2020 BMW 840I problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW 840I, most often about electrical system. There are 5 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 4
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Median mileage
- 2,000 mi at time of problem
Key facts
- Electrical System is the most-reported problem area, named in 1 of 4 complaints (25%).
- Brakes (1) and engine (1) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 2,000 mi.
- The 2020 BMW 840I has 5 recalls on file.
- It ranks 2nd of 3 BMW 840I model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
2020 BMW 840I problems by category
- Electrical System1 complaints
- Brakes1 complaints
- Engine1 complaints
- Steering1 complaints
- Other / Unknown1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 1 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2020 BMW 840I recalls (5)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload.
Risk: An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. This recall includes vehicles repaired under recall 24V576 and those owners will need to have their vehicle repaired again. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 17, 2025.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM):SOFTWARE
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2019-2020 X5, X7, 2020 3 Series Sedan, X6, 2020-2021 7 Series Sedan, 2020 8 Series Convertible, 8 Series Coupe, and 2020 8 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. In the event the starter motor fails, repeated attempts to start the vehicle can cause the starter motor to overheat from an electrical overload.
Risk: A starter motor that overheats can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 27, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles. When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance.
Risk: A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- AIR BAGS · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES · SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, X4M, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, M8 Gran Coupe, X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and 840i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The sensors in the front seat belt buckles may inaccurately detect a belted occupant as unbelted, possibly causing the air bag and seat belt pretensioners to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recent 2020 BMW 840I complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Oct 31, 202436,000 miUTBrakes
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 840I. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle abruptly decelerated and nearly came to a complete stop. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the integrated braking system, resulting in a brake seizure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the…
NHTSA complaint #11623012 · source - Filed Aug 21, 2024FLElectrical SystemEngine
My vehicle mileage was about 50,000 miles and well maintained by BMW dealership in my area. I was driving to work when suddenly my vehicle alerted me to a fault on display panel showing a power supply fault. The message said i should stop driving and call roadside assistance. The vehicle was towed to BMW dealership. There were no prior warnings or messages or symptoms in relations to this fault. The dealership confirmed that the water pump failed, and caused the drive belt…
NHTSA complaint #11609934 · source - Filed Mar 10, 20212,000 miFLOther / Unknown
The navigation will state the place that you are physically located accurately. For example when i was at bmw in delray beach fl the navigation tells you that you are at the location. When you put in the address where the car is physically located to navigate to, instead of saying that you have reached your destination. The navigation will take you miles away and say that you have reached your destination. This is clearly a safety issue as this can take you into a river,…
NHTSA complaint #11400108 · source - Filed Mar 25, 2020100 miFLSteering
The lane keeping driving assistance/driving assistance pro on the 2020 bmw 840i gran coupe produces a sudden loud "bark" when the assistance system loses sight of the lane markers. That often happens in intersections but can happen anywhere where the lane markers are worn. I bought the car on 2/29/2020 and it has happened many times since then and not only on the date shown. The sudden loud "bark" is a distraction, a nuisance and totally unnecessary since the instrument…
NHTSA complaint #11319255 · source
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Other 2020 BMW models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology