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 failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V062000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
The worst 2020 BMW 840I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Steering1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Steering1
Recalls 6
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 beginning October 2, 2026.
Recall number 26V525000 · Recall details
Electrical system: starter assembly
- What is wrong
- 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 November 17, 2025.
Recall number 25V644000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM): software
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 24V576000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: software
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 21V096000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 21V062000 · Recall details
Seat belts: pretensioner
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 20V164000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 BMW 840I 178
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The NVLD modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15...
- The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has...
- For this vehicle, the engine coolant thermostat limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship...
- If the manual electronic engine oil level measurement aborts or is inoperative and the vehicles I-level is...
- The engine oil pump assembly coveragefor the issue described in the Service Information Bulletin that...
- The manual starting of electronic engine oil level measurement from inside the vehicle, usually...
- Once the Telematics Module (TCB2) enters sleep mode, a BMW Data Services trigger for Remote...
- If the seat ventilation is deactivated via the switch or due to parking the vehicle, the fans in the seat...
- There is a jerking or shuddering during either or both of the following: Cornering or accelerating from...
- Electrical system
What 2020 BMW 840I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 to dislodge, also caused the alternator to malfunction and eventually damaged the battery. The sudden and unexplainable water pump failure caused a chain of damages that cost me thousands of dollars and posing safety risk for me and my family.
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, boat ramp and or place you in a dangerous situation. Delray bmw in florida tried everything and told me that bmw needs to come out with a patch. After complaining to bmw USA they sort of brushed me off.
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 panel also has a large display showing the status of the driving assistance system and the driver is supposed to have the hands on the steering wheel anyway. When driving a car, any distraction is a traffic safety issue, more so when it happens in intersections. I have taken the car to the bmw dealer shop (where I bought the car) but they say that the loud 'bark' cannot be turned off. My request to the federal safety agency is to disallow bmw and other brands to use systems that produce sudden distracting sounds when the car is in motion. A lane keeping assist should be a system that improves traffic safety and not one that reduces it due to sudden and unexpected 'barks' that are major distractions.
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Questions about the 2020 BMW 840I
Is the 2020 BMW 840I reliable?
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2020 BMW 840I, close to a typical 840I model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 BMW 840I?
Brakes, with 1 complaint. Next is electrical (1).
How many recalls does the 2020 BMW 840I have?
6 recalls, covering power train, electrical system and engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 2020 BMW 840I brakes?
Yes, 1 recall: 21V062000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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