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BMW Recalls by VIN

Paste the VIN of any BMW below to see every recall for its model and year. Every one of the 382 NHTSA campaigns across 125 BMW models is listed underneath — including how long BMW takes to admit a defect: 4.79 years on average.

NHTSA campaigns · 382 campaigns · 125 models · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

BMW has 382 recall campaigns across 125 models. A defect is admitted 4.79 years after the car was built on average, and 43.4% of campaigns come five years or later.

What gets recalled on a BMW

By number of separate campaigns, not by cars affected — one campaign can cover a million vehicles or a thousand.

FIG.01·BMW — what gets recalled
SystemCampaignsShare
Air Bags6617.3%
Electrical System4211%
Power Train338.6%
Engine And Engine Cooling266.8%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic256.5%
Exterior Lighting246.3%
Steering205.2%
Fuel System, Gasoline195%
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

How long a defect stays unadmitted

Campaign numbers encode the year they were announced, so we can measure how quickly BMW acts once a defect exists.

FIG.02·BMW — how fast defects are admitted
MeasureValueWhat it means
Average gap4.79 yearsBetween the car being built and the defect being admitted
Admitted 5+ years later43.4%Share of campaigns on cars already well used
Campaigns on record382Across 125 models, 1985–2026
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar, computed from NHTSA campaign numbers

Across all brands the average is 3.79 years. Faster is better, but a low figure can also mean a young line-up — read it next to the number of campaigns.

BMW recalls by model

92 BMW models have campaigns on record. The gap between them is wider than the brand average suggests: on the 330e a defect is admitted in 0 years, on the 330xi it takes 11.6 — the same company, the same paperwork, 11.6 years of difference.

FIG.03·BMW recalls by model
ModelCampaignsYears coveredMost recalled systemAvg gap before admission
BMW X51042000–2026Air bags4.7 yrs
BMW X3612004–2026Air bags3.6 yrs
BMW X6442008–2026Air bags4.7 yrs
BMW 330i392001–2026Air bags6.3 yrs
BMW X7332019–2026Electronic stability control (esc)1.2 yrs
BMW 530i321994–2026Air bags4.1 yrs
BMW X4282015–2025Electrical system2.3 yrs
BMW Z4282003–2026Engine and engine cooling4.8 yrs
BMW 328i271996–2016Air bags8.5 yrs
BMW M3261988–2026Air bags7.2 yrs
BMW 740i241993–2026Electronic stability control (esc)2.9 yrs
BMW 325i231987–2006Air bags8.1 yrs
BMW M5231988–2026Air bags3.6 yrs
BMW 540i221994–2026Air bags4 yrs
BMW X1202012–2026Seat belts2.5 yrs
BMW 430i172017–2026Electrical system1.5 yrs
BMW 525i161989–2007Engine and engine cooling6.4 yrs
BMW 528i141981–2016Engine and engine cooling4.8 yrs
BMW M340i142020–2026Seat belts1.2 yrs
BMW 335i132007–2017Air bags7.5 yrs
BMW 325xi122002–2006Air bags11.2 yrs
BMW 535i121985–2017Exterior lighting4.9 yrs
BMW 760i122005–2026Electrical system3.8 yrs
BMW i7122023–2026Electrical system0.9 yrs
BMW iX122022–2026Electrical system0.8 yrs
BMW M4122015–2026Air bags1.2 yrs
BMW 330xi112002–2006Air bags11.6 yrs
BMW 550i112006–2017Air bags4.5 yrs
BMW i4112022–2026Electrical system0.8 yrs
BMW 230i102017–2026Electrical system1.1 yrs
BMW 325Ci102000–2006Air bags10.7 yrs
BMW 228i92014–2025Air bags4.5 yrs
BMW 330e92016–2024Electrical system0 yrs
BMW X292018–2026Seat belts0.1 yrs
BMW XM92023–2026Electronic stability control (esc)0.6 yrs
BMW 328d82014–2018Fuel system, diesel4.7 yrs
BMW 330Ci82001–2006Air bags10.6 yrs
BMW i382014–2021Air bags1 yrs
BMW 128i72008–2014Air bags7.5 yrs
BMW 320i71981–2018Air bags4.5 yrs
BMW 428i72014–2016Air bags6.4 yrs
BMW 740iL71993–2001Steering5.8 yrs
BMW 750i72001–2022Latches/locks/linkages6.4 yrs
BMW 760Li72003–2022Engine and engine cooling6.4 yrs
BMW 840i72020–2026Electrical system1.6 yrs
BMW i572024–2026Electronic stability control (esc)0.7 yrs
BMW M240i72017–2026Air bags0 yrs
BMW M440i72021–2026Seat belts0.5 yrs
BMW 135i62008–2014Air bags6.4 yrs
BMW 335d62009–2011Electrical system9.4 yrs
BMW 440i62017–2026Air bags0 yrs
BMW 530e62018–2023Back over prevention0.5 yrs
BMW 535d62014–2016Fuel system, diesel5 yrs
BMW 640i62012–2019Engine and engine cooling2.7 yrs
BMW 745i62002–2005Engine and engine cooling3.9 yrs
BMW 745Li62002–2005Engine and engine cooling3.9 yrs
BMW 750iL61988–1999Steering7.2 yrs
BMW 750Li62000–2022Latches/locks/linkages6.4 yrs
BMW i862014–2020Fuel system, gasoline0 yrs
BMW M262016–2026Air bags0 yrs
BMW M661981–2019Exterior lighting3.3 yrs
BMW 435i52014–2016Air bags5.9 yrs
BMW 650i52006–2019Engine and engine cooling4 yrs
BMW M235i52014–2024Air bags5.3 yrs
BMW M850i52020–2026Back over prevention0.3 yrs
BMW 318i41981–1998Vehicle speed control3.1 yrs
BMW 325iS41987–1995Vehicle speed control3.8 yrs
BMW 328Ci41999–2000Air bags19.8 yrs
BMW 328xi42007–2008Air bags11.9 yrs
BMW 335xi42007–2008Air bags11.9 yrs
BMW 540d42018–2019Engine and engine cooling2.8 yrs
BMW M842020–2025Back over prevention0.4 yrs
BMW Z341996–2002Exterior lighting5 yrs
BMW 325iC31987–1995Engine and engine cooling3.6 yrs
BMW 525xi32006–2007Air bags9.3 yrs
BMW 530xi32006–2007Air bags9.3 yrs
BMW 740Li32011–2022Exterior lighting3.4 yrs
BMW 750e32024–2026Electronic stability control (esc)0 yrs
BMW M550i32018–2023Back over prevention0.4 yrs
BMW 335is22011–2015Air bags7.5 yrs
BMW 840Ci21981–1996Vehicle speed control1.5 yrs
BMW 850CSi21981–1995Engine and engine cooling4.2 yrs
BMW 850i21991–2019Air bags5.5 yrs
BMW M760i22017–2021Back over prevention0.3 yrs
BMW Z822001–2003Engine and engine cooling0.5 yrs
BMW 318ti11981–2000Vehicle speed control1.5 yrs
BMW 340i12016–2024Engine and engine cooling0 yrs
BMW 528xi12008–2013Exterior lighting2 yrs
BMW 550e12025–2026Electronic stability control (esc)—
BMW ActiveHybrid 712014–2015Exterior lighting3 yrs
BMW ALPINA B812022–2025Visibility0 yrs
BMW L711981–1988Exterior lighting0 yrs
ROWS 92·SOURCE NHTSA + ForCar

Check your own car

BMW has 382 campaigns on record across 125 models, but none of them covers a whole model — only a production range inside it, sometimes a few weeks of assembly. So the 382 figure says nothing about any particular BMW: decoding the VIN narrows those 382 down to the recalls for one model and year. Whether the free fix was already carried out on that exact car, NHTSA's own VIN lookup or any BMW dealer can tell you.

FIG.05·How to check a recall by VIN
StepWhat you get
Enter the VIN aboveEvery recall for that model and year, straight from NHTSA
Check the repair statusNHTSA's own VIN lookup or a dealer shows if this car was fixed
Book at any franchised dealerRecall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar

Every manufacturer files recalls; what differs is how many and how fast — see where BMW stands among all makes on record →

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Everything on BMW
Fuel economy124 mpg bestReliabilityEvery model rankedCommon problems15,132 complaintsCheck a VINBy production runCargo space92 models measuredDimensionsSize and weightWhat yours is worthValuation by modelInsurance costPer model, per stateWindow stickersOriginal Monroney labelsDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout the brand105 models tracked

Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does BMW have?

382 campaigns across 125 models. On its own the number reflects how many models a brand sells — the response time says more.

Is BMW slow to admit defects?

On average a BMW defect is admitted 4.79 years after the car was built, against about 3.79 years across all brands. 43.4% of campaigns come five years or later.

Does a recall mean the car is unsafe?

It means a specific fault was found in a specific production range and must be fixed free of charge. A brand with many campaigns is not automatically worse — sometimes it simply reports faster.

How do I check my own BMW?

By VIN. Campaigns cover production ranges, so the model alone does not tell you whether your car is affected.

Recall campaigns from NHTSA, published as filed. Years elapsed before admission computed by ForCar from the campaign number, which encodes the year it was announced. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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