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2017 BMW 4 Series problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2017 BMW 4 Series has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 23owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 14%fail the UK MOT
23 complaints, against an average of 30 for the other 10 BMW 4 Series model years.
Every BMW 4 Series model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2017 BMW 4 Series?
The components named most often in the 23 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2017 BMW 4 Series owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 23 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2017 BMW 4 Series been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2017 BMW 4 Series as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2017 BMW 4 Series recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSATakata Driver and/or Passenger Airbag Recall (Global VINs)
Risk: Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Fix: Vehicles will have the affected airbags checked and if necessary replaced.
UK DVSAReplace the Engine Starter Motor
Risk: For affected vehicles there is a concern involving water ingress and corrosion to the starter motor for where a short circuit cannot be ruled out. It is strongly recommended to park the vehicle outdoors and not in the immediate vicinity of buildings until the repair has been carried out.
Fix: Replacement of the starter motor.
UK DVSACheck Driver’s Airbag for Conversion Takata SDI & PSDI-5
Risk: Affected vehicles may have had a retrofit or conversion of the airbag using a previously recalled airbag variant which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury possibly fatal to people in the vicinity. The original factory fitment airbag for the vehicle is not affected.
Fix: Vehicles will have the airbag checked and if necessary replaced.
UK DVSAA possible degradation of the propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which…A possible degradation of the propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
Risk: A possible degradation of airbag propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
Fix: On affected vehicles the drivers airbag module will be replaced.
UK DVSAUndetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold
Risk: Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold.
Fix: The engine management control unit (DDE) will be programmed with improved software incorporating the latest OBD functionality.
UK DVSAThe exhaust gas recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident
Risk: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the EGR cooler module will be replaced.
UK DVSAThe exhaust gas recirculation module could leak over time
Risk: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Module could leak over time and cause thermal incident.
Fix: The EGR cooler will be internally inspected with an endoscope and replaced if evidence of leaking is found.
UK DVSAThe exhaust gas recirculation cooler could leak over time
Risk: Leaking glycol coolant could create in combination with soot and oil sediments in the EGR module ignitable deposits.
Fix: The EGR cooler will be internally inspected with an endoscope and replaced if evidence of leaking is found.
UK DVSAExhaust gas recirculation module cooler could leak
Risk: The EGR cooler may leakpresenting a fire risk
Fix: A visual inspection of the EGR cooler to check for leaks and excessive build-up of deposits. The EGR cooler will be replaced on all affected vehicles
UK DVSAExhaust gas recirculation cooler could potentially leak over time
Risk: The EGR cooler may leakpresenting a fire risk.
Fix: The EGR cooler will be replaced with an improved version.
UK DVSAAirbags may not deploy
Risk: The igniter for the certain airbag modules may not have been correctly manufactured which may affect air bag deployment in the event of a collision.
Fix: Where necessary replace affected airbag modules.
EU Safety GateWater may come into contact with the starter relay and gradually cause corrosion.This could affect the electrical connection inside the relay and make the engine difficult to start. It may also result in a short circuit and could cause the starter to overheat leading to a fire when the vehicle is in motion or when it is parked with the ignition off.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations.In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 29/06/2021
EU Safety GateThe bolt on the outside of the seat mechanism of both front seats may not have been properly secured.If the bolt comes loose, the seat can move backwards in the event of a rear-end collision accident, which would increase the risk of injury to the occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe side, head and knee protection airbags of the front passenger seat may not work.This could increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe control unit of the electronic power steering may have been incorrectly manufactured.This may cause a fire even when the vehicle is parked. Furthermore, steering assistance might fail while driving.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2017 BMW 4 Series fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2017, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2017 BMW 4 Series owners report?
12 of the 23 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The car is sporadically saying passenger restraint system, going on and off.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 430I. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated there was an abnormal fuel burning odor entering…
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 430i. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Coolant Leak, Refill Coolant" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the thermostat, oil filter housing, upper radiator hose, front engine block plug, water pump, turbo coolant line, and gasket were faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the oil filter housing and gasket were previously replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Catastrophic failure of plastic oil filter housing causing complete emptying of engine coolant. Failed part is available for analysis. Car was immediately immobilized, requiring a tow. This problem was confirmed and ultimately repaired by local BMW dealer. No other inspection has occurred but issue seems very prevalent based on online searches. No warning before failure occurred.
There is a recall on the connector for the year of my vehicle and the BMW Sewell Plano dealership is trying to charge me for the service and repairs. They will not honor the recall.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 430I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, coolant leaks were present coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the water pump and the oil filter housing gasket were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the…
The Passenger Restraint System was failing and is now constantly showing a Passenger Restraint System alert. It can not tell whether a passenger is in the seat or not. A local BMW specialist says it is a common issue with the passenger occupancy mat.
The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2017 BMW 430I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the message indicating a seat occupancy failure was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belt chime reminder was audible even though there was a passenger seated in the front passenger’s seat with the seat belt properly buckled up. The contact, who is a certified mechanic, diagnosed that the front passenger’s seat occupancy mat had failed. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to stop driving the vehicle and…
I have a BMW 430i Gran Coupe, there was a system coolant leak and now they are saying the entire system needs to be replaced because the plastic cracked and eroded from wear and tear. I began checking and found that over 1 million BMW vehicles were recalled for coolant system problems. My car seems it wasn't covered under the recall. I found a service bulletin which stated that certain BMW repairs were necessary to replace coolant line. 2 Service Bulletins - SI B01 29 16 and SIB 17 01 21. I believe my car was covered under the recall that affected EGR module, the issue I am having now could…
I was the driver and I stopped at a traffic light. I leaned over toward the passenger seat and the driver’s seat belt came loose from the fixed attachment point at the driver door side of the seat. The seat belt tensioner was recently replaced at the local BMW dealer. There was no warning or other indication that the seat belt anchor point was not secure. I am taking the vehicle back to the dealer for repair on Monday, June 20. Whether this is a manufacturing, assembly or repair issue is unknown. However, there was no advance warning and the seat belt suddenly was rendered useless, which is an…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW 430I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPED GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDRICK BMW (6950 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28227) BUT WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE AIR THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT PUMP WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE…
SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT WHEN REMOVED. THEY MUST BE MANUALLY PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK. IF I FORGET, OR LOAN MY CAR TO SOMEONE THERE IS A DANGER OF THE SEAT BELT AND/OR SEAT BELT CLIP BEING STUCK IN THE DOOR CAUSING DAMAGE THAT MAY NOT BE NOTICEABLE UNTIL THE SEAT BELT FAILS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR.
2017 BMW 4 Series: questions owners ask
Is the 2017 BMW 4 Series reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 BMW 4 Series; the most common categories were engine (9, 39.1%), electrical system (4, 17.4%), air bags (3, 13%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 BMW 4 Series?
Across 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (39.1% of complaints), electrical system (17.4% of complaints), air bags (13% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (13% of complaints), power train (8.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2017 BMW 4 Series have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2017 BMW 4 Series. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2017 BMW 4 Series overheat?
7 of the 23 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 BMW 4 Series (30.4%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "Electric Water Pump and connector broken. Vehicle overheating and causes a fire risk to driver and others. Problem has been confirmed by dealer as well as multiple independent service centers. Have not contacted insurance company but will do so, if advised." (NHTSA complaint 11610053, August 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2017 BMW 4 Series?
3 of the 23 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 BMW 4 Series (13%) describe seat belts not latching, retracting or locking. One owner wrote: "Seat belts do not retract when removed. they must be manually pushed into the seat back. if i forget, or loan my car to someone there is a danger of the seat belt and/or seat belt clip being stuck in the door causing damage that may not be noticeable until…" (NHTSA complaint 11310121, February 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own 4 Series
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2017 only.