2018 BMW 4 Series

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Engine

Engine leads by volume: 22 of 43 complaints (51%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 29 in 2017 to 43 in 2018.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2018: 4 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category20162017201820192020vs. 2018 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,850–3,5002,850–3,3502,850–3,3502,850–3,7002,850–3,700
Combined MPG22–2723–2723–2721–2721–27
City / Highway MPG19–23 / 28–3519–23 / 29–3419–24 / 29–3418–24 / 28–3418–23 / 27–34
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)330–399324–395324–390324–413327–412
Complaints filed552943255Not compared
Recalls issued12131Not compared
Crash-involved complaints21631Not compared
Fire-involved complaints00200Not compared
Injuries reported31913Not compared
Deaths reported00000Not compared
Configurations compared1111111111

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2018 BMW 4 Series have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2018 BMW 4 Series?

Engine: 22 of 43 NHTSA complaints (51%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2018 BMW 4 Series get?

EPA rates it 23–27 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 BMW 4 Series?

EPA estimates $2,850–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (15)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic (S8)42.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars24 mpg (high)34 mpg (high)27 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)324 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Automatic (S8)42.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars22 mpg32 mpg26 mpg$3,000343 g/mi
Configuration 3Automatic (S8)63.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars21 mpg29 mpg (low)24 mpg$3,250372 g/mi
Configuration 4Automatic (S8)63.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars20 mpg29 mpg (low)23 mpg (low)$3,350 (high)382 g/mi
Configuration 5Automatic (S8)42.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars24 mpg (high)34 mpg (high)27 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)324 g/mi (low)
Configuration 6Manual 6-spd42.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars21 mpg33 mpg25 mpg$3,100351 g/mi
Configuration 7Automatic (S8)42.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars23 mpg33 mpg27 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)333 g/mi
Configuration 8Automatic (S8)42.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars24 mpg (high)34 mpg (high)27 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)324 g/mi (low)
Configuration 9Automatic (S8)42.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars23 mpg33 mpg27 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)333 g/mi
Configuration 10Automatic (S8)63.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars21 mpg32 mpg25 mpg$3,100352 g/mi
Configuration 12Manual 6-spd63.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars19 mpg (low)29 mpg (low)23 mpg (low)$3,350 (high)390 g/mi (high)
Configuration 15Manual 6-spd63.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars19 mpg (low)29 mpg (low)23 mpg (low)$3,350 (high)389 g/mi
Show 3 more configurations
The remaining EPA-rated configurations on this page.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 11Automatic (S8)63.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars21 mpg31 mpg25 mpg$3,100357 g/mi
Configuration 13Automatic (S8)63.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars21 mpg32 mpg25 mpg$3,100352 g/mi
Configuration 14Automatic (S8)63.0LAll-Wheel DrivePremiumCompact Cars21 mpg31 mpg25 mpg$3,100357 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine222120
Transmission & Drivetrain20000
Fuel System20010
Electrical91000
Brakes21000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires10000
Airbags & Restraints73040
Driver Assistance & Speed Control31010
Body, Seats & Latches62020
Visibility & Lighting10000
Other60120

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • SEAT BELTS:FRONT · Campaign 17V507000 · Aug 17, 2017

    Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, and M4 convertible vehicles. The Emergency Locking Retractors (ELR) within the front seat belt assemblies may have been produced with incompatible vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism housings.

    Consequence: If the vehicle has an incompatible vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism, the seat belt may not restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary replace, the front seat belt assemblies, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.