BMW recalls and safety
544 recalls since 1967 · 29,726 owner complaints since 1995
544
vehicle recalls since 1967
544
vehicle recalls since 1967
BMW has had 544 vehicle recalls since 1967, covering 15.6 million vehicles as reported. In 2025 there were 23 recalls for 509,190 vehicles, down 17.9% from 2024. The BMW X5 has the most recalls (103). Owners filed 1,435 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Updated Oct 10, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls in 2025
23
-17.9% vs 2024
2026 so far
11
230K units
All recalls
544
Since 1967
Units affected
15.6M
All recalls, as reported
Do-not-drive
18
Owners told not to drive
Complaints, 12 mo
1,435
-25.7% vs 12 months before
Recalls per year
BMW vehicle recalls each year since 1967, and the vehicles they covered
BMW models
507 models with recalls, complaints or star ratings. Models with enough data have their own page.
| Model | Recalls | Units | Complaints | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X5 | 103 | 4.36M | 3,158 | ★ 2011-2026 |
| X3 | 60 | 3.38M | 2,006 | ★ 2016-2026 |
| X6 | 44 | 1.60M | 204 | - |
| 330I | 38 | 3.77M | 815 | - |
| 530I | 33 | 3.50M | 568 | - |
| X7 | 33 | 880K | 310 | - |
| X4 | 29 | 1.54M | 92 | - |
| Z4 | 28 | 4.13M | 1,283 | - |
| 328I | 27 | 4.60M | 2,584 | ★ 2011-2015 |
| M3 | 26 | 4.61M | 446 | - |
| 540I | 23 | 2.01M | 249 | - |
| 740I | 23 | 1.17M | 130 | - |
| M5 | 23 | 2.23M | 105 | - |
| 325I | 22 | 4.17M | 1,389 | - |
| X1 | 20 | 1.24M | 672 | ★ 2018-2026 |
| R1200 GS | 17 | 122K | 153 | - |
| 430I | 17 | 405K | 123 | - |
| 525I | 16 | 2.69M | 437 | - |
| 5 Series | 16 | 1.95M | 428 | ★ 2016 |
| 528I | 14 | 2.03M | 835 | ★ 2011-2015 |
| 330XI | 14 | 3.07M | 196 | - |
| M340I | 14 | 456K | 72 | - |
| 335I | 13 | 1.95M | 810 | ★ 2011-2015 |
| 320I | 13 | 567K | 163 | ★ 2014-2015 |
| M4 | 13 | 41K | 47 | - |
The 25 models with the most recalls, of 507. Download the CSV for all of them.
What can go wrong
BMW recalls by the stated risk
Parts recalled most
BMW recalls by component
- Air bags66 · 4.10M units
- Electrical system64 · 3.15M units
- Service brakes, hydraulic46 · 802K units
- Power train42 · 268K units
- Engine and engine cooling40 · 2.94M units
- Fuel system, gasoline39 · 587K units
- Suspension29 · 117K units
- Exterior lighting27 · 732K units
Owner complaints
Safety complaints BMW owners filed, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
1,435 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most, all years
- Air bags5,679
- Electrical system4,978
- Engine4,422
- Power train3,525
- Engine and engine cooling2,557
- Steering2,173
- Unknown or other1,963
- Complaints
- 29,726
- Crashes reported
- 1,298
- Fires reported
- 1,228
- People injured
- 1,283
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Latest BMW recalls
The newest of 544. Open one for what is wrong, the risk, the fix and the models covered.
Related pages
Questions and answers
How many recalls did BMW have in 2025?
23 BMW vehicle recalls in 2025, covering 509,190 vehicles, compared with 28 in 2024. In 2026 there have been 11 so far.
Which BMW models have the most recalls?
The X5 (103), the X3 (60) and the X6 (44) have the most recalls since 1967. Models sold for many years and in large numbers have more.
What is the most common BMW recall problem?
Air bags: 66 of the 544 BMW recalls, followed by electrical system (64).
What do BMW owners complain about most?
Air bags, named in 5,679 of the 29,726 safety complaints BMW owners filed since 1995, then electrical system (4,978). One complaint can name several components.
Are there do-not-drive recalls for BMW?
Yes: 18 BMW recalls tell owners not to drive the vehicle until it is repaired. The newest is from Oct 31, 2025: BMW X5 (2000-2001): Air bags.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Makes and models are written as published.