Showing the 2026 M M4 Competition. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
13–19 mpgcombined; city 11–16, highway 17–23; every version of this model year; plug-in hybrid versions on gasoline, 47–54 MPGe on electricity
Five years of fuel
$21,180–$22,360U.S. average; Ohio $19,960–$21,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026. Plug-in hybrid versions: $29,250–$31,500, EPA's own estimate for plug-in hybrids: its national gasoline and electricity prices and the share of miles it expects on electricity; not priced for any state
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2026 M. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 0 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 M. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2026 M over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 M5 Sportswagon, 2025-2026 M5, 2024-2025 750e xDrive, 2025-2026 550e xDrive, 2023-2025 I7, 2023-2025 7 Series, 2024-2026 i5, and 5 Series vehicles. The electrical wiring harness for the air conditioning system may become damaged during replacement of the cabin air filter.
Risk: A damaged wiring harness can short-circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the air conditioning system’s electrical wiring harness and add a retaining strap/bracket to the harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 13, 2026.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2026 228i Gran Coupe, 228i xDrive Gran Coupe, and M235i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with rear lights that may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and assoc. equipment."
Risk: A rear taillight, brake light, or rear turn signal light that functions improperly, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear lights, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 2, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 27, 2026.
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2026 2 Series Gran Coupe, X1, X2, and Mini Countryman S ALL4 vehicles. The housing pin in the rear (left and/or right) seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production, resulting in the retractor not locking the seat belt as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk: A damaged seat belt retractor may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear (left and/or right) seat belts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov December 12, 2025.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2026 M4 and 430i vehicles. The positive battery cables may not be properly connected to the power distribution box, resulting in an engine stall and a fire.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash and a fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace cables and power distribution box as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 17, 2025.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 14 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2026 M, the latest on Aug 19, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (7), engine (3), structure (2), service brakes (1), unknown or other (1).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2026 M.
EPA class: subcompact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 3–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
M2 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M2 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M2 CS Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M3 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M3 Competition Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M3 Competition M xDrive All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 18
M4 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Manual 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M4 Competition Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 19
M4 Competition M xDrive All-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline
16 / 23 / 18
M5 All-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline or Electricity 29 miles on electricity, 280 miles in all
12 / 19 / 14 on gasoline 47 MPGe on electricity
M5 Touring All-Wheel Drive
4.4 L, 8 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S8)
Premium Gasoline or Electricity 25 miles on electricity, 270 miles in all
11 / 17 / 13 on gasoline 54 MPGe on electricity
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data