2023 Bmw I4
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2023 Bmw I4 has 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: on december 9, 2022, i tried to start my car in my garage. the car would not start..the dash read stop auto train failure contact roadside assistance. after calling my car salesman who told me i had to contact roadside assistance myself, i did so. roadside assistance informed me they were unable to. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
77
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.0x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
18 complaints- • On December 9, 2022, I tried to start my car in my garage. The car would not start..The dash read stop auto train failure contact roadside assistance. After calling my car salesman who told me I had to contact roadside assistance myself, I did so. Roadside assistance informed me they were unable to
- • A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a
- • Drivetrain malfunction, made car inoperable. Went into park mode. No neutral ability to move. Had to be special tow. Car is 2 days old. Only 200 miles on odometer. Check internet, many many same issues.
“On December 9, 2022, I tried to start my car in my garage. The car would not start..The dash read stop auto train failure contact roadside assistance. After calling my car salesman who told me I had to contact roadside assistance myself, I did so. Roadside assistance informed me they were unable to”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
12 complaints- • The on-board GPS sends incorrect information to Apple CarPlay devices, including both location and dead reckoning. This means that any application on the phone--including SOS and 911 calls—sends inaccurate location information when this is occurring. It is intermittent but acknowledged by BMW as an
- • Our BMW i4 is equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay. CarPlay gets its geo-location (ie, GPS) data from the car. Since CarPlay is also an extension of your iPhone, the phone also is getting its GPS data from the car. In some situations, the car sends the wrong GPS data to CarPlay, and then all the map
- • When using navigation with CarPlay the position can become incorrect. This happens inconsistently but when it happens can happen suddenly. It is distracting as the navigation keeps re-routing and this often makes the map rotate in the big central display. It can also disorient the driver if they are
“The on-board GPS sends incorrect information to Apple CarPlay devices, including both location and dead reckoning. This means that any application on the phone--including SOS and 911 calls—sends inaccurate location information when this is occurring. It is intermittent but acknowledged by BMW as an ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
11 complaints- • A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a
- • On 6/8/23 I tried to start my car and received the following error: "Drivetrain malfunction: Driving not possible. Call Roadside Assistance" and the car turned off. I tried 3 more times to start the car and received the same message. I could not drive my car, and had it immediately towed to the deal
- • The contact owns a 2023 BMW I4. The contact stated while reversing, the drive train malfunction warning light illuminated. The contact proceeded with his commute however, the steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shifted into park independently. There were several messages displayed on
“A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
7 complaints- • I opened our garage door remotely, as I always do, and pulled into the driveway. As I entered the garage, I attempted to brake but the car continued to roll despite my pressure on the brake pedal. The car ran into the shelving and other items against the garage wall. I have entered our garage in
- • I am writing to file a formal complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding a serious safety issue with my recently purchased 2023 BMW i4. The incident involves a brake malfunction that occurred just two weeks after the purchase, posing a severe risk to my safet
- • This is the second time the brakes failed on this vehicle. The first incident, occurring as I pulled into my garage, in May 2023, was investigated by BMW North America and the vehicle was deemed to have no defect and to be safe to drive. The second incident occurred on [XXX]. The car was traveling a
“I opened our garage door remotely, as I always do, and pulled into the driveway. As I entered the garage, I attempted to brake but the car continued to roll despite my pressure on the brake pedal. The car ran into the shelving and other items against the garage wall. I have entered our garage in”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
6 complaints- • A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a
- • Vehicle is an EV (platform G26) and charger flap door was locked and would not open. Problem is similar to problem reported on NHTSA for BMW vehicles for "fuel filler door will not open", SIB 51 27 20. Safety issue is vehicle can not be charged and creates risk for driver and passengers being stran
- • MVA: [XXX] Sudden acceleration of vehicle. Brakes failed to work. Steering suddenly inoperative. Front passenger and I were injured. Vehicle damaged 3 other vehicles. One or more drivers whose vehicles were hit complained of injuries. For inspection, contact property damage adjuster with Safeco Insu
“A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 77 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: On December 9, 2022, I tried to start my car in my garage. The car would not start..The dash read stop auto train failure contact roadside assistance. After calling my car salesman who told me I had to contact roadside assistance myself, I did so. Roadside assistance informed me they were unable to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: The on-board GPS sends incorrect information to Apple CarPlay devices, including both location and dead reckoning. This means that any application on the phone--including SOS and 911 calls—sends inaccurate location information when this is occurring. It is intermittent but acknowledged by BMW as an
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: A small spill of liquid (unsweetened iced tea) on the gear shift area inches from the cup holder shorted out the entire transmission of the vehicle, rendering it immovable. This happened while pulling into our garage, but if it had happened while the car was moving on the road it could have caused a
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: I opened our garage door remotely, as I always do, and pulled into the driveway. As I entered the garage, I attempted to brake but the car continued to roll despite my pressure on the brake pedal. The car ran into the shelving and other items against the garage wall. I have entered our garage in
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw I4 — Year Comparison
How does 2023 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 77
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 12
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2023 Bmw I4