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BMW Exterior Lighting Recalls Cover Headlight Failures and Loose Lamps
BMW exterior lighting recalls repeatedly involve visibility, lamp attachment, and lighting behavior. The Z4 appears in both the 2019–2020 headlamp adjustment recall and the 2020 headlight control unit recall, each also covering specified Toyota Supra vehicles. The X7 appears in separate notices for inadequate rear reflectors on 2020 vehicles, front parking light illumination on 2023 vehicles, and blue headlamp light on specified 2020–2021 variants. Attachment problems affect 2018–2019 X1 taillights and 2014–2019 M6 Gran Coupe third brake lights. Other notices address multicolor rear turn signals on 2018 X3 vehicles, motorcycle brake light flashing, and rear license plate illumination on 2022 X4 vehicles.
Warning signs to watch for
- Brake light flashing during emergency braking: the 2020-03-12 motorcycle brake light recall describes flashing instead of steady illumination.
- Rear signals simultaneously showing red outboard and amber inboard: the 2018-06-21 X3 turn signal recall describes this behavior.
- Taillights loosening or detaching: the 2019-01-30 X1 taillight recall explicitly describes this condition.
- Loss of one or both headlights: the 2019-11-27 Z4, 330i, and Toyota Supra headlight control unit recall describes this failure.
- Only one front parking light remaining illuminated under certain operating conditions: the 2022-09-29 X7 parking light recall describes this behavior.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of these ten exterior lighting notices tells owners to stop driving or park outside. The notices for headlight control unit failure, headlamp adjustment, loose X1 taillights, and the M6 Gran Coupe third brake light do not include those instructions. Neither do the notices covering motorcycle brake light flashing, X3 turn signal colors, X7 rear reflectors, X7 front parking lights, blue headlamp light, or X4 license plate illumination. They describe crash risks but do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
Dealer remedies are free. They include reprogramming motorcycle emergency stop signals and X7 parking light controls; correcting headlamp adjustment plugs; replacing faulty headlight control units and X7 reflectors; and modifying X4 plate brackets. Dealers secure X1 taillights, inspect X3 signals and blue-light headlamps and replace as necessary, and inspect and secure M6 brake lights, replacing detached, damaged lights.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| medium | 6 |
| low | 2 |
Models affected most
Where owners report exterior lighting problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under exterior lighting for the BMW models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Exterior lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 BMW X5 | 5 |
| 2018 BMW X3 | 5 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 2022 | BMW X7 Front Parking Light May Go Dark | medium |
| Oct 22, 2021 | BMW X4 Rear License Plate Not Illuminated | low |
| Sep 1, 2020 | BMW X5, X6 and X7 headlights may glow blue | low |
| Aug 27, 2020 | BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra Headlights May Be Misaligned | high |
| Mar 12, 2020 | BMW Motorcycles: Brake Light May Flash Instead | high |
| Feb 19, 2020 | BMW M6 Gran Coupe Third Brake Light May Detach | medium |
| Jan 30, 2020 | BMW X7 Rear Reflectors Don't Reflect Enough Light | medium |
| Nov 27, 2019 | BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra Headlights May Fail | medium |
| Jan 30, 2019 | BMW X1 Taillights May Loosen or Detach | medium |
| Jun 21, 2018 | BMW X3 Rear Turn Signals Show Wrong Colors | medium |
Common questions
Why does the BMW Z4 appear in two headlight recalls?
One notice covers horizontally adjustable headlamps on certain 2019–2020 Z4 vehicles, remedied by inspecting and correcting adjustment plugs as necessary. Another covers headlight control unit failure on certain 2020 Z4 vehicles, remedied by replacing those units. Both remedies are free.
What does BMW do about a loose M6 third brake light?
For certain 2014–2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles, dealers inspect the third brake light and properly secure it with new fasteners. If the light detached and is damaged, dealers replace it. The notice states that repairs are free of charge.
Which BMW lighting recalls use reprogramming?
The motorcycle brake light recall specifies reprogramming the emergency stop signal function. The 2023 X7 front parking light recall specifies reprogramming the electronic control unit for those lights. Both notices state that dealers perform the remedy free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.