2024 BMW I4 Reliability Report

Crashed my car because brakes failed.

The contact owned a 2024 BMW i4 eDrive40. The contact stated that while slowing for a traffic signal, as he slowed down to approximately 10 MPH and was coming to a full stop, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that he was still depressing the brake pedal when the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into the rear end of the vehicle in front and stopped at the traffic signal. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's front end and hood were crushed and bent in towards the windshield. The contact stated that all of the air bags had deployed, front, side, and knee air bags. The contact stated that he was not injured nor was his wife who was seated in the front passenger seat, his daughter who was sitting behind his wife in the rear passenger seat complained of some back pain. The contact stated that the person in the vehicle in front of his vehicle was also not injured. The police arrived on the scene and filed a report. The contact stated that EMS was also at the scene and had examined his daughter who was transported to the hospital and later released with no injuries only soreness. The contact stated that his vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact was not sure of what happened to the other vehicle. The contact stated that his insurance provider had declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact stated that the manufacturer had contacted him to request permission to have two investigators check his vehicle. The contact was advised that the electrical system had been tampered with. The contact had recently received a recall notice from the manufacturer for another vehicle he owned, a 2024 BMW 530i, for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control - ESC, Service Brakes Hydraulic). The contact related the failure of his 2024 BMW i4 eDrive40 to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

The vehicle experienced two sudden and complete losses of power, on December 29, 2025, and again on February 18, 2026. In both instances, the vehicle became inoperable while in motion and required towing. These failures created hazardous roadside situations.

The contact owns a 2024 BMW i4 equipped with Pirelli Tires, Tire Line: P Zero XL, Tire Size: 255/40/19, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the passenger's side rear tire had a blowout. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence of a friend. The following morning, the contact purchased another tire and replaced the tire. While the tire was being replaced, the contact inspected the tire and became aware that the tread on the inside of the tire was separating, which caused the failure. The contact researched and became aware that the failure was a common failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that it was a common failure and that the failure occurred due to the angle of the design of the tire. The tire was replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Summary of the Problem: While driving my leased BMW i4 M50 on the highway on [XXX], the rear passenger tire suddenly exploded without any prior warning or impact. This caused me to lose control briefly and nearly resulted in a serious accident. I was forced to pull over in unsafe conditions on a busy roadway. Details of the Incident: The tire failed suddenly while traveling at highway speed. No pothole, debris, or curb impact occurred prior to the blowout. I contacted BMW Roadside Assistance immediately, but was told it would take at least two hours before anyone could arrive, leaving me stranded in a dangerous location. The vehicle was towed the next day, [XXX], to BMW of Sacramento. The service department dismissed the issue and told me it was not their problem, refused to cover the tire failure, and even told me to go rent a car from Enterprise instead of providing a loaner. Safety Concern: This is a new EV leased vehicle and the sudden tire failure presented a serious safety hazard. A tire blowout at highway speeds could easily have caused a crash with severe injuries. The lack of immediate roadside support further increased the danger. The dismissive response from the dealership raises concerns about whether BMW is properly addressing potential tire or component defects in this vehicle. Action Requested: I am reporting this incident because I believe this may represent a defect or safety issue that warrants investigation. A sudden tire explosion on a new BMW EV, combined with BMW’s inadequate safety support, puts drivers and the public at significant risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am reporting a serious and recurring safety issue with my 2024 BMW i4, which I leased new in December 2023. The vehicle currently has approximately 20,000 miles and has stalled multiple times at high speeds, displaying a drivetrain malfunction warning and issues related to the power supply and high-voltage battery system. This is extremely dangerous, especially in high-risk driving environments such as highways, bridges, and tunnels in Manhattan. A sudden stall compromises power steering and braking and could easily lead to a fatal crash. I have already had the vehicle towed to the service center three separate times, yet the issue remains unresolved. Given the repeated nature of this failure in a relatively new vehicle, I am deeply concerned this may be a broader defect in the i4 model and urge the NHTSA to please investigate. This issue has happened three separate time within the span of only 2 months. I am extremely worried and do not trust the car nor feel safe to operate it. I've included the two repair invoices I've received from BMW so far and the vehicle is currently at the service center for it's third attempt.

On March 2, 2025, while driving my BMW i4 with my daughter, the vehicle suddenly spun out twice into oncoming freeway traffic during a routine lane change, violently crashing into an embankment. Thankfully, we weren’t physically hurt, but my daughter was deeply traumatized. We brought the car to Stevens Creek BMW immediately. What followed only made things worse. Rather than investigate the serious safety failure, the service team blamed us—citing the i4’s heavy battery as the cause. They admitted it causes accelerated tire wear but denied any responsibility. They also falsely inflated our mileage to 22,892 miles (actual: 15,109) to justify the wear and shift blame. BMW is now demanding over $10,000 in repairs and has threatened $110/day in storage fees—pressuring us as we seek a fair solution. As longtime BMW customers, we trusted the brand with our safety. That trust is gone. A car under a year old should not spin out from normal driving. This is a clear safety defect. Efforts to escalate through BMW Consumer Services failed: the listed support email bounced, and the Consumer Advocacy page led to a dead link (screenshots available). That page has since been removed—highlighting a broken system. Unprofessional Conduct & Lack of Transparency At the dealership, I was treated dismissively for raising concerns and forced to return the loaner car despite no resolution. We’ve had to rent a car while still paying $776.64/month for an undriveable lease. BMW also refused to share the inspection report allegedly conducted by BMW USA engineers—despite initially promising it. BMW staff admitted the i4’s heavy battery causes premature tire wear—a known risk never disclosed at lease signing. This vehicle should never have been released without warning consumers. We no longer feel safe in this vehicle. We respectfully request: Lease Termination & Buyout — BMW to fully cover the lease as nothing they've offered us reflects the trauma, risk, or poor treatment we’ve endured.

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)