Is the BMW 4-Series more reliable than the Toyota Supra?

No. The Supra comes out well ahead. It has 17 recalls across seven model years, while the 4-Series has 182 across nine. Owner complaint rates are close, but the 4-Series has more crash-linked complaints in air bags, electrical, and brakes.

Which has more recalls, the 4-Series or the Supra?

The 4-Series has far more. Federal recall records show 182 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 17 across the Supra's 2020 to 2026 model years. The 4-Series covers two more model years, but that does not explain a gap this size.

What is the most serious Supra problem?

Loss of oil pressure and sudden steering failure stand out. Two reports describe a plastic part in the oil pump on the B58TU engine cracking, often on cold starts, with little warning. Other owners report power steering failing at highway speed, forcing a stop and a tow.

What goes wrong with the BMW 4-Series air bags?

The common complaint is a "Passenger restraint system malfunction" or "Air Bag Off" warning, sometimes traced to the seat occupancy sensor. Dealers say the bags may not deploy while the warning shows. Owners say dealers often refuse to cover the repair under warranty.

Which 4-Series and Supra years should I avoid?

For the 4-Series, avoid 2018 and 2020, the weakest years. For the Supra, avoid 2020 and 2021. The strongest years for each are the newest, which have had less time to collect complaints, so check the car's history rather than trusting the year alone.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra: Reliability Compared

BMW 4 Series

Good

More Reliable

Toyota Supra

Good

The Toyota Supra beats the BMW 4-Series on reliability by a wide margin. Recalls decide it: 17 for the Supra, 182 for the 4-Series. Complaint rates are similar, but the 4-Series has far more crash-linked air bag and electrical filings.

How Do the BMW 4 Series and Toyota Supra Generations Compare?

Age of the design matters more for the BMW. Its first generation ran in the US from 2014 to 2020, and the second ran from 2020 to 2023. A used shopper looking at 2018 or 2019 is buying the older generation, and 2020 sits where the two overlap. That year is also among the weakest listed. The Supra belongs to its fifth generation, which began with the 2019 model year and is listed through 2023. Its weakest years are the earliest ones, 2020 and 2021. The newest years for both cars have had little time to collect complaints.

Verdict

The Toyota Supra is more reliable than the BMW 4 Series, scoring 70/100 vs 60/100.

The more reliable car here is the Supra, and the gap is large. Owner complaint rates are close, but federal recall records show 17 recalls across seven Supra model years against 182 across nine 4-Series years. The 4-Series also has the more worrying complaints: air bag warnings that may mean the bags will not deploy, and total electrical shutoffs while moving. The Supra has far fewer filings, and its worst reports are narrower, mainly oil pressure loss and sudden steering failure.

Key Differences

1Toyota Supra has 165 fewer total recalls
2Toyota Supra scores 10 points higher in reliability
3Toyota Supra has 1.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

0BMW 4 Series

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3Toyota Supra

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra: Which Is More Reliable?

BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	BMW 4 Series	Toyota Supra
Reliability Score	60/100	70/100
Years Tracked	9	7
Total Recalls	182	17
Complaints per 10k Sold	15.8	14.2
Year Wins	0	7

What Are the Common Problems With the BMW 4 Series and Toyota Supra?

Safety systems are where the 4-Series struggles most. Air bag complaints, mostly "Air Bag Off" or restraint warnings, carry 12 crash-linked filings, and electrical complaints include cars shutting off at speed. Engine reports center on coolant leaks from water pump seals and plastic fittings. The Supra has no crash-linked air bag or electrical complaints. Its risks are a cracking plastic part in the oil pump on the B58TU engine, power steering that fails at highway speed, and brake assist that drops off. Steering and brakes each have one crash-linked filing.

BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra common problem areas comparison
Component	BMW 4 Series	Toyota Supra
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.3Low	3.5Average
ENGINE	1.3Low	2.4Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.8Very Low	1.7Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.7Low	0.7Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	1.7Low
AIR BAGS	1.7Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.5Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.4Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.3Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.2Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.2Very Low	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None
SEATS	0.1Very Low	—None
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra Reliability Compare by Year?

BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra year-by-year reliability scores
Year	BMW 4 Series	Toyota Supra	Edge
2026	64/1004R / 0C	78/1000R / 0C	Toyota Supra
2025	67/1009R / 2C	78/1000R / 0C	Toyota Supra
2024	66/10013R / 17C	73/1000R / 1C	Toyota Supra
2023	63/10026R / 43C	69/1002R / 5C	Toyota Supra
2022	66/10018R / 36C	68/1002R / 1C	Toyota Supra
2021	57/10040R / 64C	64/1005R / 19C	Toyota Supra
2020	52/10034R / 66C	63/1008R / 15C	Toyota Supra

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 BMW 4 Series scored 66/100 and the 2024 Toyota Supra scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the BMW 4 Series vs the Toyota Supra?

Pick the Supra if you want the lower-risk coupe. Its recall count is small and its complaints are spread thin, so no single defect repeats the way the 4-Series air bag warnings do. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rate best, but they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. Avoid 2020 and 2021, the weakest years. On any Supra, check that the electronic oil level reading works and ask whether the oil pump issue was addressed. Pick the 4-Series only if its styling or driving feel matters more to you than low risk, and buy carefully. Skip 2018 and 2020, its weakest years. Before you sign, scan the car for stored air bag or seat occupancy warnings, look for coolant seepage near the water pump and plastic hoses, and test the shifter in Drive. A 2024 or 2025 car looks cleaner on paper, but those years are young. Confirm every open recall is closed.

BMW 4 Series vs Toyota Supra: Common Questions

Is the BMW 4-Series more reliable than the Toyota Supra?: No. The Supra comes out well ahead. It has 17 recalls across seven model years, while the 4-Series has 182 across nine. Owner complaint rates are close, but the 4-Series has more crash-linked complaints in air bags, electrical, and brakes.
Which has more recalls, the 4-Series or the Supra?: The 4-Series has far more. Federal recall records show 182 recalls across its 2018 to 2026 model years, compared with 17 across the Supra's 2020 to 2026 model years. The 4-Series covers two more model years, but that does not explain a gap this size.
What is the most serious Supra problem?: Loss of oil pressure and sudden steering failure stand out. Two reports describe a plastic part in the oil pump on the B58TU engine cracking, often on cold starts, with little warning. Other owners report power steering failing at highway speed, forcing a stop and a tow.
What goes wrong with the BMW 4-Series air bags?: The common complaint is a "Passenger restraint system malfunction" or "Air Bag Off" warning, sometimes traced to the seat occupancy sensor. Dealers say the bags may not deploy while the warning shows. Owners say dealers often refuse to cover the repair under warranty.
Which 4-Series and Supra years should I avoid?: For the 4-Series, avoid 2018 and 2020, the weakest years. For the Supra, avoid 2020 and 2021. The strongest years for each are the newest, which have had less time to collect complaints, so check the car's history rather than trusting the year alone.

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How we score the BMW 4 Series and Toyota Supra

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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