2018 Bmw X4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling (5) · Engine (2) · Service Brakes (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw X4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Electrical System:wiring:connectors/Plugs/Receptacles 2024-08-13 · campaign 24V608000 · 720,796 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (81)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-05-06 · B010324 · Warranty Program/Extension
the evap systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
Service Brakes 2025-04-30 · B661719 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the vehicle applies the brakes on its own when reversing onto an inclined roadway or driveway. this appliesonly to the situation where the active pdc option is activated via the idrive.
Air Bags 2025-01-06 · B650122 · Warranty Program/Extension
the limited warranty for the knee air bag wire harness repair cable procedure for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
Engine 2024-12-11 · B011524 · Warranty Program/Extension
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.
Engine 2024-12-11 · B010921 · Warranty Program/Extension
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.
Engine 2024-05-02 · B010324 · Warranty Program/Extension
evap system purge (vent) valve ext ltd wty (elw) 15/150
Showing the 6 most recent of 81 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-12-22 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“we heard a whining sound under the hood on november 1st, 2025. prior to noticing this noise, there were no warming lamps or messages appearing. following a short drive we smelled burning in the garage. we did not drive the vehicle the following day and intended to take it to our mechanic on monday morning, the 3rd. upon trying to start the car it w…”
2025-08-23 · Engine“the water pump was found to have extreme corrosion after several other components on the car were damaged from the coolant leak into the electrical system. the car was suddenly losing power while driving and the dme was smoking, potentially causing an engine fire. so far the water pump, digital motor electronics (dme) and throttle body were replace…”
2025-07-18 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2018 bmw x4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the dealer was contacted on several occasions; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available. the contact stated that…”
2025-06-17 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“unknown: dealership replaced my brakes however they weren’t working properly i reported it 3 times bmw said it was common about 2 weeks later i was involved in a car accident where the brakes failed to respond and i rear ended another car. …”
2025-06-01 · Unknown Or Other“water pump completely failed and no longer working. i had to pull off of road on a busy interstate. firestone confirmed water pump no longer working. vehicle is at bmw service center. no warning until vehicle overheated and warning came on. …”
2025-04-25 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 75,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 bmw x4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceed…”
2025-03-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2018 bmw x4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of t…”
2024-11-22 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2018 bmw x4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of t…”
2024-11-22 · Engine And Engine Cooling“the contact owns a 2018 bmw x4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair…”
2023-07-26 · Power Train · 100,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2018 bmw x4. the contact stated that when she would stop the vehicle for a traffic signal, the vehicle would independently shift into park (p). the contact stated that the failure had started as an intermittent failure but had gradually become a recurring failure. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the contact s…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.