2020 BMW 4 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 1 of 5 complaints (20%) mentions it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 25 in 2019 to 5 in 2020.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | vs. 2020 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,350 | 2,850–3,700 | 2,850–3,700 | 2,650–3,000 | 2,750–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–27 | 21–27 | 21–27 | 26–29 | 25–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–24 / 29–34 | 18–24 / 28–34 | 18–23 / 27–34 | 23–26 / 31–34 | 22–25 / 29–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 324–390 | 324–413 | 327–412 | 304–338 | 312–360 | |
| Complaints filed | 43 | 25 | 5 | 15 | 8 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 11 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 8 |
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 2020 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 2020 BMW 4 Series?
Engine: 1 of 5 NHTSA complaints (20%) mentions it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 BMW 4 Series get?
EPA rates it 21–27 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 BMW 4 Series?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (15)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 23 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 327 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | $3,000 | 344 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 361 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg | 28 mpg | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 394 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 327 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 33 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 351 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 31 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 361 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 23 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 327 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 21 mpg | 31 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 361 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 353 g/mi |
| Configuration 11 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg (low) | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 408 g/mi |
| Configuration 13 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg (low) | 28 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | $3,700 (high) | 412 g/mi (high) |
Show 3 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 356 g/mi |
| Configuration 14 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 353 g/mi |
| Configuration 15 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 22 mpg | 30 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 356 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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)
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER · Campaign 19V352000 · May 13, 2019
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2 Competition Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, and 2019 330i xDrive Sportswagon vehicles. The driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies may have been improperly folded and assembled.
Consequence: An improperly folded and assembled air bag may not deploy as intended, increasing risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the knee air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.