2020 Bmw 840i problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (1) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1) · Engine (1)
Safety recalls (6)
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 2026-08-12 · campaign 26V525000 · 36,823 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a vehicle rollaway.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 2, 2026.
Electrical System:starter Assembly 2025-09-25 · campaign 25V644000 · 145,102 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.
Risk: An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. This recall includes vehicles repaired under recall 24V576 and those owners will need to have their vehicle repaired again. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 17, 2025.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (Ecu/Ecm):software 2024-08-01 · campaign 24V576000 · 105,588 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5, X7, 2020 3 Series Sedan, X6, 2020-2021 7 Series Sedan, 2020 8 Series Convertible, 8 Series Coupe, and 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. In the event the starter motor fails, repeated attempts to start the vehicle can cause the starter motor to overheat from an electrical overload.
Risk: A starter motor that overheats can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Back Over Prevention:software 2021-02-19 · campaign 21V096000 · 13,858 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 x
Risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic 2021-02-10 · campaign 21V062000 · 893 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated bra
Risk: A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Seat Belts:pretensioner 2020-03-19 · campaign 20V164000 · 3,316 vehicles
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, X4M, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, M8 Gran Coupe, X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and 840i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The sensors in the front seat belt buckles may inaccurately detect a belted occupant as unbelted, possibly causing the air bag and seat belt pretensioners to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (175)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-07-28 · B011524 · Warranty Program/Extension
the nvld modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicles original in-service / first delivery date.
Engine 2026-07-17 · B110426 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the manual starting of electronic engine oil level measurement from inside the vehicle, usually afterperforming an engine oil service task, is inoperative or it may lock up at between a 15% to 30% completionrate.
Electrical System 2026-07-10 · B840226 · Service Campaign
once the telematics module (tcb2) enters sleep mode, a bmw data services trigger for remote services(remote engine start, lock/unlock/climate conditioning) will not be able to reactivate the tcb2. due to this issue, remote services will not function in the vehicle when parked and locked.
Engine 2026-05-06 · B010126 · Warranty Program/Extension
the evap systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
Seats 2025-08-21 · B521125 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
if the seat ventilation is deactivated via the switch or due to parking the vehicle, the fans in the seat cushionor under the seat cushion surface are unpleasantly loud. the fans speed up loudly twice and then turn off. the functionality of the fans is not impaired. this behavior only occurs after t
Wheels 2025-03-27 · B270220 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
there is a jerking or shuddering during either or both of the following: cornering or accelerating from low speeds driving with low to medium loads there are no warning lights or check control messages.
Showing the 6 most recent of 175 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-10-31 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 36,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 bmw 840i. the contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle abruptly decelerated and nearly came to a complete stop. the contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. several unknown warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a f…”
2024-08-21 · Engine“my vehicle mileage was about 50,000 miles and well maintained by bmw dealership in my area. i was driving to work when suddenly my vehicle alerted me to a fault on display panel showing a power supply fault. the message said i should stop driving and call roadside assistance. the vehicle was towed to bmw dealership. there were no prior warnings or …”
2021-03-10 · Unknown Or Other · 2,000 mi“the navigation will state the place that you are physically located accurately. for example when i was at bmw in delray beach fl the navigation tells you that you are at the location. when you put in the address where the car is physically located to navigate to, instead of saying that you have reached your destination. the navigation will take …”
2020-03-25 · Steering · 100 mi“the lane keeping driving assistance/driving assistance pro on the 2020 bmw 840i gran coupe produces a sudden loud "bark" when the assistance system loses sight of the lane markers. that often happens in intersections but can happen anywhere where the lane markers are worn. i bought the car on 2/29/2020 and it has happened many times since then and …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.