Selling a BMW i4 that won't drive
Six of the BMW i4's 12 recall campaigns deal with its high-voltage battery or the unit that charges it. One of them, recall 22V541, told some 2022 owners not to drive or charge the car at all and to park it outside.
- Model years in EPA data
- 2022-2026
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 94
- Year with the most complaints
- 2023 (45)
- Recall campaigns
- 12, six on the high-voltage battery
- Battery
- 83.9 kWh lithium-ion
- Built in
- Munich, Germany
If your i4 shows a battery warning, won't power up or is waiting on a dealer, you can sell it the way it is. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
What the i4 is
The i4 is BMW's battery-electric Gran Coupe. Wikipedia says it has been built in Munich since October 2021, on the CLAR platform it shares with the 4 Series Gran Coupe. It has a single-speed transmission and an 83.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, and Wikipedia gives its EPA range as 260 miles. EPA data covers the 2022 to 2026 model years, in eDrive35, eDrive40, M50 and M60 xDrive versions.
Known problems, early cars and later cars
There is only one i4 generation so far, so the split here is by model year.
2022-2023: the battery recalls
These two years hold 55 of the 94 complaints owners have filed with NHTSA. The 2023 alone has 45, more than any other year, and the electrical system is the component its owners name most (11 times).
The recalls on these cars center on the high-voltage system:
- 22V541 (2022 eDrive40 and M50): damage inside the battery could cause a short. Do not drive, do not charge, park outside until the dealer fix.
- 22V944: dealers update the battery control software.
- 23V295 (2023): dealers replace the battery cell monitoring circuit.
- 23V449: dealers replace the combined charging unit.
- 25V470: dealers replace battery cell modules that may not have been put together properly.
Every one of those campaigns also covers the iX, and some cover the i7. So NHTSA's vehicle counts, such as 367 for 22V541 or 14,086 for 22V944, are whole-campaign numbers, not i4 counts.
2024-2026: a cracking beam and drive software
The 2024 has 26 complaints, with the power train named most (4). Recall 24V611 is an i4-only campaign: on 1,150 2024 eDrive40, xDrive40 and M50 cars, the left-side longitudinal beam may crack. A dealer checks it and swaps it out if it needs it. Recall 24V135 covers battery modules with weak weld seams that can overheat; it also includes the i5.
Recall 25V395 reaches back to 2022 and runs through 2025. The drive motor software may shut down the high-voltage system and cut drive power. The fix is a software update over the air or at a dealer. Its 71,286 vehicles include the iX, i7 and i5.
The 2025 has 12 complaints and the 2026 has one. Those i4s are the youngest, so reports are still coming in.
Complaints and recalls by model year
Complaint numbers reflect NHTSA's data on October 10, 2026. Since one recall campaign can reach across several model years, the last column doesn't total 12.
| Model year | Complaints | Crash reported | Recall campaigns | Component named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | 8 | Electrical system (3) |
| 2023 | 45 | 8 | 7 | Electrical system (11) |
| 2024 | 26 | 8 | 3 | Power train (4) |
| 2025 | 12 | 3 | 2 | Electrical system (2) |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Service brakes (1) |
Across all years, 22 of the 94 complaints mention a crash and 17 mention the car being towed.
Fix it or sell it?
- Start by checking the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup. Battery, charging unit and software recalls are done free at a BMW dealer.
- Battery done and not covered? Get the dealer's diagnosis in writing, then compare it with what a running i4 of the same year brings. The EV battery guide walks through that choice.
- Warnings that come and go? The electrical problems guide covers when chasing them stops making sense.
Selling your i4 whole
- Note the VIN, the mileage, what the dash says, and whether the car will shift into Neutral.
- Get an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
- Say where it is parked and if a recall letter told you to keep it outside. The truck that comes needs to know how it will load.
- Sell the whole car as it sits. Leave the battery, wheels and charging cable with it, and mention anything already removed.
- For the i4, have the signed title and your photo ID for the driver. After you sell covers plates and insurance by state.
Questions people ask
- Which i4 model year has the most NHTSA complaints?
- It's the 2023. Of 94 owner complaints at NHTSA on October 10, 2026, it has 45. The 2024 has 26 and the 2025 has 12. A 2025 or 2026 is still new, so its low count doesn't tell you much so far.
- Which i4 recall told owners to stop driving?
- Recall 22V541, on some 2022 i4 eDrive40 and M50 cars. There could be damage inside the high-voltage battery, which can lead to a short circuit. Owners were told not to drive or charge the car and to park it outside, away from buildings, until a dealer finished the fix. The campaign also covers the iX.
- Will you buy an i4 with a dead battery that won't power on?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Say if your i4 won't power on, if it rolls, and if a recall said to park it outdoors.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), BMW i4, downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data: BMW i4 model years and versions fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 22V541: high-voltage battery, do not drive nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 22V944: battery control software nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 23V295: battery cell monitoring circuit nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 23V449: combined charging unit nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 24V135: battery module weld seams nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 24V611: left-side longitudinal beam, 2024 i4 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 25V470: battery cell modules nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 25V395: drive motor software, loss of drive power nhtsa.gov
- Wikipedia: BMW i4 (production, plant, platform, battery, range) en.wikipedia.org