Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, transmission, and steering. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 BMW i4: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/5
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2023's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 BMW i4. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | AWD, RWD | 271–301 mi range |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Early drivetrain malfunction shutdown
200–1,469 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 BMW i4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
A "drivetrain malfunction" warning shuts the car down in most of these reports. Some cars slow suddenly at highway speed. Others refuse to start in the garage. Many will not restart or roll, even in neutral, and need a tow. Several failures come within the first weeks of ownership, one at 200 miles. Dealers cite software updates, drive unit, rear axle and battery swaps, or a cell monitoring module. Cars often wait weeks for parts. One car caught fire while parked hours after a long drive. A locked charge flap and a failed level 3 charger connection also appear.
Propulsion cuts out suddenly. A "drivetrain malfunction" message appears, and the car can stop dead in traffic. Afterward it often will not shift into gear or neutral, so it needs a tow. High-voltage battery warnings often come with it, and one report describes the charge reading dropping to 0%. Failures repeat even after software fixes. Reported mileages run from 1,469 to 42,000. Repairs drag on for weeks while dealers wait on parts or engineers. Smaller patterns include the car creeping at stops and a drink spilled near the shifter that disabled the car.
Drive power and steering assist cut out together. A drivetrain warning appears, then a steering or "increased steering effort" alert. Within seconds the car loses power, shifts itself into park, and stops wherever it is. It will not shift back into drive or neutral, so it needs a tow. One case came at 16,000 miles. A separate crash that injured 3 people involved sudden acceleration, with brakes and steering failing at the same time. No warning lights came on before that crash.
Pressing the brake pedal does not slow the car. Reports describe this both while pulling into a garage and in city traffic at 15 to 25 mph. No warning lamp appears beforehand. Two of the three reports end in crashes. One was a chain collision with airbag deployment, and another car rolled into a garage wall. One owner reports a second failure after BMW found no defect the first time. Another failure came two weeks after purchase, and that car then sat at the dealer for over a week.
The car speeds up on its own at low speed while turning into a parking space. Both reports end in crashes, one into two parked vehicles and the other into a post and a wall. Neither owner saw a warning light or any earlier symptom. No injuries are reported. One event happened at 2,098 miles, and in both cases the cause had not yet been determined when the complaint was filed.
Rear tires wear quickly along the inner edge while the center and outer tread look healthy. In one report the wear reaches the steel cords and a tire blows out while driving. The pattern returns after a dealer alignment and new tires, with failures at 21,493 and 35,200 miles. A separate crash report describes the car swaying hard from side to side after a front tire puncture and hitting a parked car.
Excerpts from complaints i4 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Drivetrain malfunction, made car inoperable. Went into park mode. No neutral ability to move. Had to be special tow. Car is 2 days old. Only 200 miles on odometer. Check internet, many many same issues.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
While driving, the vehicle experiences intermittent braking failures, electrical glitches, and/or sudden loss of power. These issues match known problems reported on similar 2023 BMW i4 models. My VIN does not show an active recall, but I am experiencing dangerous symptoms. I am concerned for my safety and others. I respectfully request an investigation.”
Filed with NHTSA, April 2025
A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a catastrophic accident.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
I opened our garage door remotely, as I always do, and pulled into the driveway. As I entered the garage, I attempted to brake but the car continued to roll despite my pressure on the brake pedal. The car ran into the shelving and other items against the garage wall. I have entered our garage in this way many thousands of times, and I am confident I did nothing differently this time.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 3 i4 years we cover, about 2.6 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the second model year of the i4's fifth generation (2022–2023).
BMW updated the i4 for 2024, so a 2023 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2023)
Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2025 i4, 2022-2024 IX, 2023-2024 I7, and 2024 I5 vehicles. The electric drive motor software may shut down the high-voltage system, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: The electric drive motor software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 5, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2025 IX, 2023-2024 I7, and 2022-2023 i4 vehicles. The high-voltage battery cell modules may not have been assembled properly, resulting in stress on the module frame and possible module failure.
Risk: Battery module failure may lead to a shutdown of the high-voltage system which can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, module failure increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace specific high-voltage battery cell modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk were mailed September 11, 2025. Another notice will be sent once the remedy becomes available, anticipated December 31, 2025Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive50, iX M60, i4 eDrive40, i4 M50, and 2023 i760 xDrive hybrid electric vehicles. The high voltage battery combined charging unit (CCU) may not have been manufactured correctly, resulting in improperly connected and/or assembled components inside the CCU.
Risk: An improperly connected or assembled CCU can interrupt electrical power while driving and result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery combined charging unit (CCU), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 iX xDrive50 and 2023 i4 eDrive35, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 Hybrid Electric vehicles. The high voltage battery cell monitoring circuit may have improperly secured electrical connections which can result in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high voltage battery cell monitoring circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, 330e, 330e xDrive, 430i Convertible, 430i xDrive, M440i, 2022-2023 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (ECU) may have been installed with incorrect programming, which can cause the automatic door locking (ADL) function to not lock the doors as intended.
Risk: Doors that do not lock as intended while the vehicle is in motion may open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 i4 eDrive40 and iX xDrive50 electric vehicles. During vehicle start-up, the artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault and fail to generate the external pedestrian warning sound. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.".
Risk: Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the external artificial sound generator software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60, i4 eDrive35, i4 eDrive40, i4 M50, and 2023 i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The high voltage battery electronic control unit (ECU) software may cause an interruption of electrical power.
Risk: An interruption of electrical power may result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the high voltage battery ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Cars shoppers compare with the BMW i4, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
