The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
The risk
A broken output shaft can lead to a loss of drive power or a rollaway condition in a parked vehicle (if the parking brake is not engaged), increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the output shaft(s), free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 530i | 2020, 2021 |
| BMW 540i | 2020, 2021 |
| BMW 740Li | 2021 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
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 530i | 2020 | 10 | 5 |
| BMW 530i | 2021 | 17 | 7 |
| BMW 540i | 2020 | 3 | 5 |
| BMW 540i | 2021 | 9 | 6 |
| BMW 740Li | 2021 | 0 | 5 |
Other power train recalls in 2021
32 of the 988 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2021 concerned the power train; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 21V978000 16 Dec 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V955000 9 Dec 2021 | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| 21V939000 2 Dec 2021 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 21V905000 19 Nov 2021 | Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. |
| 21V910000 19 Nov 2021 | Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. |
| 21V904000 19 Nov 2021 | E-One Incorporated |
| 21V899000 18 Nov 2021 | Spartan Fire, LLC |
| 21V817000 18 Oct 2021 | Braun Corporation |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2021