BMW 4 Series
Every model year 2016–2027: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
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Every BMW 4 Series model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Hybrid | A | 0 | 0 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2026 | Hybrid | B | 1 | 2 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2025 | Hybrid | B | 1 | 8 | — | 31 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid Gas | C | 2 | 3 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2023 | Hybrid Gas | C | 3 | 6 | — | 28 mpg | |
| 2022 | Hybrid Gas | D | 5 | 8 | — | 28 mpg | Park outside |
| 2021 | Hybrid Gas | F | 6 | 15 | — | 29 mpg | Park outside |
| 2020 | Gas | A | 1 | 5 | — | 27 mpg | |
| 2019 | Gas | C | 3 | 27 | — | 27 mpg | |
| 2018 | Gas | A | 1 | 43 | — | 27 mpg | |
| 2017 | Gas | B | 2 | 30 | — | 27 mpg | |
| 2016 | Gas | B | 1 | 56 | — | 27 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2018 is the cleanest 4 Series year we hold, and the 2022 the one to check hardest. The 2022 carries a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other number on this page.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2025: dropped gas; best combined mpg 28 → 31
- 2023: 10 → 12 EPA configurations
- 2022: best combined mpg 29 → 28; 4 → 10 EPA configurations
- 2021: added hybrid; best combined mpg 27 → 29; 15 → 4 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 4 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class · Compact Sedan | C-Class +15.6 | |
| 2026 4 Series vs Ford Mustang · Coupe | Mustang +22 | |
| 2026 4 Series vs Genesis G70 · Compact Sedan | G70 +33 | |
| 2026 4 Series vs Toyota Corolla · Compact Sedan | Corolla +30.5 | |
| 2026 4 Series vs Volkswagen Jetta · Compact Sedan | Jetta +20.7 |
Common questions about the BMW 4 Series
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich BMW 4 Series year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2018 4 Series comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (92/100), 1 recall and 43 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What BMW 4 Series years should I avoid?
2021, 2022 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every 4 Series model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the BMW 4 Series have?
Across model years 2016–2027, NHTSA has posted 26 recall campaigns for the BMW 4 Series. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.