2018 BMW X4 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2018 BMW X4 has 11 complaints with NHTSA after 9 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most X4 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Pump.

2015 BMW X4 — Photo by Bull-Doser, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (7 of 11), then Engine and engine cooling (5) and Engine (3). The most filings arrived in 2025 (7 of 11). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2017 and 2019

The 2017 X4 has 3 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 10 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 BMW X4. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (1)

Recall engine and cooling, cooling system, pump 2024-08-13 · NHTSA campaign 24V608000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Complaints by component (11 total)

Electrical system

Engine and engine cooling

Engine

Powertrain

Service brakes

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"We heard a whining sound under the hood on November 1st, 2025. Prior to noticing this noise, there were no warming lamps or messages appearing. Following a short drive we smelled burning in the garage. We did not drive…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2025-12-22
"The water pump was found to have extreme corrosion after several other components on the car were damaged from the coolant leak into the electrical system. The car was suddenly losing power while driving and the DME was…"
Electrical system, Engine · filed 2025-08-23
"The contact owns a 2018 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The…"
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system · filed 2025-07-18
"Unknown: Dealership replaced my brakes however they weren’t working properly I reported it 3 times BMW said it was common about 2 weeks later I was involved in a car accident where the brakes failed to respond and I…"
Service brakes · filed 2025-06-17
"Water pump completely failed and no longer working. I had to pull off of road on a busy interstate. Firestone confirmed water pump no longer working. Vehicle is at BMW service center. No warning until vehicle overheated…"
Unknown or other · filed 2025-06-01

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2018 BMW X4 SUV AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
X4 M40i	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	18	25	21 MPG	$3800
X4 xDrive28i	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	28	23 MPG	$3450

Specs and fitment

F26 generation, 2015–2018

Body styles Coupe SUV

Oil 0W-20 (28i); 0W-30 (35i/M40i-era engines; verify label; ~5.3–6.9 qt with filter by engine)

Tire size 245/50R18, 245/45R19 or 245/40R20 front; staggered 275/40R19 or 275/35R20 rear on some packages front / 245/50R18–245/40R20 square or 275-series staggered rear rear

Known issues for this generation

The 2015 X4 SAV with N20 power was included in the Gelis timing-chain / oil-pump drive chain class-action settlement (final approval February 2021; BMW SI B11 02 21). Eligibility depended on production range and claim deadlines that have closed. Recall 24V608000 covers certain 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i vehicles (among ~720,796 multi-model units) for a water-pump electrical connector that may short and increase fire risk; dealers inspect/replace the pump and connector and install a shield. Recall 23V797000 also names certain 2015 X4 xDrive35i vehicles (with X3/X5) for a driver air bag inflator that may explode.

Compare

Previous year 2017 BMW X4 Next year 2019 BMW X4 See every BMW X4 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 BMW X4 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2018 BMW X4?

Is the 2018 BMW X4 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2017 X4 has 3 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 10 complaints, 2 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2018 BMW X4 been recalled?

The 2018 BMW X4 has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 BMW X4?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2018 BMW X4 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2018 BMW X4 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 BMW X4 is 22 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a BMW X4 use?

F26 models commonly list 0W-20 or 0W-30 by engine; G02 models likewise—capacity varies about 5.3–7.4 qt with filter depending on engine.

What tire sizes does a BMW X4 use?

OEM sizes commonly start at 245/50R18 or 245/50R19 with optional 20–21 inch packages and staggered M fitments.

What timing-chain settlement covers certain early X4 models?

The 2015 X4 SAV with N20 power was included in the Gelis timing-chain / oil-pump drive chain class-action settlement (BMW SI B11 02 21).