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At a glance
What can fail
The engine starter relay can corrode, causing it to overheat and short circuit.
This page covers 11 recalls and 13 owner complaints for the 2020 BMW X4.
Complaints for the 2020 BMW X4 are spread thinly across multiple systems, with no single issue dominating the field at this sample size. Water intrusion appears in more than one report, with owners describing leaks through the roof antenna that cause corrosion and damage to the telematics module, knocking out the emergency call system, GPS, and hands-free microphone. A separate thread involves the oil filter housing failing overnight, draining coolant and leaving the vehicle immobile. One owner reports a driver restraint system malfunction warning appearing after a car wash, and another flags premature cracking of front suspension bushings at under 33,000 miles. At 13 total complaints, these are scattered reports rather than a concentrated pattern, but water intrusion leading to electrical module damage is the most consistently described scenario across multiple accounts.
13
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
By System
The 2020 BMW X4 has 11 recalls, the most serious involving multiple steering failures: a tie rod can fracture, front steering knuckles can break, and on M40i trims the steering rack's pinion teeth can strip under load, any of which can cause sudden loss of steering control.
Several of these steering concerns overlap with suspension hardware, as the front axle swivel bearings on certain trims can also break and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. On the safety equipment side, the passenger airbag housing may not be properly secured to the instrument panel, meaning deployment in a crash could send panel fragments into the cabin. A separate issue affects the seatbelt pretensioners and airbags, which may not deploy correctly in a crash, raising the risk of injury to front occupants. There is also a fire risk: the engine starter relay can corrode, overheat, and short circuit. On M40i trims, engine management software can cut brake assist at startup, leaving only unassisted braking available. Three recalls cover rear visibility: the backup camera can fail to display any image, display a reduced or missing image, or show a slightly obscured view when reversing.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine starter relay can corrode, causing it to overheat and short circuit.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the engine starter at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During engine startup, the engine management software may disable the power braking system. You can still brake manually, but without power assist.
What the fix does
Dealers will update your engine management software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When shifting into Reverse, the rearview camera display may show a partially obscured image or fail to illuminate, reducing rear visibility.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and update the rearview camera software as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may be slightly obscured in certain areas, limiting rear visibility and not meeting federal safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and reprogram it with updated software if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Under certain driving conditions like high temperatures and rough roads, the steering gear tie rod can become damaged and possibly fracture, affecting steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear tie rods at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front seat belt buckle sensors may incorrectly read a buckled occupant as unbuckled, which could cause airbags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy improperly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel casing may not be properly tightened to the passenger air bag, creating a potential hazard during deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the instrument panel casing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering rack pinion teeth can break under load, causing loss of steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The backup camera display can be adjusted to hide the rear view image, and the vehicle remembers this setting when put in reverse, leaving the screen blank.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the backup camera software at no cost to restore the display functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front axle swivel bearing in the steering knuckle may break due to a manufacturing defect, which could reduce steering control and affect how the vehicle handles.
What the fix does
BMW will instruct dealers to replace the front axle swivel bearing before selling affected vehicles.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front axle swivel bearings may not have been properly heat-treated during manufacturing, which reduces their strength and could cause them to break.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front axle swivel bearings at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
