17 recalls for 18 BMW models in 2020
In 2020, BMW announced seventeen recalls for eighteen models through the EU Rapex system.
Almost 21,000 cars worldwide have been affected by the BMW recall due to the tie rods, which can break. In addition to the 3-Series, the X3/X4 SUVs and Z4 Roadster manufactured between September 2018 to August 2019 may also be affected. Such a failure would lead to a loss of wheel control on one side of the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident.
The high-voltage battery problem in plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) has led the BMW Group to announce two recalls. The first for 4,500 cars, while the second for almost 27,000. With the plug-in versions of the BMW 3-Series, 3-Series Touring, X1, X2, X3, X5, 2-Series Active Tourer, 7-Series, 5-Series, 5-Series Touring, and Mini Countryman the internal controls revealed that the welds on a high-voltage battery were insufficiently cleaned during production. Vehicle owners are strongly advised not to charge their cars at a charging station due to a fire risk.
At the end of the year, BMW extended the recall due to glycol leakage from the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler for the second time. The initially announced recall from 2018 was already expanded in the autumn of 2019. In total, more than half a million cars with four – and six-cylinder diesel engines may be in a fire risk.
The most recalled models were the BMW 3-Series, and the BMW X3 with six recalls each.
All the recalls sorted by models are listed in the tables below.
We’ve written about some problems in more detail in a separate article.
- BMW recall: EGR campaign extended for the second time
- BMW is recalling another 26,700 plug-in hybrids (PHEV) due to the risk of fire
- BMW urges owners not to charge its plug-in hybrid models, announces a recall
- Possible steering failure with the BMW’s 3-Series, X3, X4 and Z4 models
- Which cars are the most clocked? BMW and Skoda in the top 15
- Tip: BMW recalls in the UK
BMW recalls in 2020 by model
BMW 1-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series (2020) | 17. 05. 2020 | The driver’s airbag may be damaged during activation and may fail to inflate sufficiently. This will impair its restraining effect, increasing ... . |
| BMW 1 Series (2007 – 2011) | 23. 01. 2020 | The connector of the positive battery cable on the front power distribution box may be damaged over the lifetime of the ... . |
✅ All BMW 1’s Recalls
BMW 2-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 2-Series Active Tourer PHEV (2020) | 07. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW 2er Gran Coupe (2020) | 17. 05. 2020 | The driver’s airbag may be damaged during activation and may fail to inflate sufficiently. This will impair its restraining effect, increasing ... . |
✅ All BMW 2’s Recalls
BMW 3-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 3-Series PHEV (2020) | 07. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW 3-Series (2018 – 2019) | 21. 08. 2020 | A vibration fatigue failure of the track rod may occur due to an exceptional bending load. Such a failure would lead ... . |
| BMW 3 Series / E46 (1997 – 2000) | 12. 06. 2020 | The ammonium nitrate propellant used in the airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after ... . |
| BMW 3 Series (2019 – 2020) | 05. 05. 2020 | The cable connecting the hall sensor with the seat buckle might be too short. Consequently, the sensor might detach from the ... . |
| BMW 3 Series (2007 – 2011) | 23. 01. 2020 | The connector of the positive battery cable on the front power distribution box may be damaged over the lifetime of the ... . |
| BMW 3 Series (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW 3’s Recalls
BMW M3
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M3 (2007 – 2011) | 23. 01. 2020 | The connector of the positive battery cable on the front power distribution box may be damaged over the lifetime of the ... . |
✅ All BMW M3’s Recalls
BMW 5-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 5-Series PHEV (2020) | 07. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW 5 Series (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW 5’s Recalls
BMW 6-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 6 Series (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW 6’s Recalls
BMW M6
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M6 Gran Coupe (2012 – 2018) | 15. 04. 2020 | The screw connection of the third brake light may not be sufficiently secure. As a result, the brake light may become ... . |
✅ All BMW M6’s Recalls
BMW 7-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 7-Series PHEV (2020) | 07. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW 7 Series (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW 7’s Recalls
BMW 8-series
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 8 / M8 (2019 – 2020) | 05. 05. 2020 | The cable connecting the hall sensor with the seat buckle might be too short. Consequently, the sensor might detach from the ... . |
✅ All BMW 8’s Recalls
BMW i8
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW i8 (2020) | 08. 12. 2020 | The cells of the high-voltage battery may be contaminated. This could result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of fire. ... . |
✅ All BMW i8’s Recalls
BMW X1
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW X1 PHEV (2020) | 08. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW X1 (2009 – 2011) | 23. 01. 2020 | The connector of the positive battery cable on the front power distribution box may be damaged over the lifetime of the ... . |
✅ All BMW X1’s Recalls
BMW X2
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW X2 PHEV (2020) | 08. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
✅ All BMW X2’s Recalls
BMW X3
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 (2019 – 2020) | 25. 12. 2020 | The safety belts for the driver and passenger seats may not have been fully bolted on. As a consequence, their restraining ... . |
| BMW X3 PHEV (2020) | 08. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW X3M (2018 – 2019) | 21. 08. 2020 | A vibration fatigue failure of the track rod may occur due to an exceptional bending load. Such a failure would lead ... . |
| BMW X3 / X3M (2019 – 2020) | 05. 05. 2020 | The cable connecting the hall sensor with the seat buckle might be too short. Consequently, the sensor might detach from the ... . |
| BMW X3 (2017 – 2019) | 29. 04. 2020 | The screw connection from the passenger’s airbag to the instrument panel may not have been manufactured according to specifications. As a ... . |
| BMW X3 (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW X3’s Recalls
BMW X4
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW X4M (2018 – 2019) | 21. 08. 2020 | A vibration fatigue failure of the track rod may occur due to an exceptional bending load. Such a failure would lead ... . |
| BMW X4 / X4M (2019 – 2020) | 05. 05. 2020 | The cable connecting the hall sensor with the seat buckle might be too short. Consequently, the sensor might detach from the ... . |
| BMW X4 (2017 – 2019) | 29. 04. 2020 | The screw connection from the passenger’s airbag to the instrument panel may not have been manufactured according to specifications. As a ... . |
✅ All BMW X4’s Recalls
BMW X5
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW X5 / X5M (2020) | 26. 12. 2020 | Due to defective welding, the push bars on the front axle beam may become detached. Moreover, a failure of the welding ... . |
| BMW X5 PHEV (2020) | 08. 12. 2020 | A short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a ... . |
| BMW X5 (2020) | 23. 09. 2020 | The inner liner of the tyres may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. This could cause a sudden loss of ... . |
| BMW X5 (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW X5’s Recalls
BMW X6
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW X6 / X6M (2020) | 26. 12. 2020 | Due to defective welding, the push bars on the front axle beam may become detached. Moreover, a failure of the welding ... . |
| BMW X6 (2020) | 23. 09. 2020 | The inner liner of the tyres may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. This could cause a sudden loss of ... . |
| BMW X6 (2019 – 2020) | 28. 03. 2020 | The upper spoiler might have been inappropriately manufactured. Consequently, it may detach while the car is in motion, increasing the risk ... . |
| BMW X6 (2013 – 2019) | 23. 01. 2020 | The four ISOFIX child-seat attachment brackets on the rear seats may not have the necessary structural durability. As a result, one ... . |
✅ All BMW X6’s Recalls
BMW Z4
| Published | Issue | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Z4 (2018 – 2019) | 21. 08. 2020 | A vibration fatigue failure of the track rod may occur due to an exceptional bending load. Such a failure would lead ... . |
| BMW Z4 (2007 – 2011) | 23. 01. 2020 | The connector of the positive battery cable on the front power distribution box may be damaged over the lifetime of the ... . |
| BMW Z4 (2019) | 22. 01. 2020 | The headlight control unit may have been damaged in the course of the supplier’s production process. This could result in a ... . |
| BMW Z4 (2018 – 2019) | 10. 01. 2020 | The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft ... . |
✅ All BMW Z4’s Recalls
Useful links
- BMW recalls in 2021
- BMW recalls in 2019
- BMW recalls in 2018
- All BMW recalls
- BMW recalls by model
- Other manufacturers in 2020
- Tip: BMW recalls in the UK
This overview is purely informative for the manufacturer you have selected. As these deficiencies often relate to specific components (engine type, bodywork, equipment), the recall may not apply to all vehicles of listed model. Contact your nearest BMW dealer for more informations.
