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2019 BMW 4 Series problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2019 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
- 16owner complaints
- 2crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 14%fail the UK MOT
16 complaints, against an average of 31 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 2019 BMW 4 Series?
The components named most often in the 16 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2019 BMW 4 Series owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 16 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2019 BMW 4 Series been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2019 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 2019 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 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 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 DVSAThe battery cables on the 48v starter generator may not have been sufficiently secured during production
Risk: The battery cables on the 48V starter generator may not have been sufficiently secured during the production process.
Fix: Check the screw connection of the 48V positive / negative battery cables on the starter generator and rework if necessary.
UK DVSASoftware fault with crankshaft sensor
Risk: The affected vehicles may be equipped with a crankshaft sensor with a software fault. The crankshaft sensor cannot process the signal values from the crankshaft transmitter due to an improper firmware level. The firmware does not compensate sufficiently the temperature gradients and the magnetic field strength of the sensor electronic. If the crankshaft sensor cannot process the signal values from the transmitter the Digital Diesel Electronic (DDE) will notice that and change to the emergency operation mode. The emergency mode will be displayed by the check control message engine malfunction . The driver may notice a rough running engine and a reduced driving power (70%). However an engine stalling during driving conditions cannot be excluded.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the crankshaft sensor will be replaced with a new version.
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 knee airbags may be defective.This could lead to inadequate inflation of the knee airbags in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.
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 2019 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 2019, 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 2019 BMW 4 Series owners report?
12 of the 16 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 contact owns a 2019 BMW 430I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Coolant Low" message was displayed, prompting the contact to add coolant to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The low coolant warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System), but the VIN…
BMW issued an extended warranty of 15 years/150k for a pressure control valve (PCV) failure for certain years/models that included my vehicle. While driving, the PCV failed causing a loud high pitch noise and white smoke billowing from my exhaust. Such an immediate failure while driving of this PCV valve should have been subject to a recall given the sudden and unexpected failure. I travel a lot for work and if this would have happened while travelling and out of town, it would have been a more serious incident in addition to the inconvenience. After have the PCV replaced, my vehicle's RPM's…
The contact owns a 2019 BMW 430I. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and driving at an undisclosed speed, the “Air Bag Off” and “Service Air Bag” messages were displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to Special Coverage Adjustment: 23520 Passenger Presence Sensor (PPS) Module; however, the VIN was not included in the Special Coverage Adjustment. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
I purchased my vehicle October2023. May 23,2024, at 1:34 pm, my vehicle broke down due to a message on my dashboard stating “Drivetrain malfunction”. I was on the highway with no use of my gas pedal, which resulted in me rolling back all while being 5 months pregnant. June 18,2024, at 3:04pm ,my vehicle broke down again due to the same message that previously popped up “Drivetrain malfunction”. I was also on the highway with no use of my gas pedal all while pregnant. July 18,2024, at 12:25 midnight, my vehicle broke down again due to the previous problem “Drivetrain malfunction” by the airport…
My fiancé was driving my vehicle and hit a tree. The air bag deployed and she has shrapnel cuts on her face. The surgeon stated that she should not have had that injury on the face like she did.
Coolant leaking due to overheating, seems to be common problem
The contact owns 2019 BMW 430I. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, he noticed coolant was leaking underneath the vehicle onto the ground. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the message that the coolant level was low was displayed and the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer diagnosed that the vehicle with a fractured coolant hose, and that the oil filter housing, and an unknown part connecting the engine block from the coolant reservoir needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the…
On Aednesday April 12th, I was driving on a busy road and the car died. There was no safe place for me to pull off which had cars swerving to miss me. There was no indication of coolant level low. The car just died. After extensive research, I found out this car was part of a service action that was never performed because I wasn’t notified of it. This is very dangerous to anyone who owns a 2019 BMW 430i and will cause bodily harm or death if not recalled.
Car stalled because of coolant vent line in cylinder head Faulty coolant line like other models. I was lucky enough to get out of traffic without an accident. This car had to be flatbeded to dealership to repair their “service advisory” which I was never notified of. My papers from dealership says BMW recall and they are now refusing payment for tow!! This faulty part could cause someone to be killed!!! They need to be held accountable for tow because of a faulty part that could be deadly
"Passenger restraint system: Malfunction" alert came up on the display screen and then quickly disappeared several times. BMW dealer said the seat belt/airbags would not operate correctly in the event of a crash. BMW dealer said it was not related to the 2 recalls issued in 2021 and 2022 on this car for coolant or telematics (which BMW had not notified us about yet or fixed during service appts in 2021 or 2022). From a quick search online, this specific passenger restraint warning alert is unfortunately a very common problem with this year/make/model and should be reviewed to see if it…
COOLANT HOSE AND FITTINGS FAILED. OVERHEATED THE ENGINE. CAR SPEED WAS LIMITED AND HAD TO STOP THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BMW USES PLASTIC PARTS FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM. THESE PLASTIC PARTS FAILED AFTER 35,000 MILES. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS ~ $1200.00
SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS SENSING A FAULT. IT SAYS IT IS NOT WORKING AND THE AIRBAG IS NOT ON. THE DEALER IS RELUCTANT TO REPAIR IT, BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE. IT'S UCLEAT IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK.
2019 BMW 4 Series: questions owners ask
Is the 2019 BMW 4 Series reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 BMW 4 Series; the most common categories were engine (7, 43.8%), air bags (4, 25%), engine and engine cooling (2, 12.5%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 2 complaints mention a crash, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 BMW 4 Series?
Across 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (43.8% of complaints), air bags (25% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (12.5% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (12.5% of complaints), electrical system (6.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2019 BMW 4 Series have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2019 BMW 4 Series. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2019 BMW 4 Series overheat?
3 of the 16 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 BMW 4 Series (18.8%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "Coolant hose and fittings failed. overheated the engine. car speed was limited and had to stop the car on the side of the road. bmw uses plastic parts for the cooling system. these plastic parts failed after 35,000 miles. the cost to repair was ~ $1200.00" (NHTSA complaint 11491962, November 2022). 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 2019 only.