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2020 BMW 4 Series problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 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
- 3owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 0fire reports
- 11%fail the UK MOT
The least complained-about BMW 4 Series year on file: 3 complaints, against an average of 32 for the other model years.
Every BMW 4 Series model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2020 BMW 4 Series?
The components named most often in the 3 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2020 BMW 4 Series been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 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 2020 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: The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the starter motor will be replaced with a variant by another supplier with a different design. Until the repair has been completed it is recommended to not leave the vehicle running unattended after starting the engine.
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 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.
EU Safety GateThe RSW22 starter with reinforced water tightness (RWT) may experience increased abrasion of the magnetic contact, causing deposits to…The RSW22 starter with reinforced water tightness (RWT) may experience increased abrasion of the magnetic contact, causing deposits to build up at the lowest point inside the relay. These deposits may increase relay contact resistance, leading to starting failures or short circuits. If a short circuit occurs, either when attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibration-related movement of the deposits, it could cause a thermal event and increase the risk of fire.
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: 07/07/2026
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
How often does the 2020 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 2020, 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 2020 BMW 4 Series owners report?
3 of the 3 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.
I owned a 2020 BMW 430i (VIN: [XXX] ) manufactured in March 2019 at the Regensburg plant. This vehicle matches the exact criteria of NHTSA Recall 19V-352 for defective knee airbags that may fail to deploy in an accident. I was involved in a serious crash on [XXX], and the airbags did not deploy. Despite this, my VIN is not showing as included in the recall. I am submitting this as a potential VIN exclusion error that may have resulted in harm and needs urgent investigation. I have documentation of the vehicle's production date, model match, and accident details. I also suffered significant…
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 430I. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the low coolant warning light was illuminated, and the message "Engine Overheating" was displayed. The vehicle was parked at the place of employment. The coolant level was checked an hour later by the contact’s husband, and the coolant level was low. The contact stated that her husband added coolant to the reservoir and observed coolant leaking underneath the engine compartment. The contact stated that later in the day, while driving at an undisclosed speed and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer…
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 430i. The contact stated while his wife was driving below 10 MPH and depressing on the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver parked the vehicle and then had the vehicle towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the brake booster replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
2020 BMW 4 Series: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 BMW 4 Series reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW 4 Series; the most common categories were air bags (1, 33.3%), engine and engine cooling (1, 33.3%), service brakes (1, 33.3%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 3 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 BMW 4 Series?
Across 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (33.3% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (33.3% of complaints), service brakes (33.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 BMW 4 Series have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 BMW 4 Series. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 2020 only; combines NHTSA's entries for 4 SERIES and 4 SERIES GRAN.