2023 BMW i4
The 2023 BMW i4 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels), is EPA-rated at 301 miles with 109 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 46 complaints, most often about the electrical system. Manufacturer pricing runs from $51,400 to $51,400 across 1 trims.

| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i4 eDrive35 | Electric | RWD | $51,400 | 281 hp | 295 lb-ft | 18 in |
MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels) | Electric | RWD | 250 kW EESM | 115 | 111 | 113 MPGe | 256 mi | 29.8 | 8 h | $650 |
| i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels) | Electric | RWD | TBD | 109 | 108 | 109 MPGe | 301 mi | 33.9 | 10 h | $750 |
| i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels) | Electric | RWD | 250 kW EESM | 107 | 102 | 105 MPGe | 235 mi | 32.2 | 8 h | $700 |
| i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels) | Electric | RWD | 250 kW EESM | 100 | 98 | 99 MPGe | 282 mi | 33.9 | 10 h | $750 |
| i4 M50 Gran Coupe (19 inch wheels) | Electric | AWD | TBD | 94 | 98 | 96 MPGe | 271 mi | 35.2 | 10 h | $800 |
| i4 M50 Gran Coupe (20 inch wheels) | Electric | AWD | TBD | 79 | 80 | 80 MPGe | 227 mi | 42.3 | 10 h | $950 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 46616, 45992, 46617, 46618, 45990, 45991.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels), i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels), i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 inch wheels), i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (19 inch Wheels) | 10 / 10 | California ZEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
| i4 M50 Gran Coupe (19 inch wheels), i4 M50 Gran Coupe (20 inch wheels) | 10 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2023 BMW i4 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (7)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
Electrical System
Electrical System
Electrical System
Back Over Prevention
Electrical System
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific i4
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 BMW i4, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2023 BMW i4
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this i4 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database8 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported
21 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 21,636 i4 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2023: 18 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 9
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
We had a drivetrain malfunction losing all power to car as we were driving. The car lost all control and drove less than 20 feet before coming to a complete stop on the middle of the road. We were not notified about any recalls on the car and just saw there was one on your site.
The only way I could explain it was as if my brakes were failing. After joining the bmw i4 group on Facebook and having my kids record while driving. I was able to capture the issue. The vehicle drive train will malfunction causing the vehicle to move while not in motion when at a stop light. The vehicle will accelerate on its on.
The contact owns a 2023 BMW i4. The contact stated that while driving at 20-30 MPH with a fully charged battery, the engine seized on two separate occasions. There was an abnormal grinding sound detected. The inoperable do not drive message was displayed after the failure.
This is the second time the brakes failed on this vehicle. The first incident, occurring as I pulled into my garage, in May 2023, was investigated by BMW North America and the vehicle was deemed to have no defect and to be safe to drive. The second incident occurred on .
Sudden acceleration when entering an open parking space, causing the car to hit two vehicles and causing extensive damage to my and the other vehicles. Safety of others would have been at risk as the accelerations was unintended and unexpected and if people were present they would have been in danger.
Vehicle is an EV (platform G26) and charger flap door was locked and would not open. Problem is similar to problem reported on NHTSA for BMW vehicles for "fuel filler door will not open", SIB 51 27 20. Safety issue is vehicle can not be charged and creates risk for driver and passengers being stranded.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by BMW itself: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 11 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 51 per 100,000 built. Every i4 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Driver-assist crash reports (1)
Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-011 severity unknown
Feb 2026 to Feb 2026 · 1 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed
What was engaged, and what was hit
System named: not named in the filings
Crash partner: Heavy Truck 1
Filed by: BMW of North America, LLC
| Incident | System | Struck | Injury alleged | State | Speed | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | Level 2 | Heavy Truck | unknown | DE | 65 mph | 10039-14855 |
A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Engine, Structure.
- B510626 Service bulletin2026-04-23 · Structure — Body
- While driving on rough surfaces, a “tapping” noise can be heard from the tailgate area
- B120523 Service bulletin2026-03-06 · Power Train
- The customer states there is a Drivetrain Malfunction message displayed in the instrument cluster. In addition, the following fault memory entries are saved in the CCU (Combined Charging Unit) 0317F2 - High-voltage system, insulation fault detected: when switch contactors are closed. 0317F1 - High-voltage system, insulation resistance below warning threshold: when switch contactors are closed. The
- B170124 Service bulletin2026-02-25 · Engine
- There is coolant leaking from under the car Low heater output Possible Check Control message “Drive, you can continue driving” (ID49) Possible fault codes stored in these BEV vehicles: 224163 – Electric auxiliary heater for the high-voltage battery unit: Undervoltage or internal communication fault 8049AA - Coolant level sensor, expansion tank: Coolant level low or short circuit to ground or line
- 11029009 Over-the-air update2026-02-05 · Power Train
- A manufacturing defect in a bearing of the electronic drive unit could result in bearing damage. This is caused by an unusual acoustic signal in the area of the drive unit. The bearing could fail completely at a later stage, which will be displayed to you by means of a red Check Control message. In this case, the driver is asked to call BMW Roadside Assistance.
- B640925 Service campaign2025-12-22 · Electrical System
- A faulty electric auxiliary heater may have been installed in the certain vehicles. This could result in thefailure of the electric auxiliary heater, utilized for the vehicle interior.
- B641125 Service bulletin2025-12-16 · Unknown Or Other
- Insufficient cooling power in the passenger area. The following faults may be stored: 0380CA - Malfunction or electrical fault of the heat pump circuit expansion valve detected E70C51 - Heat pump circuit changeover valve is not responding E70C44 - Heat pump circuit expansion valve is not responding
- B121425 Service campaign2025-12-01 · Steering
- In certain driving situations there can be a loss of traction or wheel slip followed by a throttle or torque requirement that can potentially damage the axle shafts. Damage of the drive shaft can cause it to break.
- B641125 Service bulletin2025-11-11 · Unknown Or Other
- Insufficient cooling power in the passenger area. The following faults may be stored: 0380CA - Malfunction or electrical fault of the heat pump circuit expansion valve detected E70C51 - Heat pump circuit changeover valve is not responding E70C44 - Heat pump circuit expansion valve is not responding
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 BMW i4 failed the safety inspection on 0.94% of first inspections — close to the 1.1% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected.
failed the safety inspection
318 initial inspections of 312 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2023 i4 | Every 2023 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.94% | 1.1% | 318 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0% | 0.16% | 318 |
| Miles driven a year | 8,750 | 10,038 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 28,055 | 32,673 | odometer at inspection |
Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
i4 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2023 i4
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsHow much does the 2023 BMW i4 cost?
The manufacturer lists $51,400 for the i4 eDrive35 RWD. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.
Does the 2023 BMW i4 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2023 BMW i4, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V470000, covering Electrical System. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. The manufacturer's own estimate for when a fix would be ready: December 31, 2025. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2023 BMW i4?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2023 BMW i4 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (58/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 BMW i4?
Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 BMW i4, the longest EPA range is 301 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2023 BMW i4?
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 BMW i4, most often about electrical system, unspecified, power train. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2023 BMW i4?
The EPA smog rating for the 2023 BMW i4 is 10 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2023 BMW i4?
The manufacturer has filed 80 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 BMW i4, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-04-23. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2023 BMW i4 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 BMW i4 failed the safety inspection on 0.94% of first inspections — close to the 1.1% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 6 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 6 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 7 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 46 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 80 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | 1 | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | none | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | 1 trims | Manufacturer press kit | Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.