BMW recall | MotorSafety.org

BMW recalls vehicles with faulty display

July 23, 2022 Senamile Nkosi BMW Recalls

Westwood, NJ – July 23, 2022 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling 6,930 vehicles whose display does not show critical safety information while being parked by a valet. This increases the risk of a crash.

The following vehicles are included in this recall:

2022 – 2023 BMW iX xDrive40
2022 – 2023 BMW iX xDrive50
2022 – 2023 BMW iX M60
2022 BMW i4 eDrive40
2022 BMW i4 M50

Recall summary

The affected vehicles are those equipped with a BMW hybrid electric powertrain and have a central information display (CID) that shows important safety information. The recalled vehicles’ CID may fail to show safety warnings when in valet parking mode due to a software error.

Valet parking mode is a setting that protects the main driver’s private information and can lock the tailgate when someone else is driving, such as when a valet is parking the vehicle.

Recall risks

If the driver cannot see warning lights or messages that should appear on the display, the risk of a crash increases.

Other recent BMW recalls

In March, nearly one million 2007 – 2010 BMW X5 SAV vehicles were recalled over engine fire risk.

There are no BMW i4 recall aside from this one at the moment.

There was a BMW hybrid recall in September of last year due to a brake assist issue. The recall included non-hybrid cars as well, as reported.

Repair

To remedy the BMW center display issue, owners will be asked to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the head unit software reprogrammed at no cost.

Owners can expect to receive further communication from BMW regarding the repair program around August 29, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 7,000 vehicles are included in this recall. To conduct a BMW recall check on your vehicle, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW issues recall over defective sunroof control unit

May 15, 2022 Senamile Nkosi BMW Recalls

Westwood, NJ – May 15, 2022 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling 61,221 vehicles which may allow the sunroof to close even if the key fob is not in the vehicle. This increases the risk of injury.

The following vehicles are included in this BMW recall:

2022 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive)
2019 – 2022 X5 sDrive40i
2019 – 2022 X5 xDrive40i
2019 – 2022 X5 xDrive50i
2019 – 2022 X5 M50i
2019 – 2022 X5M
2021 – 2022 X5 xDrive45e
2020 – 2022 X6 sDrive40i
2020 – 2022 X6 xDrive50i
2020 – 2022 X6M
2019 – 2023 X7 xDrive40i
2019 – 2023 X7 xDrive50i
2019 – 2023 X7 M50i
2019 – 2023 X7 xDrive60i
2019 – 2023 X7 M60i
2019 – 2023 X7M
Alpina XB7

Recall summary

For safety, and to comply with federal regulations, BMW sunroofs are supposed to close only when the key fob is inside the vehicle, indicating that the driver is present.

The affected sunroofs are programmed incorrectly and can be closed when the key fob is not in the vehicle.

Recall risks

A sunroof that is closed without the key fob present – by an unaccompanied child, for example – can increase the risk of injury.

Other recent BMW recalls

One of the most recent BMW X5 recalls was in March 2022 and included the 2007-2010 BMW X5 SAV. The heating element of the subject vehicles may short circuit and overheat, increasing the risk of injury to the driver and passengers.

Although there have been no notable BMW X6 recalls or BMW X7 recalls in recent months, there was another BMW sunroof-related recall in 2021. In March, BMW recalled nearly 15,000 vehicles whose sunroofs may close even after the car is turned off. Much like the current recall, this was attributed to a programming error.

The repair

Owners are encouraged to take their vehicles to a BMW dealer. Techs will reprogram the roof function control unit, which is responsible for the opening and closing of the sunroof. Alternatively, owners can opt for an over-the-air (OTA) reprogramming. Both options will be at no cost to owners.

Owners can expect to receive further communication from BMW regarding the repair program by June 13, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 60,000 BMW vehicles are included in this recall. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW recalls close to a million over risk of engine fire

March 13, 2022 Bojan Popic BMW Recalls

Westwood, NJ – March 13, 2022 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has issued a large-scale recall that involves 917,106 vehicles that may develop a fire inside their engine compartment. This increases the risk of a crash and injury.

A rather long list of vehicles affected by this recall includes:

2008 – 2013 BMW 128i
2006 – 2012 BMW Series 3
2006 – 2010 BMW Series 5
2007 – 2010 BMW X3 SAV
2007 – 2010 BMW X5 SAV
2006 – 2011 BMW Z4

At least some of these vehicles were previously recalled and repaired in 2017 and 2019 but will need a new remedy.

Recall summary

These BMW electrical issues are caused by a fault within a Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV). PCV is part of the engine whose role is to reduce air pollution by sending unwanted gases produced during the operation of the car into the cylinder. To stop these gases from solidifying in cold weather, the manufacturer has installed a heater inside this system. Due to a supplier error, the heating element of the recalled vehicles may short circuit and overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

The component in question is the PCV Valve Heater, with part numbers 7561408 or 2458830. The full list of the vehicles can be found here.

Recall risks

See this article about a similar BMW recall for more information on the risks.

Background of the recall

At least some of these vehicles were recalled in 2017 and then subsequently in 2019 for the same issue. This third recall is being done on the back of multiple reports of previously repaired vehicles experiencing fire in the engine compartment.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to the electrical short if the malfunction indicator light (MIL) warning light comes on. Other warning signs include a burning smell and smoke coming from underneath the hood.

Other BMW recalls

This is not a first-time BMW 3 series recall over the risk of fire, as there was a similar one in December 2021. Apart from that, in February 2021 there was a BMW 5 series recall also for the risk of fire.

The repair

At this time, BMW is working on a solution to this problem. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on April 25, 2022. All repairs will be done free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This BMW recall in 2022 is affecting more than 900,000 vehicles. To do a BMW recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW recalls Toyota Supra and 27,000 BMW cars for brake assist problem

September 4, 2021 Rebecca Rand BMW Recalls, Toyota Recalls

Westwood, NJ – September 4, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 50,024 vehicles that may lose the brake assist function due to a software issue. The recall includes 2020 – 2021 Toyota Supra sports cars made with BMW engines and the following BMW models:

2020 BMW 540i sedans
2020 BMW M340i sports sedans
2020 BMW X3 crossovers
2020 – 2021 BMW X4 crossovers
2019 – 2021 BMW Z4 roadsters
2020 – 2021 BMW 745Le sedans

The faulty component is the Engine Management software.

Recall summary

The recall addresses problems with the cars’ brake assist function, which helps stop the car faster in an emergency. The brake assist uses the force of a vacuum to boost the brakes’ power, giving them more stopping force when a driver slams on the brakes in an emergency. Normally, the car uses the tandem oil/vacuum pump to suck all the air out of the brake assist’s booster, creating a vacuum.

However, if the driver presses the start button twice in rapid succession or only lightly presses the brake pedal when starting the car, the software may cause the pump to become damaged, causing the booster to lose its power.

Risks

With the loss of brake assist, the car will have “mechanical braking” but will have a longer stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash. You can read more about the signs and dangers of brake assist failure in this article about a similar General Motors recall.

Safety tips

According to recall documents, drivers can avoid damaging the tandem oil/vacuum pump by:

Firmly pressing and holding the brake pedal when starting the engine.
Pressing the “start” button only once. (Don’t quickly turn the car on and off).

The repair

Dealers will update recalled vehicles’ engine management software for free. Owner notification letters with more information about when and how to get this repair will be sent out by October 1, though BMW has said the remedy is already available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 50,000 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To do a BMW recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW recalls vehicles over a risk of engine stalling

August 31, 2021 Bojan Popic BMW Recalls

Westwood, NJ – August 31, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 11,216 vehicles which may stall, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. This recall affects a wide range of diesel vehicles, including:

2014 – 2018 BMW 328D
2015 – 2017 BMW X3
2014 – 2016 BMW 535D
2014 – 2018 BMW X5
2015 BMW 740LD

The affected component in this recall is the BMW high-pressure fuel pump with part number 7810696 and 7283473

Recall summary

Vehicles in this recall have diesel engines with a so-called “common rail” fuel system, which allows better performance and fuel economy. Part of that system is a high-pressure fuel pump, whose internal components may wear excessively due to factors such as using low-quality fuel. In certain scenarios, the pump may shut itself down as a preventive measure, causing the vehicle to stall.

Warning signs

A warning light on the dashboard will illuminate when the fuel pump is not performing properly.

Risks

A vehicle that stalls while driving may lead to situations that are potentially dangerous to both its occupants and other motorists, especially if it happens in high-speed or dense traffic conditions. To read more

Other BMW recalls

All of these diesel vehicles were involved in a previous BMW recall where a potential coolant leak could result in a fire.

The repair

BMW authorized dealers will solve the issue by replacing the fuel pump with an improved version, which is less susceptible to wear. This repair is free of charge, and notifications will be sent to owners on September 20, 2021.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This BMW recall includes more than 11,000 vehicles. To check for this and other BMW recalls, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW recalls cars over Takata airbag malfunction

July 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand BMW Recalls, Takata Airbag Recalls

Westwood, NJ – July 2, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 4,511 cars equipped with faulty Takata airbag inflators that may cause the airbag malfunction during a crash. This may result in the driver-side airbag exploding during an accident, hurting the driver with metal shrapnel. It may also cause the airbag to become under-inflated, failing to protect the driver from injuries in a crash.

The affected component is the driver-side airbag with multiple part numbers, including 1095767 and 1095763.

BMW will pull Takata airbags from BMW 3 series vehicles, including:

1999 – 2001 BMW 3 Series
2000 – 2001 BMW 323CI
1999 – 2000 BMW 323i
2000 – 2001 BMW 325Ci
2000 – 2001 BMW 328Ci
1999 – 2001 BMW 328i
2000 – 2001 BMW 330Ci
1999 – 2001 BMW 330i
1999 – 2001 BMW 330xi
2001 BMW 323 i

Recall summary

The recalled BMWs’ airbags contain Non-Azide Driver Inflators (NADI), which have been subjected to several recalls since 2019. The recalled inflators may have a faulty seal, allowing moisture to get into the inflator and degrade the explosive chemicals inside.

The NADI airbags have a defect that is similar to – but separate from – the larger Takata airbag recall. That larger recall has affected millions of vehicles across the country, and cost BMW 131 million dollars in a 2017 BMW Takata class action settlement.

Previous recall

The airbags in question were inspected under a series of prior recalls in 2019, but not replaced. At least one of the prior recalls was associated with several injuries and a fatality outside of the U.S.

Risks

When moisture degrades the explosives in the inflator, the airbag inflator could generate more or less force during deployment than it should. Too much force will explode the airbag inflator, sending dangerous shrapnel through the vehicle, potentially maiming or killing occupants. Too little force will under-inflate the airbag, which could fail to protect someone during a crash, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Some of the BMWs recalled in 2019 were considered so dangerous that BMW instructed owners to not drive the car until the repair was completed. This time, BMW is telling owners that they can continue to drive the car, but is also imploring owners to schedule a free recall repair appointment as soon as slots become available.

The repair

Dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator with a newly designed inflator for free. BMW will notify owners about the recall by mail starting on July 19.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 4,500 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Third Brake Light on M6 Gran Coupe Could Detach

February 19, 2020 Marshall Earley BMW Recalls

re: NHTSA campaign 20V094000

Laguna Hills, CA – February 6, 2020 – BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is issuing a recall citing third brake lights that could loosen and detach from certain 2014 – 2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles.

If a third brake light detaches from the vehicle, it would not provide adequate exterior lighting to surrounding traffic, ultimately resulting in a higher risk of crash.

The potential number of affected vehicles is 2,728.

The defect

In certain BMW 2014 – 2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles the third brake light could loosen and detach from the vehicle. The first incidents cited of loose third brake lamp assemblies came in July, 2019.

BMW decided to issue an engineering review and field data analysis in August, suggesting the possible cause could be local weather due to the close proximity and dates of each of the incidents.

Since the M6 Gran Coupe was no longer in production, a specific review of the production process could not be performed, but the problem was expected to lie in the unique carbon fiber roof, a specific feature of the M6 Gran Coupe.

The months of September through November were spent assembling parts and vehicles for testing. Once the parts were assembled multiple tests were performed which consisted of long term environmental exposure to the carbon roof to determine its interaction with the third brake lamp.

In December, the tests were deemed inconclusive and environmental ware on the brake lamp fasteners and carbon roof were ruled out.

In January 2020, an additional series of tests were performed to determine the effect of loose and missing fasteners on the attachment of the third brake lamp.

By late January, BMW noted that prior to the official testing of the M6 Gran Coupe, fasteners for the third brake lamp were already loose. On January 31, tests concluded that the separation of the third brake lamp from the vehicle was due to missing or loose fasteners not environmental conditions.

On February 12, 2020 BMW decided to release an official recall, citing the test results.

The solution

All 2014 – 2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicle owners will receive a letter in April from BMW of North America, LLC citing the official recall. Vehicle users may still operate the vehicle if the third brake light becomes detached but are strongly advised not to.

Instead, BMW asks that all affected vehicle owners schedule an appointment at any authorized BMW center to perform the proper repair, free of charge. The repair of the detached brake light, new fasteners will be installed to secure the brake lamp into place.

This repair will take approximately one hour to complete. Owners wishing to have their vehicle serviced are advised to wait until they receive the official letter from BMW, so as to ensure the necessary tools, parts and procedures are available. In the meantime owners are free to schedule an appointment at any authorized BMW center.

You can check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

BMW Recalls Vehicles Equipped with Faulty Airbag Inflators

January 15, 2020 Marshall Earley BMW Recalls, Takata Airbag Recalls

re: NHTSA Campaign 20V017000

Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 23, 2020 – BMW of North American, LLC (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling nearly 60,000 vehicles equipped with faulty airbag inflators that could explode, sending sharp metal objects towards the driver and other occupants. The recall includes the following models:

2008-2013 BMW 1 SERIES M
2008-2013 BMW 128I
2008-2013 BMW 135I
2006-2011 BMW 325I
2006-2012 BMW 325XI
2006-2013 BMW 328I
2006-2012 BMW 328XI
2006-2011 BMW 330I
2006-2011 BMW 330XI
2009-2011 BMW 335D
2006-2013 BMW 335I
2007-2013 BMW 335IS
2006-2011 BMW 335XI
2006-2013 BMW M3
2013-2015 BMW X1
2007-2010 BMW X3
2007-2013 BMW X5
2008-2014 BMW X6
2010-2011 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid SAC

The defect

The affected driver-side frontal inflators are non-desiccated and contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as repair parts for all authorized Takata recalls.

Exposed to long periods of humidity and high temperatures, the ammonium nitrate (PSAN) could cause the driver frontal inflator to explode sending sharp metal fragments that could result in severe injury to the vehicle occupants or death.

The solution

BMW will notify affected vehicle owners by March 6, 2020 when the official recall will begin. All official BMW dealerships will perform the necessary repair free of charge. The repair consists of replacing the previous faulty Takata airbags with an inflator that does not contain ammonium nitrate.

X5 and X6 vehicles will only need the inflator and not the whole apparatus replaced.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Nearly 60,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 43,982 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

BMW recalls 1999-2001 vehicles with deadly Takata airbags

December 9, 2019 Sean Reyes BMW Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – November 26, 2019 -– BMW is recalling 74,185 vehicles equipped with deadly Takata-manufactured Non-Azide Driver airbag Inflators (NADI). The recall includes the following cars:

1999 – 2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i
2000 – 2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT

As of the date of the recall, one person was killed and another injured as a result of this defect. Therefore, it is important that you take your vehicle in for repair immediately. Use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool to see if your car is part of this recall.

The defect

BMW states that these specific units may have received replacement airbags as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator can absorb moisture, causing the airbag to rupture or underinflate.

All listed vehicles may have had these devices installed during repairs. In the event of a crash, a rupture of the inflator can result in dangerous metal fragments hitting drivers and passengers, while an underinflated airbag can fail to shield the occupants properly.

These issues increase the risk of severe injury or death. BMW has not provided any guidance on how to ascertain if a vehicle possesses the defective NADI inflators.

Owners should exercise caution; a solution is not yet available at this time, and BMW recommends that owners should not utilize their vehicles until safe removal processes are available.

Timeline of events

On November 26, 2019, manufacturer Takata (TK Global LLC) disclosed that some of their NADI inflators produced from 1995 – 2000 were defective and issued a recall for all known extant units and vehicles that may contain said units.

Later that day, BMW issued a recall for several different classes of vehicle, gradually adding more to the list by the end of the day. BMW North America is currently the only automobile manufacturer to have issued a recall relating to these defective Takata NADI inflators.

Recommending that owners do not currently drive their vehicles, BMW is sending interim notices about the risk to owners until January 17, and again when the remedy becomes available.

The solution

Dealers will inspect the cars and replace the defective airbags free of charge. Owners were last notified on November 20, 2020.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 74,000 cars were originally part of this recall. As of April 30, 2021, only 4,162 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be serviced, please use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the article to reflect the latest editorial standards; provided the most-up-to-date information in the “Solution” section and added the last section where drivers can check if their vehicle is part of this recall. To the best of our knowledge, the cars in this recall are not on the “Do not drive” list. However, out of the abundance of caution, we are keeping the original author’s recommendation NOT to drive these vehicles before they are repaired. Please contact support@motorsaf e ty.org with any questions.

Two BMW Models Recalled for Faulty Components

November 13, 2019 Sean Reyes BMW Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – November 6, 2019 – BMW of North America recently announced that it will recall two different models – both sedans – due to potentially faulty engine components.

In all, 217 vehicles – 100% of which are expected to contain the defect – are involved in the recall, including:

205 BMW 330i and 330i xDrive four-door sedans from the 2019 and 2020 model years
12 BMW Z4 two-door sedan from the 2020 model year

It is expected that all of the recalled components may not have been produced within specifications.

The defect

All 217 vehicles in the recall were made with an engine that contains needle roller bearings for counterbalance shafts that may not have been properly installed initially.

Specifically, this started during the production process, which may have been out of specification, during set production periods that vary by model.

For the 330i and 330i xDrive models in the recall, this lasted from November 22, 2018 to August 26, 2019. For the Z4s, it stretched from May 24, 2018, to April 3, 2019.

Due to the potentially improper installation process, affected needle roller bearings could lead to the counterbalance shaft loosening, causing severe engine damage.

That, in turn, could lead to the engines in recalled vehicles shutting down, increasing the risk of a crash. Drivers would be able to notice if this happened to their vehicles because there would be a loud noise emanating from the engine compartment.

Timeline of events

In May 2019, BMW was made aware of two separate instances in which drivers of affected vehicles heard the aforementioned noises, right before their vehicles broke down.

The first of these involved a 2019 3 Series sedan that had been made in February, and the second, involving a vehicle outside the U.S., was made in April. Both vehicles had low mileages, and the engines were flagged for return, tear down and analysis.

In June, BMW of North America conducted an engineering review of both engines and initially found that the counterbalance shaft’s needle roller bearings may have been to blame for the breakdowns.

Further analysis included looking into the production process while the company continued to monitor other vehicles in the field.

During that analysis period, another similar breakdown, this time including a 5 Series sedan that was made in May, occurred in September.

The engineering review eventually found that the press-in force for some needle roller bearings of the counterbalance shafts was smaller than specified, and engine production records indicated which of these components were affected by the defect based on production dates.

That, in turn, allowed BMW to determine which vehicles to recall, and the voluntary order itself was made on October 8.

To date, the company has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to the defect.

The solution

Owners of affected vehicles will be asked to bring their vehicles to authorized BMW dealers to have the engines replaced free of charge. These changes will be covered by the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty program and therefore will not require reimbursement.

Dealers received notification of the recall on October 15, and owners should get letters via First Class mail on or around December 6.

Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Recall summary

Recall risks

Other recent BMW recalls

Repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Recall risks

Other recent BMW recalls

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Recall risks

Background of the recall

Warning signs

Other BMW recalls

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

Safety tips

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Warning signs

Risks

Other BMW recalls

The repair

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Recall summary

Previous recall

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

The defect

The solution

The defect

The solution

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

The defect

Timeline of events

The solution

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

The defect

Timeline of events

The solution

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories