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Light NHTSA footprint — 22 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
This problem affects wheel style "296" a 19" optional alloy wheel package for e89 BMW z4. BMW part number 36116785257(rear wheel 19x9) and 36116785256(front wheel 19x8. Under normal driving conditions, multiple cracks developed on inner edge of rim lip leading to large drop in…
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…
I had two of these rims bend and crack ( model 296) I had the rim and tire warranty that I paid extra for and BMW covered a replacement for one and paid to have the other straightened. *tr
Both rear wheels developed cracks. These were 19 inch BMW style 296 wheels with run-flat tires. *tr
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Increased electrical resistance in that circuit could cause the safety belt tensioner to fail to deploy in a crash, possibly resulting in increased injury to the seat occupant.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 BMW Z4 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 BMW Z4 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the wheels first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 10 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 19,240 miles. Average repair cost runs about $400 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 22 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is wheels. Typical failure occurs around 19,240 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is wheels, with 10 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 19,240 miles. Average repair cost runs about $400 at an independent shop.
The wheels is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $400 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 19,240 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 22 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $400, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.