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2016 BMW Z4

Gas

Two Seaters
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 1

Complaints1 crash · 1 injured reported 4

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 26 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2016

The 2016 BMW Z4 is sold in the U.S. as a gas convertible with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Z4 sDrive28i, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 4 complaints, most often about the seat belts.

BMW Z4 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — BMW Z4 · Photo: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Z4 sDrive28i	Gas	RWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	22	32	26	$3,150
Z4 sDrive28i	Gas	RWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	22	33	26	$3,150
Z4 sDrive35i	Gas	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	17	23	19	$4,350
Z4 sDrive35is	Gas	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	17	23	19	$4,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36061, 36062, 36063, 36064.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Z4 sDrive28i	5–6 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Z4 sDrive35i, Z4 sDrive35is	5 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II LEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

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.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Roadster
Doors	2
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

241 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: sDrive28i). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	166.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.5 in
Height	50.8 in
Wheelbase	98.4 in
Track, front	59.4 in
Track, rear	61.4 in
Curb weight	3,263–3,494 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	50/50

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: sDrive28I 2-door Conv RWD, sDrive35I/35IS 2-door Conv RWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

720,796 vehicles 39% reported repaired

Problem 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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V608000 reported Aug 13, 2024 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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 Z4

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 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.

NHTSA VIN check →BMW’s own VIN lookup →

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 2016 BMW Z4, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

4complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1

Most-cited components

Seat Belts 1

Vehicle Speed Control 1

Unspecified 1

Engine 1

Electrical System 1

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.

The contact owns a 2016 BMW Z4. 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.

Engine Feb 19, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11643614

The contact owns a 2016 Bmw Z4. The contact stated that while his wife was stopped and the brake pedal was depressed an unknown noise was heard as, the vehicle accelerated out of control and crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front causing that vehicle to crashed into the vehicle ahead of it.

Vehicle Speed Control at 8,000 miles Mar 13, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11317890

About 20% of time, driver side seat belt jams, will not release from recess/retainer behind seat without using my hand for couple minutes to jiggle enough. No problem once I get it to release. Then fits in connector and also releases ok. Two local dealers unable to fix. One even replaced entire mechanism, still jams.

Seat Belts at 200 miles Sep 22, 2016 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10908777

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 62

Most recentmanufacturer date 2024-01-16

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 62 service bulletins

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Fuel/Propulsion System, Power Train.

B510819 Service bulletin
2024-01-16 · Visibility — Power Window Devices And Controls
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B611305 Service bulletin
2024-01-11 · Electrical System
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.
B662719 Service bulletin
2022-09-01 · Lane Departure
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.
B662419 Service bulletin
2022-09-01 · Equipment — Electrical
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.
B110317 Service bulletin
2021-10-01 · Engine And Engine Cooling
For the above-referenced vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules to: 7 years/70,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date.
B110221 Service bulletin
2021-09-01 · Power Train — Driveline — Chain/Belt
With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Gelis, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC.
B110317 Service bulletin
2021-09-01 · Power Train
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules to: 7 years/70,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date
B110221 Service bulletin
2021-07-01 · Equipment — Other — Owners/Service/Other Manual
With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Gelis, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC.

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.

Z4 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 0 28 mpg 2025 A 0 1 28 mpg 2024 A 0 1 28 mpg 2023 B 2 0 28 mpg 2022 D 3 1 Park outside 2021 F 5 1 Park outside 2020 D 6 5 Park outside 2019 D 6 5 Park outside 2016 this page B 1 4 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Z4

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 BMW Z4 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2016 BMW Z4, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 24V608000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 BMW Z4?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 BMW Z4 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (85/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 BMW Z4?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 BMW Z4, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 BMW Z4?

Transport Canada measured it at 166.9 in long, 70.5 in wide (body, without mirrors), 50.8 in tall, on a 98.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,263–3,494 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 BMW Z4?

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW Z4, most often about seat belts, vehicle speed control, unspecified. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 1 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 2016 BMW Z4?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 BMW Z4 runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. 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 — Bin 5, LEV-II LEV, LEV-II ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 BMW Z4?

The manufacturer has filed 62 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 BMW Z4, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2024-01-16. 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.

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	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	4	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	62	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	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	7 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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.

JSON for this page · API