Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 BMW X4 XDRIVE28I problems

Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2015 BMW X4 XDRIVE28I with NHTSA between Jun 2015 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (5).

Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system5
  2. Engine4
  3. Service brakes4
  4. Engine and engine cooling3
  5. Power train3
  6. Fuel/propulsion system2
  7. Air bags2
  8. Vehicle speed control1
  9. Exterior lighting1
  10. Seats1
  11. Other / unknown4

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 Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20151
20161
20171
20182
20192
20202
20210
20221
20231
20243
20254

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

5 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2025Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11654956

Engine

4 reports1 fire
“Description of the Problem: I am reporting a severe vehicle fire that occurred with my 2015 BMW X4 (VIN: [XXX}) on [XXX], while I was driving on [XXX] in Orlando, Florida. This was a life-threatening incident. I narrowly escaped death as flames suddenly engulfed the front of the vehicle while I was on the road. For nearly two hours, it felt like a horror show. I am still in shock. After checking my VIN on NHTSA’s recall database, I discovered that my vehicle is part of Recall Number 24V608, which is still "Incomplete" and had no remedy available. The recall clearly describes a fire risk caused by liquid from the PCV system dripping onto the engine coolant pump’s electrical connector, which may lead to a short circuit and possibly a fire. I strongly believe that this is exactly what happened in my case. I am not a technical expert, but based on the description provided by BMW and NHTSA, it appears this recall defect directly caused my vehicle fire. I had no warning, no remedy notice, and no chance to prevent this. This incident has been widely covered by local news and emergency response teams: WFTV News Coverage WESH 2 News Coverage Orlando-News Article Orlando…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2025Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11655106

Service brakes

4 reports1 crash
“WHEN DRIVING THE BMW X4 THE VEHICLE WOULD BREAK ON ITS OWN, CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND FREEWAY. THIS CAUSED ME TO GET OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY WITH THE RISK OF BEING HIT FROM THE REAR. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR THEY SAID IT WAS THE CALIPERS AND BRAKE PADS THAT NEEDED REPLACED. WHEN THIS REPAIR TOOK PLACE, I TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITHIN 1 MILE OF DIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED BRAKING ON ITS OWN. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY KEPT THE CAR AND WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE WAS THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR THE BRAKES ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR TOOK PLACE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 6 WEEKS. (THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. OR GERMANY AND IT TOOK 6 WEEKS TO GET THE PART.) TODAY I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK AND IT DROVE WITH NO BRAKING ISSUES. THERE WERE NO WARNING LAMPS, MESSAGES OR OTHER SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE IN DECEMBER 2023.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2024Service brakesODI 11571770

Engine and engine cooling

3 reports
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2025Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11644636

Power train

3 reports
“DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION TWICE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR HAD IT SERVICED ABD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES ARE BACK CAR WILL NOT DRIVE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2020Power train, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11366945

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports1 fire
“WHILE DRIVING DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC APPROXIMATELY 0645, THE VEHICLE BECAME SLUGGISH AND EVENTUALLY BEGAN SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE WITH VEHICLES DRIVING AT AT SPEEDS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 80 MPH. THE DRIVE TRAIN ERROR CAME ON AND INDICATED 'DRIVE MODERATELY.' GIVEN THAT I WAS 3 MILES FROM ENTERING THE MONITOR MERRIMACK MEMORIAL BRIDGE TUNNEL I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION TO STOP IN THE PAST LANE OR COAST TO THE CENTER LANE BETWEEN AND ON RAMP AND TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC WHIZZING PAST. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER SO I PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL TO GET TO THE SAFEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO (BETWEEN THE TRAFFIC AN ON RAMP).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2019Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11217906
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.