BMW Z4: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
1,284 complaints filed with NHTSA about the BMW Z4, model years 2002 to 2025. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2009, 2007, 2011. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Z4FEW REPORTS | 4 | — | 0 | |
| 2003 Z4 | 414 | — | 4 | |
| 2004 Z4 | 411 | — | 1 | |
| 2005 Z4 | 192 | — | 0 | |
| 2006 Z4FEW REPORTS | 91 | — | 2 | |
| 2007 Z4FEW REPORTS | 33 | quiet: 2 of 7 | 2 | |
| 2008 Z4FEW REPORTS | 19 | — | 2 | |
| 2009 Z4FEW REPORTS | 22 | quiet: 1 of 7 | 4 | |
| 2010 Z4FEW REPORTS | 10 | — | 5 | |
| 2011 Z4FEW REPORTS | 46 | quiet: 3 of 7 | 6 | |
| 2012 Z4FEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 4 | |
| 2013 Z4FEW REPORTS | 7 | — | 3 | |
| 2014 Z4FEW REPORTS | 7 | — | 3 | |
| 2015 Z4FEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 1 | |
| 2016 Z4FEW REPORTS | 4 | — | 1 | |
| 2019 Z4FEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 6 | |
| 2020 Z4FEW REPORTS | 5 | — | 6 | |
| 2021 Z4FEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 5 | |
| 2022 Z4FEW REPORTS | 1 | — | 3 | |
| 2025 Z4FEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other BMW models
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Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200320042005