Is the BMW I4 more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz EQE?

Yes, by a large margin. The I4 draws about 3.1 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, while the EQE draws 18.6. The EQE's reports include stalls at low mileage, brake pedal sinking, and tire blowouts. The I4 has serious issues too, mainly unintended acceleration at low speed.

Which has more recalls, the I4 or the EQE?

The I4 has more, with 18 recalls across 3 model years. The EQE has 15 across 2 model years. Check the specific VIN for open recalls before buying either car, and confirm each repair was completed.

What goes wrong with the Mercedes-Benz EQE?

The most common reports involve the electrical system. Cars stall or lose propulsion while driving, often at 40 to 45 mph, and some failures came at only a few thousand miles. Owners also report tire blowouts, a soft brake pedal, and sudden power loss from highway speed.

Does the BMW I4 have unintended acceleration problems?

Owners have reported it. Cars launched on their own while parking or pulling away from a stop, sometimes with the brake pressed and no warning light. Several of these reports involve crashes. It is the most serious concern on the I4, though overall complaints remain low per car sold.

Which I4 model year should I buy?

Target 2024 or 2023, which are listed among the strongest years. Be more careful with 2022, which is listed among the weakest. Whatever the year, confirm recall work was finished and test how the car behaves at low speed.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

BMW i4

Good

Mercedes-Benz EQE

Mixed

The BMW I4 comes out well ahead of the Mercedes-Benz EQE on reliability. Owners file far fewer complaints per car sold on the I4. Both show serious low-speed acceleration reports, but the EQE adds early stalls and tire blowouts.

How Do the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz EQE Generations Compare?

Shoppers looking at the BMW are choosing between two versions of one generation. It is a fifth generation car (G26), sold in the US for model years 2022 and 2023, and a facelift (LCI) followed for 2024. That facelift year is among the strongest for reliability, while 2022 is among the weakest. The Mercedes-Benz sits in its first generation (V295), with generation data listing US model years 2022 and 2023. Any EQE you find belongs to that first design, so there is no later generation to compare it against.

Verdict

The BMW i4 is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz EQE, scoring 74/100 vs 59/100.

Owner complaints point clearly to the BMW as the more reliable car, and the gap is large. It draws about 3.1 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 18.6 for the Mercedes-Benz. The BMW is not clean. Low-speed unintended acceleration is its most serious concern, and it carries more recalls, 18 to 15, across one extra model year. Even so, early stalls and repeated tire blowouts on the EQE reach a much larger share of its owners.

Key Differences

1BMW i4 has 15.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2BMW i4 scores 15 points higher in reliability
3Mercedes-Benz EQE has 3 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2BMW i4

—

1Mercedes-Benz EQE

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE: Which Is More Reliable?

BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	BMW i4	Mercedes-Benz EQE
Reliability Score	74/100	59/100
Years Tracked	3	2
Total Recalls	18	15
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.1	18.6
Year Wins	2	0

What Are the Common Problems With the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz EQE?

Loss of control at low speed defines the BMW's worst reports. Cars lunged forward while parking or leaving a stop sign, sometimes with the brake pressed and no warning light. Speed control and brake complaints are each mostly crash-linked. Drivetrain faults can also stop the car in a highway lane. The EQE fails earlier and more often. Owners describe stalls around 40 to 45 mph within the first few thousand miles, a soft brake pedal, and Pirelli blowouts, one owner reporting six. All three of its air bag complaints are crash-linked, including no deployment in a severe frontal crash.

BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE common problem areas comparison
Component	BMW i4	Mercedes-Benz EQE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	5.1Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.6Very Low	4.7Average
POWER TRAIN	0.6Very Low	1.3Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	1.3Low
AIR BAGS	—None	1.3Low
TIRES	0.1Very Low	0.8Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.8Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.1Very Low	—None

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

How Does BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE Reliability Compare by Year?

BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE year-by-year reliability scores
Year	BMW i4	Mercedes-Benz EQE	Edge
2024	78/1003R / 22C	61/1005R / 14C	BMW i4
2023	73/1007R / 40C	56/10010R / 30C	BMW i4

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 BMW i4 scored 78/100 and the 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE scored 61/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the BMW i4 vs the Mercedes-Benz EQE?

Pick the I4 if you want the lower chance of trouble. Its complaint rate is far below the EQE's, and 2024 and 2023 are listed as its strongest years. Aim for 2024 first, then 2023. Be most careful with 2022, which is listed among the weakest. Test the car in a parking lot, and ask the dealer to confirm every open recall was completed. One owner could not get a recall repair done because the navigation and stereo were failing. Consider the EQE only if you accept a higher risk of early problems. Its owners report stalls and loss of propulsion at low mileage, and dealers sometimes could not reproduce the fault or lacked a part. If you still want one, check the tires carefully. Ask whether the car has had blowouts, stall warnings, or a control unit software update. Walk away from any EQE with unresolved shutdowns or a sinking brake pedal, since dealers often said nothing was wrong.

BMW i4 vs Mercedes-Benz EQE: Common Questions

Is the BMW I4 more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz EQE?: Yes, by a large margin. The I4 draws about 3.1 owner complaints per 10,000 sold, while the EQE draws 18.6. The EQE's reports include stalls at low mileage, brake pedal sinking, and tire blowouts. The I4 has serious issues too, mainly unintended acceleration at low speed.
Which has more recalls, the I4 or the EQE?: The I4 has more, with 18 recalls across 3 model years. The EQE has 15 across 2 model years. Check the specific VIN for open recalls before buying either car, and confirm each repair was completed.
What goes wrong with the Mercedes-Benz EQE?: The most common reports involve the electrical system. Cars stall or lose propulsion while driving, often at 40 to 45 mph, and some failures came at only a few thousand miles. Owners also report tire blowouts, a soft brake pedal, and sudden power loss from highway speed.
Does the BMW I4 have unintended acceleration problems?: Owners have reported it. Cars launched on their own while parking or pulling away from a stop, sometimes with the brake pressed and no warning light. Several of these reports involve crashes. It is the most serious concern on the I4, though overall complaints remain low per car sold.
Which I4 model year should I buy?: Target 2024 or 2023, which are listed among the strongest years. Be more careful with 2022, which is listed among the weakest. Whatever the year, confirm recall work was finished and test how the car behaves at low speed.

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How we score the BMW i4 and Mercedes-Benz EQE

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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