vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Bmw Z4 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

17,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 22 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation522.7%
Transmission and shifting313.6%
Braking behavior29.1%
Electrical and battery issues14.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Wheels
11
Engine
4
Electrical System
2
Seat Belts
2
Air Bags
1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Wheels11
Engine4
Electrical System2
Seat Belts2
Air Bags1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Fuel/Propulsion System1

Wheels: 11; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
1
2010
2
2011
1
2012
4
2013
2
2014
4
2017
1
2018
2
2020
3
2024
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20102
20111
20124
20132
20144
20171
20182
20203
20242

2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 3; 2024: 2

Pattern summary

Wheels leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10292691 · 2009-11-18 (November 18, 2009)

MY 2009 BMW Z4 WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT A 65 ANGLE TO THE REAR OF MY TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK. I GOT INTO THE BMW INTENDING MOVE IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE CAR HAS A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND WAS IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND STARTED THE ENGINE. AN INSTANT AFTER THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASED, THE RUBBER CLUTCH PEDAL COVER SLIPPED OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL TAKING MY FOOT WITH IT. THE BMW SHOT FORWARD. THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER OF THE BMW STRUCK THE LEFT REAR BUMPER OF THE TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK STALLING THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,516 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292691 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10356054 · 2010-09-16 (September 16, 2010)

I AM LEASING A 2009 Z4 BMW, THE ENGINE CAR STALL WHILE DRIVING THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN A PERIOD OF 2 WEEKS, I ALMOST HAVE A CAR CRASH BEHIND IN BOTH OPPORTUNITIES, THANKS THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY SLOW, THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO GO OUT THE ROAD. I BROUGHT THE CAR THE FOR SERVICE, THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE, AFTER ONE WEEK AT THE SHOP THEY SAY IT WAS A COMPUTER FAILURE, THEY REPLACE THE COMPUTER HOWEVER AFTER 2 WEEKS THE CAR STILL IN THE SHOP I HAVE CALL SEVERAL TIMES TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE SERVICE SHOP BUT I DON'T GET ANY SPEC…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356054 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10597727 · 2014-06-11 (June 11, 2014)

THE CAR HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIME WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IN SOME INSTANCES I DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP SUCH AS CROSSING A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, JUST SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY. AS I WENT TO ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO POWER. CAR STARTS RIGHT BACK UP EACH TIME BUT YOU MUST STOP TO PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). NEARLY HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE, SOLD ME A $400 BATTERY AS THE FIX. C…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597727 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11340972 · 2020-07-22 (July 22, 2020)

EBRAKE FAILURE. I WENT ON THE Z4 FORUM AND MANY PEOPLE REPORT THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE / EMERGENCY BRAKE SIMPLY FAILING TO WORK.

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 11340972 at NHTSA ↗