning. I reported this to an authorized BMW dealer before/during service and requested review for possible front-end, steering, suspension, axle, swivel bearing, tie rod, thrust rod, or vehicle-control safety issues. The dealer stated it did not find a swivel bearing issue, but identified worn thrust rod bushings and collapsed motor mounts. I was quoted approx. $1,950 for thrust rods and approx. $3,450 for motor mounts. I am concerned the worn thrust rod bushings involve the same general front suspension/steering/vehicle-handling system as the turning-noise concern I

NHTSA complaint 11742911, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
-Electrical damage due to leak. Water entered through the roof shark fin antenna, leading to corrosion /severe water damage to the Telematics Communication Box Module. -Failure of BMW Emergency SOS Call System, GPS, and Microphone/ Voice for hands-free access. -Warning notification on dashboard "Emergency SOS Malfunction" -Vehicle taken to BMW certified service, told that water was coming from the roof antenna, shortening the TCB

NHTSA complaint 11723192. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint 11718434. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
I am filing a complaint regarding what I believe is a manufacturer defect in my BMW vehicle. During a recent visit to an authorized BMW dealership for a routine oil change, I was informed that the front tension joints (tension struts) must be replaced because the rubber bushings/gaskets are cracked and leaking fluid. My vehicle has fewer than 33,000 miles, and I drive infrequently. This was missed during the last oil change which was 6-8k miles ago. This type of failure at such low mileage is unreasonable and inconsistent with normal wear and tear. The dealership quoted approximately $1,800 plus tax, not sure if it includes a required wheel alignment, to repair the issue. BMW has declined

NHTSA complaint 11708524, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
I went to the car wash and when I turned my car back on it stated the the Driver's Restraints system malfunction.

NHTSA complaint 11688269. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The Oil filter housing on my BMW X4 failed randomly while parked over night causing my vehicle to be depleted off coolant. If you want to inspect the part you will have to reach out to bmw of Columbus for documentation and I can provide the record for repair once complete.This caused my vehicle to be immobilized. If my vehicle had been on the road like previously I would’ve been stranded. There were no warning lights or leaks prior to the vehicle malfunctioning. I ubered to get coolant and once filling the reservoir the coolant immediately leaked out resulting in me needing a tow to the dealership. This problem has been reproduced with many dealers as there’s numerous of report of this

NHTSA complaint 11671661, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW X4

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 10 7
2018 11 1
2016 10 2
2015 18 5

Other 2020 BMW models

Every BMW on this site — 249 vehicles, 484 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

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