Home · 2019 BMW 4 Series Coupe · Complaints

What 16 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 BMW 4 Series Coupe

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (16)Crash / fire / injury (2)Engine (7)Airbags (4)Engine & cooling (2)Fuel system (2)Brakes (1)Electrical system (1)Seat belts (1)Seats (1)Steering (1)Transmission & drivetrain (1)

Newest first · 16 complaints

Feb 10, 2025Engine & coolingElectrical system

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 was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 99,000.

NHTSA ODI 11641817

Nov 1, 2024EngineFuel system

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 would drop at startup when put in reverse and/or back in drive, causing the vehicle to stall and jerk forward. This problem was never an issue prior to the PCV failure. Since the replacement my car has stalled numerous times placing myself in danger of having to hurriedly restart my car and "gun" the accelerator to prevent another stall. Because of this issue which I correlate directly to the PCV replacement, I am now being told the software needed to be updated. However, instead of being considered part of the PCV issue, they are charging 200 dollars to remedy. I'm sure others have reported issues similar to mine. Bottom line is that this whole issue should be subject to a recall and covered by BMW before someone's car stalls resulting in serious damages and injuries to vehicles and persons.

NHTSA ODI 11623089

Sep 13, 2024Airbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11614401

Jul 31, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

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 with no use of my gas pedal all while 6 months pregnant. Each time I my vehicle malfunction I almost got hit by other vehicles because I had no use of my gas pedals to get out of the way. There were no warning signs at all. When the message pops up on my dashboard the gas pedal completely becomes inoperable. This vehicle has put me and my soon to be baby in harms way multiple times. The dealership has had 3 times to fix the problem and still fail to do so. Having their opportunity to fix it three times just to tell me it’s because it doesn’t have gas in it when it did has put my in a situation where I’m constantly worried about it braking down again putting me and my unborn child in danger AGAIN, to where I am financing a car I can not use. Not including the 2 times I had to pay to get it towed from the airport because the police told me I couldn’t leave it there.

NHTSA ODI 11605588

Mar 8, 2024AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 11576307

Dec 14, 2023Engine

Coolant leaking due to overheating, seems to be common problem

NHTSA ODI 11560042

Dec 11, 2023Engine & cooling

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 failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11559507

Apr 25, 2023SteeringEngineFuel system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11518866

Jan 25, 2023Engine

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

NHTSA ODI 11503531

Jan 17, 2023Airbags

"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 qualifies as a recall. BMW dealer charged $1840 to replace the seat, mat and clear the warning alert.

NHTSA ODI 11502192

Nov 2, 2022Engine

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 ODI 11491962

Jul 14, 2020Visibility & wipers

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAY. THE EXPLOSION WAS VIOLENT AND LOUD. LUCKILY THE VIOLENT EXPLOSION DIDN'T CAUSE ME TO CRASH. BITS OF GLASS ARE STILL STUCK IN MY SKIN. I CAN FEEL THE GLASS BUT I CAN'T SEE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11339294

Jul 14, 2020

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED ON ME WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROADWAY. THE EXPLOSION WAS VIOLENT AND SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT.

NHTSA ODI 11339275

Apr 17, 2019AirbagsSeats

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.

NHTSA ODI 11196971

Mar 2, 2019

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11183709

Feb 25, 2019BrakesEngineCrash

CAR WAS SLOWLY BEING DRIVEN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN IT ACCELERATED TO FULL ENGINE RPM DID A BURNOUT UP OVER A CURB AND INTO A LAMP POLE CONCRETE BASE. BRAKES WERE BEING FULLY APPLIED TO NO RESULT CAR STOPPED MOVING AT LAMP POST BASE ENGIN AT FULL RPM RIGHT REAR TIRE BURNING. PUSHED OFF BUTTON TO STOP MOTOR

NHTSA ODI 11182424

Working with the data? Download all 16 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2019 BMW 4 Series Coupe verdict →