Problems · NHTSA complaints
2016 BMW M4 problems
Owners filed 22 complaints about the 2016 BMW M4 with NHTSA between Apr 2017 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is engine (9).
Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine9
- Power train8
- Suspension6
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Steering2
- Electrical system1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Seats1
- Service brakes1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
2
5
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine
9 reports1 fire
“DIAGNOSED WITH COOLING SYSTEM ISSUE, 2ND COOLING SYSTEM DRY/LOW OR LEAKING, TRANSMISSION ISSUE, CODE 537, POWER TRAIN ISSUE, CAR IS QUICK SHIFTING AND SKIPPING FROM 5TH TO 7TH GEAR WITH A BUZZING SOUND, AND WITHOUT A DROP IN POWER. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR 5 MONTHS AGO FROM A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TEXAS. IT SHOWS ON THIS SIGHT THAT THERE'S 3 RECALLS.”
Power train
8 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW M4. The contact stated that under previous ownership, the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 15V782000 (Power Train) at a local dealer. The contact stated that two years later, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was included or repaired under NHTSA Campaign: 18V713000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer, where it was diagnosed with an imbalanced drive shaft. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the costs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.”
Suspension
6 reports
“I am writing to report a critical structural safety defect involving the front steering knuckle (wheel carrier) on my 2016 BMW M4 GTS. Upon inspection, the original factory steering knuckle has developed severe structural cracks on both the top and bottom sections of the component. Safety Risk & Hazard:The steering knuckle is a primary load-bearing suspension component responsible for securing the front wheel assembly, brakes, and steering linkage. Because this vehicle has developed cracks on both the top and bottom of the knuckle, it is at imminent risk of total catastrophic failure. A complete fracture of this component will result in immediate wheel detachment, total loss of steering control, and a severe high-speed crash. This presents an extreme and immediate safety hazard to myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. Manufacturer Awareness:BMW is fully aware of this inherent structural flaw. The original component (Part #31-21-2-289-301 / #31-21-2-289-302) has been quietly superseded by a completely redesigned, reinforced "v2" revised part to mitigate this exact cracking issue. Despite knowing that the original components are prone to dangerous…”
Fuel/propulsion system
3 reports1 fire
“Filled car with gas and drove home , came out 10 minutes later to a puddle of fuel under car , from the fuel tank on the rear driver side”
Steering
2 reports
“THE BILLET ALUMINUM STEERING KNUCKLES/STEERING CARRIERS ARE CRACKED AT ONE OF TWO BOLT POINTS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND BMW SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THIS BILLET ALUMINUM PART IS SPECIFIC TO THE 2016 BMW M4 GTS, A LIMITED EDITION BMW M4. APPROXIMATELY 800 M4 GTS'S WERE EVER BUILT AND THESE PARTS ARE FAILING AT ALL MILEAGE VALUES. THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON BIMMERPOST.COM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS. BMW WILL NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE IF THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE; MINE HAS 6,500 MILES. IF THE SECOND BOLT FAILS, THE COMPONENT WILL NO LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE STRUT AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURY AND POTENTIALLY DEATH. I NOTIFIED BMW AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM AFTER 4 WEEKS OF REVIEW WITHOUT ANY REASON.”
Electrical system
1 report1 fire
“SPONTANEOUS CAR FIRE - JULY 16, 2018; 10:30PM - 2016 BMW M4 CONVERTIBLE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 22K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE AND WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. IT HAD LAST BEEN SERVICED SIX MONTHS AGO AT 18,806 MILES FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY ISSUES IN THE 10 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WE WERE DRIVING FROM DENVER TOWARDS SALINA, KS ON I-70 ON OUR WAY TO OK TRAVELING 75-80MPH. THE CAR WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, THE AC WAS ON HALF AND THE WINDOWS AND TOP WERE UP. IT WAS DARK AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WITH NO WARNING, DARK NOXIOUS SMOKE STARTING POURING INTO THE CABIN, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE AC VENTS. THE SMOKE BURNED OUR EYES AND CAUSED US TO START COUGHING AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND BREATHE. BECAUSE IT WAS DARK OUT, WE COULDN'T IMMEDIATELY TELL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. WE ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN, BUT THAT INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING INTO THE CABIN, SO WE ROLLED THEM BACK UP. WE PULLED OVER AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. OTHER THAN THE SMOKE, ALL OF THE CAR FUNCTIONS WERE STILL WORKING. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE, BRAKES WERE WORKING, HEADLIGHTS…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.