Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
BMW recalls 27,720 vehicles over driveshaft flaw
Recall announced
BMW planned to recall 27,720 vehicles across its 5 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series model lines because excessive wear at the connection between the driveshaft and rear differential could cause a loss of power to the rear wheels and increase the risk of a crash or rollaway if the parking brake is not applied. The recall was filed with NHTSA. BMW said it had received no reports of accidents or injuries, planned to notify owners by Oct. 2, and dealers would apply an adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear differential for free.
BMW plans to recall 27,720 vehicles across its 5 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series model lines because excessive wear at the connection between the driveshaft and rear differential could cause a loss of power to the rear wheels and increase the risk of a crash or rollaway if the parking brake is not applied. The recall was filed with NHTSA; BMW said it has received no reports of accidents or injuries, plans to notify owners by Oct. 2, and dealers will apply an adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear differential for free.
Company response
Recall — BMW
BMW plans to recall 27,720 cars across three model lines over a driveshaft issue that could result in the vehicle rolling away.
Source excerpt
The excessive wear can lead to a loss of power to the rear wheels, which increases the risk of a crash or vehicle rollaway if the vehicle isn't secured by the parking brake.
The recall stems from the connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential, which may experience excessive wear over time.
The recall impacts vehicles in the luxury car manufacturer's 5 Series, 7 Series, and 8 Series, according to filings made with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
2026
BMW recalls 5, 7 and 8 Series vehicles in Canada and the U.S. over drivetrain roll-away risk
Recall announced
BMW is recalling 826 gasoline-powered 5 Series (2021-2023), 8 Series coupe and Gran Coupe (2022-2024), and plug-in-hybrid 7 Series (2024-2026) vehicles in Canada, plus another 27,720 vehicles in the U.S., because the joint where the driveshaft bolts to the rear differential could wear out faster than expected, potentially causing loss of power to the wheels or the vehicle moving when parked without the parking brake. BMW urges owners to use the parking brake and says the fix requires dealership inspection and reinforcement of the joint with adhesive or replacement of affected parts. BMW says it has received no reports of incidents or injury in the U.S. Transport Canada's recall reference number is 2026-391 and BMW's internal code is 26 80 26RC.
Company response
Recall — BMW
BMW is recalling more than 800 newer sedans in Canada over the risk that a drivetrain issue could lead to the cars losing propulsion while driving, and rolling away when parked.
Remediation — BMW
The fix requires an inspection of the components at the dealership, followed by a reinforcement of the joint using an adhesive, or, if necessary, replacement of the affected parts.
Source excerpt
BMW is recalling more than 800 newer sedans in Canada over the risk that a drivetrain issue could lead to the cars losing propulsion while driving, and rolling away when parked.
On some of these affected models, the joint where the driveshaft bolts to the rear differential could wear out faster than expected, reports Transport Canada.
The fix requires an inspection of the components at the dealership, followed by a reinforcement of the joint using an adhesive, or, if necessary, replacement of the affected parts.
2024
MINI components linked to sanctioned supplier
A U.S. Senate Finance Committee report alleged that some MINI vehicles imported into the United States contained components associated with a Chinese supplier linked to forced-labor concerns and U.S. sanctions. BMW said it stopped affected shipments and isolated or destroyed impacted inventory.
2024
Diesel-emissions control compliance disputes
BMW disclosed regulatory disputes concerning emissions-control functions in certain diesel X3 vehicles produced from 2010 to 2014, together with a German proceeding related to exhaust-gas-recirculation modules.
2024
Historical forced-labor legacy during the Nazi era
BMW’s wartime aircraft-engine production relied extensively on forced labor, including concentration-camp prisoners. The company’s wartime history remains a major subject of historical research and corporate remembrance.
2022
BMW recalls vehicles over engine-fire risk
Recall announced
BMW decided to conduct a voluntary recall of more than one million vehicles after determining that an engine-ventilation system could overheat and increase the risk of fire. The article reports that the recall covers vehicles in the US, Canada and South Korea; a remedy was being developed.
Company response
Remediation — BMW
A remedy is being developed and owners will be advised next month to have the fix performed for free at BMW dealerships.
Source excerpt
The automaker decided a week ago to conduct a voluntary recall.
Production irregularities at supplier Mahle GmbH could lead ventilation valves to overheat, according to the recall notice.
BMW is recalling more than 1 million vehicles over an engine-ventilation system that could overheat and increase the risk of fire.
2022
Beijing regulator fines BMW China over Olympic-related posts
Fine or penalty
Beijing's Chaoyang District Market Supervision Administration ordered BMW China to correct posts using Olympic-related content and fined it RMB 50,000. The report says the authority treated the posts as infringement; BMW China said it accepted the penalty and removed the content.
Company response
Remediation — 宝马中国
随后宝马也表示接受处罚，并删除了官方微博上的侵权内容
Source excerpt
随后宝马也表示接受处罚，并删除了官方微博上的侵权内容
北京市朝阳区市场监督管理局责令宝马改正上述违法行为，并处以罚款50000元。
2021
BMW announces recall of 21,693 vehicles in Russia
Recall announced
BMW Rusland Trading, BMW's official representative in Russia, announced a recall covering 21,693 BMW vehicles. The stated concern is potential deterioration of a fan-output-stage harness plug connection, which in rare cases may cause overheating and short-circuiting or melting. The remedy involves checking and improving the connection, and replacing the fan output stage as necessary.
Company response
Remediation — BMW Rusland Trading
The plug-in connection on the fan output stage will be checked and improved, The fan output stage will also be replaced as necessary. All the repair work will be carried out free of charge for vehicle owners, the regulator says.
Source excerpt
The reason to recall motor vehicles is the potential worsening of the condition of the plug-in connection for the harness to the fan output stage. In rare cases it may lead to overheating and subsequent short circuiting or fusion of the inserted contact, the federal agency reports.
BMW Rusland Trading, the official representative of BMW in Russia, will recall 21,693 BMW 3 Series Sedan (Series E90), Touring (Series E91), Coupe (Series E92), and Cabrio (Series F93) vehicles in Russia, the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart) reports on Friday.
2021
EU fines Volkswagen and BMW over emissions-technology cartel
Fine or penalty
In July 2021, the European Commission fined Volkswagen and BMW a total of 875 million euros for colluding to curb the use of emissions-cleaning technology. According to the Commission, the companies acknowledged their role in the cartel. The penalty concerned coordination between the automakers that restricted the deployment of emissions-cleaning technology rather than a single company's conduct alone. The Commission's statement identified the companies' acknowledgment of their role as part of the case. The event was reported as an EU antitrust enforcement action against the two German automakers over emissions-technology cooperation.
Source excerpt
Reuters reports the European Commission has fined BMW and Volkswagen a total of €875 million (just over $1 billion) for allegedly colluding in a way that limited technology for reducing diesel engines' nitrogen oxide emissions.
VW said in a statement that it was considering a possible appeal against the fine for allegedly setting a dangerous precedent in unfamiliar territory. The automaker also maintained that the substance of the discussions was "never implemented" and that customers never suffered as a consequence.
歐盟委員會周四 (8 日) 表示，因福斯汽車和 BMW 共媒拖延推出廢氣排放潔淨技術，將依違反歐盟反壟斷規定，對兩家公司處以 8.75 億歐元 (約 10 億美元) 的巨額罰款。
2021
BMW and Mercedes sued in Germany over climate targets
Lawsuit filed
A controversy note concerning BMW and Daimler (Mercedes) states that the two automakers were sued in Germany. According to the source, the lawsuit alleged that the companies failed to meet carbon-reduction targets and had not set an official date to abolish the internal combustion engine. The source does not provide a calendar date for the lawsuit. No further details on the parties, the amounts involved, or the outcome of the proceedings are given in the available material.
The source reports that BMW and Daimler were being sued in Germany for allegedly failing to meet carbon-reduction targets and not setting an official date to abolish the internal combustion engine. The source does not provide a calendar date for the lawsuit.
Source excerpt
The companies are being sued in their native Germany for allegedly failing to meet carbon reduction targets and not setting an official date to abolish the internal combustion engine.
BMW and Daimler recently found out.
2021
Deutsche Umwelthilfe sues BMW and Daimler over emissions targets
Lawsuit filed
In 2021, Deutsche Umwelthilfe filed lawsuits against BMW and Daimler. According to the organization, the lawsuits alleged that the two companies refused to tighten carbon emissions targets and refused to give up fossil fuel-emitting cars by 2030. The action concerned the companies' positions on emissions targets and the continued production of fossil fuel-emitting vehicles. The report identified Deutsche Umwelthilfe as the plaintiff and BMW and Daimler as the defendants, with the claims centered on the companies' refusal to adopt stricter carbon emissions targets and to end fossil fuel-emitting cars by the stated year.
Source excerpt
The heads of a German environmental NGO have sued automakers BMW and Daimler for refusing to tighten their carbon emissions targets and give up fossil fuel-emitting cars by 2030, Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The NGO, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, confirmed to Reuters that the lawsuits had been filed on Monday evening.
2021
BMW customer files federal suit over lease buyout restrictions
Lawsuit filed
Allen Ozeran filed a federal lawsuit against BMW seeking class-action status, alleging that BMW blocked his sale of an off-lease vehicle to a Toyota dealership and asserting several claims, including misrepresentation and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law.
Source excerpt
Ozeran filed a federal lawsuit against BMW on December 27 seeking class-action status on behalf of anyone whose BMW lease ended after October 1, 2021.
The suit accuses BMW of interfering with potential economic advantage and contractual relations, misrepresentation, violating the California Unfair Competition Law, demonstrating a lack of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment.
It is also alleged that BMW "engaged in the deceptive and fraudulent practice of coercing and forcing lessees to surrender their vehicles to BMW at their lease-ends, to deprive lessees of capital gain due to appreciation of the leased vehicles."
2021
Recall of 1,974 domestically produced BMW iX3 vehicles
Recall announced
Huachen BMW filed a recall plan covering 1,974 domestically produced iX3 electric vehicles from December 24, 2021. A welding-quality defect in battery-system connector pins could cause discrepancies in measured and actual temperature or voltage, potentially triggering power-battery output cutoff while driving.
Source excerpt
自2021年12月24日起，召回生产日期从2021年4月30日到2021年8月27日的国产iX3电动汽车，共计1974台。
本次召回范围内因部分车辆的动力电池内部触点系统插接口针脚处焊接质量不良，可能导致温度/电压实际值和测量值出现偏差。
2021
South Korea vehicle recall for defective parts
Recall announced
A South Korean transport ministry announcement covered a voluntary recall by six automakers affecting almost 49,000 vehicles because of faulty parts. The article identifies BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Hyundai Motor and Suzuki MAN Truck & Bus Korea among the brands involved; repairs or replacements were offered free of charge.
Source excerpt
All the services, including replacements, are for free as per the transport ministry.
The agency cited faulty vehicle parts as the main reason for the recalls.
Aside from the mentioned car brands, it was reported that the local automaker Hyundai Motor Co. and Suzuki MAN Truck & Bus Korea Ltd. are also included in the list with vehicle models that must be fixed for defects.
2021
BMW recalls 50,024 vehicles over brake-assistance risk
Recall announced
BMW recalled 50,024 vehicles in the United States after determining that certain oil/vacuum pump conditions could damage the pump supplying vacuum for brake assistance. The affected list includes several BMW models and the Toyota Supra; a software reflash is the stated fix.
Company response
Recall — BMW
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 50,024 vehicles have been recalled in the United States of America.
Source excerpt
As the headline implies, the Supra is affected as well because Toyota has developed the coupe on BMW chassis.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 50,024 vehicles have been recalled in the United States of America.
The fix, as expected, comes in the guise of a software reflash.
2021
BMW files recall plan for 8,097 imported vehicles over Takata airbags
Recall announced
BMW filed a recall plan covering 8,097 vehicles, including imported models, because Takata airbag inflators in the affected vehicles may deteriorate and rupture, sending fragments into the passenger compartment and injuring occupants.
Source excerpt
8月2日，国家市场监督管理总局发布公告，宝马备案了8097辆汽车的召回计划。
宝马启动该次召回的原因，是车内高田气囊存在安全问题。公告显示，宝马本次召回范围内车辆的安全气囊装配了高田公司生产的含有硝酸铵药剂（带干燥剂和未带干燥剂）的气体发生器。该气体发生药剂在一定情况下有可能劣化，最终导致在气囊打开过程中，气体发生器碎片飞出伤及车内人员。
2021
BMW recalls some locally produced iX3 vehicles in China
Recall announced
BMW announced a recall plan covering 6,636 locally produced iX3 electric vehicles, scheduled to begin on June 1, 2021. A battery-control-unit software design issue may prevent rapid discharge after a severe collision, potentially affecting some vehicle functions. BMW said it would provide a free software upgrade.
Stated objective. 消除安全隐患
Company response
Remediation — 华晨宝马汽车有限公司
华晨宝马汽车有限公司将通过远程软件升级（OTA）方式为召回范围内的车辆免费升级电池控制单元软件
Source excerpt
本次召回范围内车辆电池控制单元的软件存在设计问题。车辆发生严重的碰撞事故时，电池控制单元的软件不能在要求的时间内确保高压车载网中的中间电路快速放电。
自2021年6月1日起，召回生产日期从2020年9月1日到2021年4月30日的部分国产iX3电动汽车，共计6636台。
华晨宝马汽车有限公司将为召回范围内的车辆免费更换存在焊接缺陷的动力电池模组，以消除安全隐患。
2021
BMW announces recall of 258 vehicles over head restraints
Recall announced
BMW announced a recall involving 258 vehicles, including BMW X5, BMW X7, and Alpina XB7 models, because some may have second-row head restraints intended for a different vehicle model. BMW said it would fix the issue in the following months.
Company response
Remediation — BMW
BMW says this is a supplier issue but nevertheless, the German company will be fixing the issue in the following months.
Source excerpt
The recall affects BMW X7 and X5 models as well as the Alpina XB7.
The German car maker announced earlier this week that it will be calling back some 258 cars for a problem with the head restraints.
some of the BMW X5, BMW X7 and Alpina XB7 models sold last year have been equipped with second-row outboard seats that may contain head restraints with a design configuration intended for a different vehicle model
2021
BMW recalls UK 1 Series cars over air-conditioning fire risk
Recall announced
BMW is recalling about 180,000 UK cars over a fault in the air-conditioning system that could cause overheating and, in rare cases, fire. The recall involves examining and replacing wiring, and sometimes the regulator; work may be delayed because of a parts shortage.
Company response
Recall — BMW
BMW is recalling 180,000 cars in the UK over fears that a fault with their air conditioning could lead to a fire.
Source excerpt
BMW is recalling 180,000 cars in the UK over fears that a fault with their air conditioning could lead to a fire.
Cars are being recalled to dealers so the wiring to the regulator can be examined and replaced. In some cases, the regulator may also have to be replaced.
2021
BMW announces recalls covering 1,964 vehicles
Recall announced
BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. and BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd. filed recall plans covering 608 vehicles with rear axle shaft heat-treatment defects and 1,356 vehicles with integrated braking system motor welding defects. Both companies said they would replace the affected parts free of charge; the recall periods were scheduled to begin on March 13 and March 26, 2021, respectively.
Stated objective. 消除安全隐患
Company response
Remediation — 华晨宝马汽车有限公司、宝马（中国）汽车贸易有限公司
华晨宝马汽车有限公司、宝马（中国）汽车贸易有限公司将免费为召回范围内的车辆更换后轮半轴，以消除安全隐患。
Remediation — 华晨宝马汽车有限公司、宝马（中国）汽车贸易有限公司
华晨宝马汽车有限公司、宝马（中国）汽车贸易有限公司将免费为召回范围内的车辆更换制动助力液压单元,以消除安全隐患。未销售车辆将在消除缺陷后再进行销售。
Source excerpt
（二）自2021年3月26日起，华晨宝马汽车有限公司召回生产日期从2020年10月28日至2020年12月14日的iX3汽车，共计82台；宝马（中国）汽车贸易有限公司召回生产日期从2019年7月5日至2020年11月30日的X5、X5M、X6、X7、7系、8系及M8汽车，共计1274台。以上共计1356台。
由于生产过程中的失误，本次召回范围内车辆的集成制动系统（IB）制动助力液压单元内的马达电机在生产焊接工艺中的焊接点不正确，可能会导致转子在轴上空转
本次召回范围车辆的后轮半轴由于生产过程中热处理失误，造成后轮半轴表面硬度及热处理晶相变化深度指标不符合生产标准。