Safety recall Power train

BMW recall 26V-525: Loss of Rear Wheel Power from Driveshaft Damage

Report received 3 months ago

An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Campaign facts

NHTSA campaign
26V525000 (26V-525)
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Report received
August 12, 2026
Component
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Vehicles potentially affected
39,144
Model years
2020–2026
Owner letters
October 8, 2026
Recall initiated by
The manufacturer

What is wrong

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a vehicle rollaway.

The risk

An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Why power train defects matter: A power train defect can cause a loss of drive power, an unexpected gear change, or a vehicle that rolls after being put in Park.

The remedy

Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 2, 2026.

About the power train

The power train carries engine power to the wheels; the gear selector and Park mechanism are part of it.

Vehicles covered by campaign 26V-525

  • BMW 540i 202320222021
  • BMW 540i xDrive 202320222021
  • BMW 750e xDrive 202620252024
  • BMW 840i 2026202520242023202220212020
  • BMW 840i xDrive 2026202520242023202220212020
  • BMW M550I 202320222021

What to do

  1. Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s lookup (below) to confirm that your vehicle is included and that the repair has not already been done.
  2. Call a dealer for the brand and book the repair. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V-525.
  3. Always set the parking brake when you park until the repair is done, and confirm the vehicle is actually in Park.
  4. Safety recall repairs are carried out free of charge by the manufacturer’s dealers. If you already paid for this repair yourself, ask the manufacturer about reimbursement and keep your receipt.

Check by VIN

A campaign rarely covers every vehicle of a model year. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.

Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.

Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.

The official record

This page reproduces the campaign as filed with NHTSA. The NHTSA record is authoritative — if anything here differs, follow the agency.

Open campaign 26V-525 on NHTSA.gov

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