The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 525D Xdrive | 2014 |
| BMW 528i | 2013, 2014 |
| BMW 528xi | 2013, 2014 |
| BMW 535i | 2013, 2014 |
| BMW 535xi | 2013, 2014 |
| BMW 550i | 2013, 2014 |
| BMW 550xi | 2013, 2014 |
| BMW Active Hybrid 5 | 2013 |
| BMW M5 | 2013, 2014 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 525D Xdrive | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 528i | 2013 | 73 | 4 |
| BMW 528i | 2014 | 57 | 3 |
| BMW 528xi | 2013 | 56 | 1 |
| BMW 528xi | 2014 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 535i | 2013 | 39 | 1 |
| BMW 535i | 2014 | 30 | 2 |
| BMW 535xi | 2013 | 4 | 1 |
| BMW 535xi | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 550i | 2013 | 15 | 1 |
| BMW 550i | 2014 | 6 | 2 |
| BMW 550xi | 2013 | 7 | 1 |
| BMW 550xi | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW Active Hybrid 5 | 2013 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW M5 | 2013 | 10 | 2 |
| BMW M5 | 2014 | 2 | 1 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2015
23 of the 863 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2015 concerned the exterior lighting; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 15V861000 22 Dec 2015 | Ford Motor Company |
| 15V777000 20 Nov 2015 | Polaris Industries, Inc. |
| 15V759000 16 Nov 2015 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 15V630000 7 Oct 2015 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 15V575000 16 Sept 2015 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company |
| 15V566000 8 Sept 2015 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 15V520000 17 Aug 2015 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 15V519000 14 Aug 2015 | General Motors LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2015