Toyota bZ4X
Toyota's first pure electric vehicle on the e-TNGA platform. Front-wheel drive with 150 kW, solid range of around 400 km. Initial recall for loose wheel bolts, now resolved. Software updates improve charging performance.
Electric SUV with potential
150 kW electric drive — quiet instant thrust and high body rigidity. Adequate for a family SUV, but not an electric experience that truly excites.
Engine Weaknesses 6
Toyota issued a worldwide recall for the bZ4X in 2022: wheel bolts could come loose through hard steering at low speed. Fixed with improved wheel bolts.
Symptoms: Knocking noise from wheel area; steering wheel vibrations; in the worst case wheel detachment
The 12V auxiliary battery of the bZ4X drains even in new vehicles without apparent cause. Owners report up to 4 battery replacements in 8 months. Root cause: defective charge management system.
Symptoms: Vehicle won't power on, display stays dark, doors cannot be opened, all functions dead despite full HV battery
Recall for bZ4X (prod. 11/2021–08/2023): The instrument cluster ECU does not fully shut down when the vehicle is switched off. On the next startup the display remains blank. Turn signals and safety systems fail.
Symptoms: Black display on startup, no warning or indicator lights, turn signals and safety systems non-functional
A case documented on bz4x-forum.de shows a coolant hose at the electric motor chafing through and causing an EV system fault. The electric motor cooling system is sensitive to mechanical damage.
Symptoms: 'EV system malfunction' warning, park and contact dealer, coolant loss
A weak 12V starter battery is a common issue on the bZ4X (bz4x-forum.de). The battery management software does not always adequately recharge the 12V battery, especially at certain ECU sleep states.
Symptoms: Vehicle won't start despite main battery being charged, recurring 12V start issues, error messages after sitting
Many bZ4X owners report that the vehicle never reaches the specified 150 kW during DC fast charging, throttling permanently to 50 kW instead. After more than 3 charges within 24 h, charging can drop to 13 kW.
Symptoms: Charging takes significantly longer than expected, charging station shows low power output
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
During sharp cornering and sudden braking the wheel bolts can come loose. 283 vehicles were affected in Germany.
In 2022 bZ4X vehicles, the curtain airbags may have been installed incorrectly.
The bZ4X XEAM10 was delivered with an undersized 12V auxiliary battery. Parking, apps or 'My-Room-Mode' can drain it completely. Result: vehicle completely dead, parking brake defective, no unlocking with the key.
Toyota recalled all delivered bZ4X vehicles in 2022 because the wheel hub bolts can come loose during hard braking or cornering. In extreme cases the wheel can fall off. Affected all approximately 260 vehicles delivered at that time.
A communication fault between the data communication module and instrument cluster affects approximately 4,500 bZ4X vehicles in Germany.
Real-world range in winter temperatures falls significantly below the WLTP figure.
In the ADAC winter test the bZ4X FWD achieved only 46% of its WLTP range (approx. 233 km instead of 504 km). Heating consumes up to 40% of available power. DC fast charging not possible on AWD variants in cold conditions.
Reports & Tests
25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2022–2025). Most reported: Electrical (8), Other (6), Wheels (5).