BMW M5 and M8 wiring fault can cut power
high How serious is it? About this label
Losing drive power in traffic is a genuine crash risk; the notice does not tell you to park the car, but schedule the free repair promptly.
What's wrong, in plain English
A bundle of wires that runs to the transmission can become damaged, causing a short circuit. If that happens, the transmission can shift itself into neutral, which means power stops reaching the wheels. The car would coast instead of accelerating, and you could lose speed in traffic or on the highway with no warning. Dealers will check the wiring, replace it if it is damaged, and reroute and tie down every harness so it cannot be damaged again. The work is free.
What you should do
2. Call your BMW dealer or BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 to book the work.
3. Have the transmission wiring inspected, replaced if damaged, and rerouted — all at no charge.
Affected vehicles (3)
Who to contact
BMW — official BMW recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-525-7417
The bigger picture
- Why do BMW transmissions, driveshafts and motorcycle gearboxes keep failing? · all 12 BMW recalls in this area
Official notice
- Component
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 Gran Coupe, M8 Coupe, and M8 Convertible vehicles. The transmission wiring harness can become damaged, resulting in an electrical short circuit.
- Safety risk
- An electrical short circuit can cause the transmission to shift to neutral resulting in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace any damaged transmission harnesses. All harnesses will be rerouted and secured. These repairs will be performed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 3, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.