AI DamageBMW I4: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the BMW I4 across 4 model years: 10 owner complaints and 130 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 40% of all complaints
- 2 Tires 20% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 20% of all complaints
- 4 Forward collision avoidance 20% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 8 Lane departure 10% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (40% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 97.
- Tires: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Backover prevention: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Forward collision avoidance: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 23.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- electric 2022–2026
- automatic, 1-speed 2022–2026
Drive: RWD, AWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 2 | 97 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 1 | 23 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 8 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was driving in a gated subdivision under very low speed, when I put the shifter in reverse in order to back up the car, the car failed to go into reverse and gave no warning, I assumed that the car was in reserve mode and tried to accelerate , the car lurched forward instead, hit some rocks and stopped.
My BmW I4 M50 was parked and turned off. While I was behind the wheel the car. Suddenly the car took off and hit a curb and went thru some trees. I took my cat to creviar bmw and an engineer from bmw came to check out the vehicle.
The contact stated that while pulling into her apartment's parking garage, the vehicle surged forward as the steering wheel independently maneuvered to the left without warning. The vehicle initially hit the rear bumper of her passenger's vehicle and then a concrete planter.
Vehicle was charging at home and spontaneously began smoking. Fire department called and determined it was the battery, began over heating and caught fire. Could have potentially exploded if they didn’t get their as soon as they did.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V026000 (Back Over Prevention, Forward Collision Avoidance) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Oct 19, 2022, I was driving my 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 when it flashed notification that Driver Assistance permanently Restricted and it affected the Adaptive Cruise Control and the Lane Departure warning. There were a total of 3 occurrence that these Notifications were flashed on the cars Touch screen.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- A faulty electric auxiliary heater may have been installed in the certain vehicles
- Mirror Glass Return
- A “whistling” noise is heard from the centerconsole/instrument panel when using theheating and air…
- Charging sessions cannot be started or they are interrupted while using a Level 2 AC high-power charging…
- While driving on rough surfaces, a “tapping” noise can be heard from the tailgate area
- The customer states there is a Drivetrain Malfunction message displayed in the instrument cluster
- There is coolant leaking from under the car Low heater output Possible Check Control message “Drive, you…
- High Voltage Connection Return
- A manufacturing defect in a bearing of the electronic drive unit could result in bearing damage
- Insufficient cooling power in the passenger area. The following faults may be stored
- A faulty electric auxiliary heater may have been installed in the certain vehicles
- In certain driving situations there can be a loss of traction or wheel slip followed by a throttle or…
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.