Safety regulators investigate 2021-2022 BMW 540I and 2022 BMW 840I for driveshaft to rear differential connection failure

What investigators are looking at

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on September 1, 2026 (dated August 5, 2026), requesting an investigation into an alleged defect in BMW rear differential assemblies. The petitioner alleges Model Year (MY) 2022 BMW 540i vehicles are experiencing a sudden mechanical failure that severs the drive connection between the driveshaft and the rear wheels. On August 12, 2026, BMW filed Safety Recall 26V525, which addresses the same condition raised in the petition. and covers certain 2022-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. This safety recall addresses potential wear in the connection between the rear driveshaft and rear differential, which could cause the connection to fail. The Vehicle Identification Number included in the petition falls within BMW’s recall scope and subject to BMW’s reimbursement program. Because Safety Recall 26V525 fully addresses the concerns raised in the petition, further investigation is unnecessary. Therefore, ODI is denying this Defect Petition and closing this action. The agency will continue to monitor the remedy and reserves the right to take any action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI report Identification Number document, go to

Before this, owners of these vehicles had already filed 8 complaints in the transmission category.