BMW has issued a safety recall covering 27,720 vehicles in the United States over a potential problem with the connection between the driveshaft and rear differential. While the affected BMW models are also sold in Europe, the campaign was filed by BMW of North America and does not confirm that the same number of European vehicles are affected.

The issue can cause excessive wear at the driveshaft to differential connection. If the connection becomes damaged, the vehicle could lose power to the rear wheels while driving. In certain circumstances, the vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake is not applied.

The US recall covers selected 2021–2023 5 Series, 2022–2026 8 Series and 2024–2026 750e xDrive models, including certain 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, 840i and 840i xDrive vehicles.

BMW will inspect the affected components and, depending on the condition, either reinforce the connection with adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear differential. The repair will be free of charge for vehicles covered by the recall. BMW says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries linked to the defect.

US owners will begin receiving notification letters from 2 October 2026.

What about Europe?

European owners should not assume their vehicle is included simply because it matches one of the affected models. The 27,720 figure applies specifically to the US campaign and cannot be directly applied to European markets.

BMW operates recall campaigns by market, so European owners should check their vehicle using its 17-digit VIN through BMW’s official recall system or contact an authorised BMW service centre.

For Cyprus owners, the same applies: check with an authorised BMW partner to determine whether the specific vehicle is subject to a corresponding European or local campaign.

For now, the US recall should be viewed as a warning about a potential component issue rather than confirmation of a European recall.