BMW 48-Volt Battery Connection May Cause Fire
critical How serious is it? About this label
Increased electrical resistance at this connection can raise the risk of a fire. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V761000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Dec 9, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Part affected | Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery |
| Vehicles covered | 5 model/year combinations, model years 2021 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
On certain BMW models, the connection between the 48-volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been put together correctly. This can lead to increased electrical resistance at that connection point in the vehicle's electrical system.
What you should do
2. Contact a BMW dealer, or call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
3. The inspection and any needed repair are free of charge.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 20V761000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (5)
Who to contact
BMW — official BMW recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-525-7417
The bigger picture
- BMW Electrical Recalls Involve Battery Fires and Starter Connection Problems · all 28 BMW recalls in this area
Other BMW X5 recalls
- Jul 1, 2026BMW, Mini Integrated Brake System May Malfunctionhigh
- Sep 25, 2025BMW X5, X6, X7 Starter May Overheatcritical
- Oct 2, 2024BMW Brake System May Lose Power Assisthigh
- Sep 18, 2024BMW and MINI Brake System Weld May Failhigh
- Aug 13, 2024BMW X4, X5 Water Pump Connector May Shorthigh
- Aug 1, 2024BMW Starter Motor Overheating May Cause Engine Firecritical
Official notice
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.
- Safety risk
- Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. 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.