Reliable Auto DB

2016 BMW Z4 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2016 BMW Z4 has 4 complaints with NHTSA after 11 years, or 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Z4 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Pump.

2012 BMW Z4
Photo by Green Yoshi, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

4

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (1 of 4), then Engine and engine cooling (1) and Seat belts (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2019

The 2015 Z4 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 5 complaints, 1 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 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 2016 BMW Z4. How we count. Data as of .

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 (4 total)

Electrical system
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Seat belts
1
Speed control
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12016120201202412025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2016 BMW Z4. 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 2025-02-19
  • "The air conditioning system has a very very foul musty smell when you first start the vehicle after sitting for a few hours. It will go away after a few minutes, but the dealer nor repair shops can fix the issue. System…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2024-08-22
  • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS STOPPED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AN UNKNOWN NOISE WAS HEARD AS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF…"
    Speed control · filed 2020-03-13
  • "ABOUT 20% OF TIME, DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT JAMS, WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RECESS/RETAINER BEHIND SEAT WITHOUT USING MY HAND FOR COUPLE MINUTES TO JIGGLE ENOUGH. NO PROBLEM ONCE I GET IT TO RELEASE. THEN FITS IN CONNECTOR AND…"
    Seat belts · filed 2016-09-22

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 BMW Z4 C RWD 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
Z4 sDrive28i 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 22 33 26 MPG $3050
Z4 sDrive28i 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 22 32 26 MPG $3050
Z4 sDrive35i 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) Rear-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $4200
Z4 sDrive35is 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) Rear-wheel drive 17 23 19 MPG $4200

Specs and fitment

Tracked generation(s), 2012–present
Body styles Convertible
Oil SAE 0W-20 (N20/G29); SAE 0W-30 (E89 N55 sDrive35is; confirm under-hood label)
Tire size 225/35R19–225/45R18 (E89/G29; trim-dependent), 255/30R19–255/40R18 (staggered packages) front / 255/30R19–275/40R18 (trim-dependent; staggered on M Sport / sDrive35is) rear

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA complaints and recalls for BMW Z4 vehicles in the tracked years include air-bag, braking (vacuum pump lubrication campaigns such as 13V-454 on related N20 engines), lighting, and electrical themes shared across BMW 3/4/5/7/M lines. Confirm each campaign by VIN; many unit totals span multiple BMW models.

Compare

Next year 2019 BMW Z4 See every BMW Z4 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 BMW Z4 reliable?

The 2016 BMW Z4 has 4 complaints with NHTSA after 11 years, or 0 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Z4 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Pump.

What are common problems with a 2016 BMW Z4?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (1 of 4), then Engine and engine cooling (1) and Seat belts (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2016 BMW Z4 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Z4 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2019 has 5 complaints, 1 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.

Has the 2016 BMW Z4 been recalled?

The 2016 BMW Z4 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 2016 BMW Z4?

Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2016 BMW Z4 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 BMW Z4 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 BMW Z4 is 22.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US BMW Z4 use?

SAE 0W-20 (N20/G29); SAE 0W-30 (E89 N55 sDrive35is; confirm under-hood label)

What tire sizes fit a US BMW Z4?

Published US specs commonly list front 225/35R19–225/45R18 (E89/G29; trim-dependent), 255/30R19–255/40R18 (staggered packages) and rear 255/30R19–275/40R18 (trim-dependent; staggered on M Sport / sDrive35is); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US BMW Z4?

NHTSA complaints and recalls for BMW Z4 vehicles in the tracked years include air-bag, braking (vacuum pump lubrication campaigns such as 13V-454 on related N20 engines), lighting, and electrical themes shared across BMW 3/4/5/7/M lines. Confirm each campaign by VIN; many unit totals span multiple BMW models.