Research · complaint index
BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 5 model years of the BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2011 stands out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | Typical |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 | 1.1 | 0 | 1 | Typical |
| 2013 | 7 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 | Typical |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | Typical |
| 2011 | 46 | 3 | 5.8 | 0 | 1 | Most complaints |
- 20155 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 20147 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 20137 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 20125 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 201146 complaints · 0 recallsMost complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Oct 29, 2026
About this comparison
What BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2011 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 5 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.