Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, acceleration and cruise control, and brakes. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2024Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2024 BMW i4: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
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.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
Worth adding to your 2024 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2024 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 | 4WD, RWD | 301–307 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2024 BMW i4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Drivetrain fault warnings appear while driving, followed by reduced power or a full stop. At worst, the car shuts down in a highway lane and will not restart or shift into neutral. In one case near 70,000 miles, the dealer links a drivetrain malfunction to a failed A/C compressor that left metal shavings in the system. Other reports describe sudden full acceleration on a hill with no warning lights, plus vibration, drifting out of the lane, and the car jerking forward after a stop or when shifted into park.
Unintended acceleration happens at low speed, usually while parking or pulling away from a stop. Drivers describe the car launching on its own into a garage or from a full stop at a stop sign, sometimes with the brake pedal pressed. Two of the 3 reports involve crashes that damaged the car, a home, or another parked vehicle. No warning lights or dash messages appear before or during these events, so the driver gets no advance notice.
Braking fails to stop the car, and both reports end in crashes. In one, the car accelerates on its own while the driver still presses the brake at about 10 mph, striking the vehicle ahead, and the front, side, and knee airbags deploy. No warning light comes on beforehand. These reports overlap with the sudden-acceleration complaints filed under other categories, which makes low-speed loss of control the most serious concern for this car.
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2024 ranks second for owner complaints among 3 i4 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
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 2024 i4 eDrive40, xDrive40, and M50 vehicles. The left-side longitudinal beam may crack, compromising the structural integrity of the chassis.
Risk: Reduced structural integrity may result in damage to the high voltage battery during a crash, increasing the risk of fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side longitudinal beam as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 i4 xDrive40, i4 M50 and i5 eDrive40 vehicles. The high-voltage battery module may contain insufficient weld seams, which can result in the battery overheating.
Risk: An overheated battery module increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery module, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Cars shoppers compare with the BMW i4, with their own 2024 checklists.
2024 owner complaints, side by side
