Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW X4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system7
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Engine3
- Unknown or other2
- Service brakes1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 2018 X4 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 0 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2018 BMW X4 failed the safety check 0.77% of the time — 53% less often than the average 2018 passenger car (1.65%). Median odometer at inspection: 57,818 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2018
15,332 new BMW X4 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2018; the largest markets were Germany (4,640), the United Kingdom (2,167), Italy (1,995).
- Average mass
- 1,840 kg
- Average CO₂
- 191 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 163 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 81% · Petrol 19%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2018 BMW X4 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (135 kW, 181 hp), 2.0 petrol (185 kW, 248 hp) and 3.0 petrol (260 kW, 349 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 135 kW 181 hp | 105 |
| 2.0 petrol | 185 kW 248 hp | 104 |
| 3.0 petrol | 260 kW 349 hp | 34 |
| 2.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 26 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
318 first registered in 2018 are on Dutch roads; 56% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €91,525.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde86
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld44
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm30
- Band beschadigd20
- Band onvoldoende profiel20
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht12
- Waarschuwingsinrichting eCall-boordsysteem geeft defect aan9
- Bandenspanning op 1 as niet gelijk7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,970 cars built in 2018 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 19 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,060 of these cars first registered in 2018 took their annual MOT test. 87% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2018 the figure was 84%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Visibility | 2.9% | 3.6% |
| Brakes | 2.3% | 2.9% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.9% | 4.0% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Suspension | 0.5% | 1.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
86 of these cars first registered in 2018 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 141,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
55 2018 cars are on the New Zealand register; 15% arrived as used imports, 85% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 BMW X4 SUV AWD | — | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- —
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.3–11.4 L/100 km (about 21–23 mpg US), CO₂ 240–266 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| X4 xDrive28i · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Premium gasoline | 11.8 | 8.6 | 10.3 |
| X4 M40i · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Premium gasoline | 12.9 | 9.5 | 11.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2018 BMW X4.
| 2024544 15 Aug 2024 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "N… |
| 2024468 13 Aug 2024 | Engine Issue: On certain vehicles, fluid from the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system could leak on the intake air hose. As a result, the fluid could enter t… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What BMW told its dealers about the 2018 BMW X4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11012074 | the NVLD limited emissionrelated warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| 11012067 | The NVLD limited emission related warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| 11000579 | EVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150 |
| 10253326 | While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard. |
| 10252033 | During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/o router CV boots. |
| 10252031 | One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored. |
| 10249437 | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| 10249425 | The Check Control message below appears even though the coolant level is not below minimum when theengine is cold. Check Control message (ID 166): Top up coolant. |
| 10249027 | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints. |
| 10249024 | This bulletin outlines known areas of possible water entry, operational noise, or wind noise for the vehicles listed above. It serves only as a diagnostic resource in troubleshooting complaints from the roof area. This bulletin and the associated attachments are designed to provide one single diagnostic resource for troubleshooting all known issues related to the panoramic sunroof of BMW Sports Activity Vehicles which have quality improvement measures already in place. |
| 10249018 | At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21. |
| 10249016 | With the vehicle is on a lift and the front struts are in the extended position, there may be a cracking and orclicking type noise when turning the steering wheel left/right. See attached video V31 01 24. The sound can reoccur when the vehicle is lowered, and the wheels are once again under load. The noise might also be heard for a short time while driving. |
| 10247574 | A noise can be heard from underneath the seat while the seat is being moved either forwards or backwards. This can occur to the drivers and/or the passengers front seat. |
| 10244239 | This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry |
| 10242874 | Customers may be experiencing one or more of these following issues with Bluetooth operation: Bluetooth cannot be switched on or off in the head unit (HU-H4) Paired mobile devices cannot be deleted Customer is unable to make phone calls or stream music with mobile device Customer is unable to connect a new mobile device via Bluetooth Mobile device does not automatically reconnect via Bluetooth in the next drive cycle (after short sleep cycle) |
| 10238090 | After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails. |
| 10227568 | According to the customer, the airbag warning light was on, but it may not be illuminated when the vehicle arrives in the workshop. 1. ACSM fault code "930A60 - Seat occupancy detection, front passenger; malfunction" is stored. The fault may or may not currently be present. Or 2. ACSM fault code "930A1C - Front passenger seat occupancy detection transmitting fault(moisture)" is stored. The fault may or may not currently be present. |
| 10225127 | The Lane Change Warning (LCW) yellow triangle symbol on either one, or both the exterior side view mirrors does not illuminate to alert the driver when it should. |
| 10225126 | Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. |
| 10225114 | The front sunroof glass seal has shrunk, creating a gap which can cause wind noise or excess water entry. |
| 10224210 | The sound output intermittently drops out entirely. This can be reproduced with all audio sources as well as telephone and voice output. |
| 10224186 | Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Radiator Grille Upper and Lower Active Air Flaps to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. 1. Air flap control (link) active, upper (G12, G30 and G32) 2. Air flap control (drive), active, upper 3. Air flaps, upper (assembly) 4. Air flaps, lower (assembly) For eligible MY 2017 BMW 530i (B460) vehicles that are currently registered in the State of California (CA) or a State that has fully adopted |
| 10224185 | Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Leak Diagnosis Module with hose assembly (NVLD, shown) to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. For eligible MY 2017 BMW 530i Sedan and xDrive (B460) vehicles that are currently registered in the State of California (CA) or a State that has fully adopted the State of California PZEV/SULEV regulation (CT, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI, and VT), the standard component-related coverage for the NVLD is 1 |
| 10218413 | BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective March 28, 2022) on certain Model Year 2022 BMW vehicles that were produced between March 1, 2022 and March 8, 2022 because the torsion struts may not have been installed at the plant. Do not deliver to a customer, a New, Certified Pre-Owned or Used vehicle subject to a Delivery Stop, until the vehicle is repaired. Do not use or sell replacement equipment/parts subject to a Delivery Stop. |
| 10218384 | Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. Note: Opening, closing and starting via the BMW Digital Key or the Digital Key Card are not affected. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation