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2021 BMW Z4Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1 owner complaint about the 2021 BMW Z4, most often about the unknown or other. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-636 the manufacturer reports only 71% of affected cars repaired.

2021 BMW Z4
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 71%Owner complaints10 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem1Unknown or other

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2021 BMW Z4 has problems

1 complaint grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2021 BMW Z4 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

71%repaired · 2026 Q3

Starter assembly: relay

Park outside

Recall 25V-636 · Sep 23, 2025 · 199,674 vehicles · 141,376 repaired

Risk. A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

96%repaired · 2023 Q2

Seat belts

Recall 21V-554 · Jul 21, 2021 · 21,537 vehicles · 20,780 repaired

Risk. During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
82%repaired · 2022 Q4

Storage: tank assembly

Recall 20V-700 · Nov 12, 2020 · 49 vehicles · 40 repaired

Risk. The failed weld may allow fuel to leak, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2021 vs. every other Z4 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Z4 median. How we score

'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'19'20'21'22'23'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2021 BMW Z4 safety ratings

2021 BMW Z4 C RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Standard
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words

What Z4 owners report

Recent unknown or other complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

There is a strong chemical smell when the AC is turned on and the system is loosing refrigerant. There is a common issue on these cars of premature evaporative core corrosion.
Complaint 11753894 · Jul 30, 2026

Own a 2021 Z4?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.