2021 BMW Z4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Z4 years
- Not enough data 18th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW Z4. That ranks 18th out of 21 Z4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is unknown or other (1 complaints, 100%). There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
.jpg){kind=link}
- 1owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 BMW Z4 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 100% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2021 BMW Z4 recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:starter assembly
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.
Risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026.
Electrical system:starter assembly:relayPark outside
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.
Risk: A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 14, 2025.
Engine
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available.
Risk: Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Seat belts
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Z4 and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. The weld between the fuel tank halves may have been insufficiently welded, causing the weld to fail.
Risk: The failed weld may allow fuel to leak, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
There is a strong chemical smell when the AC is turned on and the system is loosing refrigerant. There is a common issue on these cars of premature evaporative core corrosion.
Other BMW Z4 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Z4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 Z4 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 Z4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| 2020 Z4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2019 Z4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2016 Z4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2015 Z4 | 5 | 1 |
| 2014 Z4 | 7 | 3 |
| 2013 Z4 | 7 | 3 |
| 2012 Z4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2011 Z4 | 46 | 6 |
| 2010 Z4 | 10 | 5 |
| 2009 Z4 | 22 | 4 |
| 2008 Z4 | 19 | 2 |
| 2007 Z4 | 33 | 2 |
| 2006 Z4 | 91 | 2 |
| 2005 Z4 | 191 | 0 |
| 2004 Z4 | 411 | 1 |
| 2003 Z4 | 414 | 4 |
| 2002 Z4 | 4 | 0 |
See all BMW Z4 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2021 BMW Z4 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 BMW Z4?
Owners most often report unknown or other problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2021 BMW Z4?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 BMW Z4 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Z4 model years, the 2021 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.