BMW vehicles are under an open, expanding recall for a starter-motor defect that can cause a fire. NHTSA campaign 26V438, dated July 8, 2026, widened an earlier January 2026 campaign (26V056, 87,394 vehicles) after more overheating reports surfaced.
The recall covers 318,495 vehicles across several BMW model lines and the Toyota Supra, listed below. NHTSA’s notice does not list a separate fire or injury count for this campaign specifically.
Dealers are replacing affected starters free of charge, and notification letters are now going out to registered owners. Owners can check their vehicle identification number for open recalls at any time on NHTSA’s website.
- Action type: Recall (expansion of NHTSA campaign 26V056)
- Announcement and initiation dates: Report date July 8, 2026 (26V438); expands the January 30, 2026 report (26V056)
- Company and responsible agency: BMW of North America, LLC and the NHTSA (campaign 26V438)
- Recall or campaign number: NHTSA campaign 26V438 (expands 26V056)
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: 2023-2024 Toyota Supra; 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, X3, X4 and Z4 – see the notice for full model-year and VIN ranges
- Number of affected units: 318,495 in the U.S. (26V438); the prior 26V056 covered 87,394
- Sold at and sale period: Not stated in the notice
- Hazard: Starter wear that can cause overheating and fire, raising injury risk
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: Not stated in the notice
- Remedy: Free dealer starter replacement; letters mailed from August 28, 2026
Table Of Contents
- Latest BMW Vehicles Recall Updates
- July 8, 2026: NHTSA Expands the Starter-Fire Recall
- January 30, 2026: NHTSA Recalls 87,394 Vehicles for the Same Starter Defect
- January 30, 2026: Transport Canada Recalls the Same Starter Defect
- November 17, 2025: Four Owners Sue over an Earlier Starter Recall
- June 30, 2025: BMW Recalls 70,852 EVs for a Power-Loss Risk
- March 6, 2025: BMW Recalls 40,736 X3 SUVs over Door Locks
- August 27, 2024: Owners Sue over an Unrecalled X1 Rollaway Defect
- August 19, 2024: NHTSA Recalls 720,796 Vehicles over a Water-Pump Fire Risk
- February 29, 2024: Judge Approves $6 Million Diesel-Emissions Settlement
- September 10, 2018: N63 Settlement Reaches Final-Approval Hearing
- Which BMW Vehicles Are Affected?
- Why Was BMW Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is There a BMW Recall Lawsuit I Can Join?
- Can I Still Drive My BMW If It Has Been Recalled?
- Is the Takata Airbag Recall for My BMW Still Active?
- Is There an MDL for the BMW Recall Lawsuit?
- Are BMW Recalls Issued in Canada as Well as the United States?
- Has BMW Recalled Any Other Models for Unrelated Defects?
- References
Latest BMW Vehicles Recall Updates
July 8, 2026: NHTSA Expands the Starter-Fire Recall
BMW of North America, LLC recalled 318,495 more vehicles under NHTSA campaign 26V438 [1]. The campaign expands an earlier starter-fire recall to the Toyota Supra and more 2, 3, 4 and 5 Series, X3, X4 and Z4 models.
Wear on an internal starter component can cause overheating and, in some cases, fire. Dealers are replacing the starters free of charge, with notification letters mailed beginning August 28, 2026.
January 30, 2026: NHTSA Recalls 87,394 Vehicles for the Same Starter Defect
NHTSA campaign 26V056 recalled 87,394 BMW and Toyota Supra vehicles after the manufacturer found a worn starter component that could overheat and catch fire [2].
Dealers replaced the starters at no cost, and BMW mailed notification letters starting March 24, 2026. This smaller campaign covered fewer models and years than the July 2026 expansion.
January 30, 2026: Transport Canada Recalls the Same Starter Defect
Transport Canada issued recall 2026040 the same day BMW reported campaign 26V056 to NHTSA, covering the Canadian counterpart of the starter-overheating defect on the equivalent BMW model range [3].
Transport Canada’s notice describes the same remedy as the U.S. campaigns: a free dealer starter replacement, with BMW advising owners not to use remote start until repairs are done.
November 17, 2025: Four Owners Sue over an Earlier Starter Recall
BMW began mailing recall letters for a September 2025 starter recall covering 145,000 vehicles: the 340i, X6, 840i, 740Li, X7 and X5. These models were fitted with DENSO-supplied starters.
Four owners already sued in Gibbs v. BMW of North America, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. CarComplaints.com reported the suit calls the recall repair inadequate [4].
June 30, 2025: BMW Recalls 70,852 EVs for a Power-Loss Risk
Car and Driver reported that BMW recalled 70,852 electric i4, iX, i7 and i5 vehicles [5]. Software could mistakenly shut down the high-voltage system, cutting drive power while the car was moving.
BMW said it had received no reports of accidents or injuries tied to this defect. The fix is a software update, done at a dealer or sent over the air, with owners notified by August 5, 2025.
March 6, 2025: BMW Recalls 40,736 X3 SUVs over Door Locks
MotorSafety.org reported that BMW recalled 40,736 model-year 2022-2024 X3 SUVs whose rear doors could open accidentally while driving, risking injury to occupants [6].
Dealers replaced the rear door lock modules free of charge. This recall addresses a different defect in the door-lock hardware, separate from the starter, water-pump and EV software campaigns described above.
August 27, 2024: Owners Sue over an Unrecalled X1 Rollaway Defect
Laura and Seth Berl filed Berl v. BMW of North America, LLC (case 3:24-cv-00066) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, alleging a rollaway defect in the BMW X1 [7].
No recall has been issued for this defect. The court denied BMW’s motion to dismiss and partly denied its summary-judgment motion in August 2025, and the case remained active as of August 2026.
August 19, 2024: NHTSA Recalls 720,796 Vehicles over a Water-Pump Fire Risk
NHTSA campaign 24V-608 recalled 720,796 vehicles over a water-pump connector risk, the agency’s August 2024 letter said [8]. An improperly sealed connector could be exposed to moisture, short-circuit and raise the risk of fire.
Dealers inspected and replaced the water pump and connector as needed, and installed a protective shield, free of charge. Notification letters were mailed to owners starting October 4, 2024.
February 29, 2024: Judge Approves $6 Million Diesel-Emissions Settlement
A federal judge in the same New Jersey court approved a $6 million settlement in Rickman v. BMW of North America LLC, covering 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2009-2011 335d owners [9].
The class alleged the diesel vehicles used emissions-defeat software, which BMW denied. CarComplaints.com’s settlement coverage said owners who filed by December 18, 2024 were expected to receive payment in 2025 [10].
September 10, 2018: N63 Settlement Reaches Final-Approval Hearing
A final-approval hearing was scheduled for September 10, 2018, in Bang v. BMW of North America LLC, a proposed class action alleging excessive oil consumption in about 84,000 owners’ and lessees’ 2009-2014 vehicles with N63 engines [11].
The case, filed in the same New Jersey federal court, proceeded separately from the more recent starter and diesel-emissions litigation described above.
Which BMW Vehicles Are Affected?
The following BMW and Toyota Supra vehicles are covered by NHTSA’s starter-overheating campaign 26V438, based on the manufacturer’s own model list:
- 2023-2024 Toyota Supra
- 2022-2025 BMW 2 Series Coupe, including the 230i and 230i xDrive
- 2021-2023 BMW 5 Series, including the 530i and 530i xDrive
- 2022-2026 BMW Z4
- 2023-2024 BMW 3 Series, including the 330i and 330i xDrive
- 2023-2024 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, Convertible and Coupe, including the 430i and 430i xDrive
- 2021-2025 BMW X4
- 2021-2022 and 2024 BMW X3
Full model-year and VIN ranges appear in NHTSA’s recall notices for campaigns 26V438 and 26V056. VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov once each campaign’s notification letters went out. Owners can also confirm coverage by calling BMW’s or Toyota’s customer service line.
Why Was BMW Recalled?
BMW vehicles were recalled because wear on an internal engine-starter component can cause the starter to overheat. In some cases, per NHTSA’s July 2026 letter, the starter can catch fire.
Fire increases the risk of injury, the notice states. The problem first surfaced in an earlier starter campaign covering a different group of BMW models, months before the broader recall announced in July 2026.
BMW’s investigation later found the same wear pattern across more sedan, coupe and SUV lines, plus the Supra, after campaign 26V056 addressed a smaller group in January 2026. Campaign 26V438 then expanded the fix in July 2026 to cover them.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
NHTSA’s letters for campaigns 26V438 and 26V056 do not publish a fire, injury or death count tied to the starter defect. BMW’s separate 2025 electric-vehicle software recall, by contrast, reported no accidents or injuries among the 70,852 affected vehicles.
A report of a problem is not proof it was caused by the starter defect covered by campaign 26V438 or 26V056. NHTSA’s public database logs each report as owners bring their vehicles in for the free repair.
Consumers who experienced a starter-related fire or injury can file a report directly with NHTSA or with BMW. This applies whether or not their vehicle is included in the current campaigns.
What Should Consumers Do?
Owners of an affected BMW or Toyota Supra vehicle should take the following steps after receiving a recall notice from BMW or Toyota:
- Check your vehicle identification number on NHTSA.gov once campaign 26V438 VINs become searchable
- Watch for a recall notification letter, mailed beginning August 28, 2026
- Schedule a free starter replacement at a BMW dealer, or a Toyota dealer for Supra owners, once the letter arrives
- Avoid using remote start and avoid leaving the engine running unattended until the repair is complete
- Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417, or Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. You can also report a problem to the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
NHTSA’s Takata “Do Not Drive” warning separately covers certain 2000-2006 3 Series (E46, including M3) and 2000-2003 5 Series (E39, including M5) vehicles [12]. It also covers 2000-2004 X5 (E53) vehicles.
The site’s BMW Takata airbag recall page has model-specific detail. Transport Canada’s parallel starter-defect recall, described above, remains the only foreign action tied to a currently open BMW recall campaign.
Legal Options
No BMW recall or lawsuit has been consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation, per the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation‘s public docket list [13]. The pending Gibbs suit alleges BMW’s starter-recall repairs are inadequate.
A separate pending suit, Berl v. BMW, alleges an unrecalled X1 rollaway defect. BMW has also resolved earlier diesel-emissions and N63 oil-consumption class actions. A recall or a pending lawsuit does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for filing a legal claim come from state law rather than one nationwide rule. How long an owner has to act can depend on where they live and when the alleged harm and its cause became known.
A missed filing deadline can end a claim even with strong supporting facts. Owners weighing a claim tied to a BMW recall or lawsuit should not wait to look into their options.
A lawyer can confirm which deadline applies to a specific state and situation. Checking promptly costs nothing and keeps the option open to act later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a BMW Recall Lawsuit I Can Join?
No single BMW recall lawsuit exists to join, but two related suits are pending: Gibbs v. BMW of North America, over the starter-recall repair, and Berl v. BMW of North America, over the X1 rollaway allegation. Whether either affects your vehicle depends on an individual legal review.
Can I Still Drive My BMW If It Has Been Recalled?
In most cases, you can still drive your BMW if it has been recalled, since BMW’s starter-recall notice does not tell owners to stop driving before repair. The exception is the Takata airbag “Do Not Drive” warning, which covers specific older 3 Series, 5 Series and X5 models.
Is the Takata Airbag Recall for My BMW Still Active?
Yes, the Takata airbag recall for BMW remains active for the older models named above. NHTSA’s own test data show these particular inflators carry a far higher rupture risk during deployment than other recalled Takata air bags.
Is There an MDL for the BMW Recall Lawsuit?
No single BMW recall lawsuit has been consolidated into an MDL, per the JPML’s report through May 1, 2026. Gibbs v. BMW of North America and Berl v. BMW of North America proceed separately in different federal courts, with Berl’s recent court ruling detailed in the update above.
Are BMW Recalls Issued in Canada as Well as the United States?
Yes, BMW recalls are issued in Canada as well as the United States. Transport Canada’s recall 2026040 covers the same 2021-2024 BMW model lines named in the U.S. notice, but its list does not include the Toyota Supra that the U.S. campaign covers.
Yes, BMW has recalled other models for defects unrelated to the starter, water-pump or EV-software campaigns above. It recalled close to 300,000 X3 SUVs in August 2025 over detachable luggage rails. It also recalled over 12,000 Mini hybrids in September 2024 over a battery fire risk.
References
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26V438-1981.pdf
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26V056-7016.pdf
- https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/transport-canada-recall-2026040-bmw
- https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2025/bmw-starter-recall-class-action-lawsuit.shtml
- https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65256474/bmw-ix-i4-i5-i7-evs-drive-power-recall/
- https://www.motorsafety.org/bmw-recalls-x3-suvs-over-faulty-door-locks/
- https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69101427/berl-v-bmw-of-north-america-llc/
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCAK-24V608-8836.pdf
- https://www.law360.com/articles/1807931/judge-oks-6m-settlement-in-bmw-emissions-suit
- https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2024/bmw-diesel-class-action-lawsuit-settlement.shtml
- https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/bmw-n63-class-action-lawsuit.shtml
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/takata-recall-spotlight/do-not-drive-warning
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_District-May-1-2026.pdf