2023 BMW I4 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 BMW I4, most often about electrical system. There are 7 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
45
Recalls
7
Crashes
8
Fires
1
Injuries
3
Median mileage
16,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Electrical System is the most-reported problem area, named in 18 of 45 complaints (40%).
  • Transmission & Drivetrain (11) and brakes (7) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 16,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 8 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries.
  • The 2023 BMW I4 has 7 recalls on file.
  • It has the most serious complaint record of all 3 BMW I4 model years we track.
  • That is 350% more complaints than the 2022 model year (10).

2023 BMW I4 problems by category

  • Electrical System
    18 complaints
  • Other / Unknown · 2 crashes
    12 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    11 complaints
  • Brakes · 3 crashes
    7 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 3 crashes
    6 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion · 1 crash
    6 complaints
  • Engine
    5 complaints
  • Steering · 1 crash
    4 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control · 2 crashes
    3 complaints
  • Suspension · 1 crash
    2 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    1 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    1 complaints
  • Airbags · 1 crash
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Electrical system18
Unknown or other12
Power train10
Service brakes7
Fuel/propulsion system6
Engine5
Steering4
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking4

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k210k–30k130k–60k60k–100k100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2023 BMW I4 complaints that list mileage.

2023 BMW I4 recalls (7)

  • Recall 25V395000Jul 23, 202571,286 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION MOTOR:CONTROLLER:SOFTWARE

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 25V470000Jul 16, 2025136 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 23V449000Jun 28, 202369 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:HYBRID MANAGEMENT

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 23V295000Apr 26, 202331 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 23V118000Feb 23, 2023120 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 23V026000Jan 25, 20233,431 vehicles
    BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT · FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 22V944000Dec 20, 202214,086 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY THERMAL:MANAGEMENT:SOFTWARE

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

Recent 2023 BMW I4 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 7, 2026NJSteering
    The steering wheel would suddenly become stiff (frozen or locked) during normal driving especially during turning. When it happened, I lost total control of the car causing dangerous situations on the road. A warning message appeared stating: "Changed steering effort, drive moderately and contact service center." At a BMW dealership, the problem was reproduced and confirmed. They replaced 12 Volt battery, and the car was released. The new 12 volt battery didn't help the…
    NHTSA complaint #11762571 · source
  2. Filed May 27, 2026CAElectrical System
    The dashboard turn signal indicators are blocked by the steering wheel unless I adjust the steering wheel to a very high position that makes driving unsafe. When the turn signals are on, there is no clicking noise like many cars have. I suggest that BMW update the vehicle software to allow the driver to adjust the location of the turn signal indicators within the digital dash display, or also include turn signal indicators in the heads-up display.
    NHTSA complaint #11740342 · source
  3. Filed May 24, 2026CAElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain
    While driving my 2023 BMW i4, the vehicle suddenly displayed multiple drivetrain and chassis malfunction warnings shortly after charging the vehicle at a ChargePoint station. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power/propulsion while driving, creating a serious safety concern. After stopping, the vehicle began rolling backward unexpectedly and several systems appeared to malfunction. The center display/screens became partially or fully unresponsive/blank and multiple…
    NHTSA complaint #11739767 · source
  4. Filed May 3, 2026CACrashTowedOther / Unknown
    While driving on frewway in HOV lane next to tall concrete center barrier, side collision mitigation system suddenly began to aggressively and continuously jerk steering right and left. After about 10-20 seconds this caused loss of control, with vehicle turning around 180 degrees and, during the spin, impacting the center concrete wall, causing deployment of all airbags. Traffic was very heavy, and although there were no injuries or collisons with other vehicles, the loss of…
    NHTSA complaint #11735391 · source
  5. Filed Apr 14, 2026CAElectrical SystemOther / Unknown
    On [XXX], while driving on a public highway, the vehicle shut off and came to a complete stop as I was going around a roundabout. I was in the inside lane, had just finished charging in Yuma, Az., and was just about to get back on the freeway heading back into California. Thankfully, there was no one behind me at that moment and I was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. After arriving at my destination in Winterhaven, CA, I later saw that I had two missed calls…
    NHTSA complaint #11731151 · source
  6. Filed Mar 9, 2026FLSuspension
    I am reporting a recurring, catastrophic suspension defect in my 2023 BMW i4 eDrive40 that results in life-threatening rear tire failure. Despite adhering to all maintenance schedules, the vehicle's rear axle geometry fails to maintain stability, leading to extreme, accelerated inner-tread wear while the center and outer tread remains healthy. Timeline of Events: Initial Incident 5/4/2025 (21,493 miles): Suffered a sudden rear tire blowout while driving due to the inner tire…
    NHTSA complaint #11722997 · source
  7. Filed Feb 25, 2026CAElectrical System
    I was driving about 30 mph when I was prompted with the following error message, “Drive train fault, restart not possible, High Voltage Battery,” I was able to drive home which was about 1 mile away. I drove the car home, parked it and turned it off for 45 minutes then I attempted to turn it on but was unable to and continued to receive the same message. Side note, this vehicle was purchased from BMW Beverly Hills on 1/25/26 and not a month went by before I ran into this…
    NHTSA complaint #11720407 · source
  8. Filed Jan 27, 2026WAOther / Unknown
    The sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving on the freeway. The sun shade was closed but had it been open, the glass would have entered the cabin and potential for harm. In addition, the loud bang was a distraction and had there been more heavy traffic there was potential for accident. There was no identified object that hit the sunroof. The car was taken to the dealership for repair and inspection.
    NHTSA complaint #11713771 · source

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Other 2023 BMW models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology