NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2016–2024

BMW 340i recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 18 owner complaints for the BMW 340i, covering model years 2016 to 2024. The 2016 model year drew the most complaints (6), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW 340i VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
18 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
6 model years with data (2016–2024)

most complaints: 2016 (6 for that model year)
top component: Electrical System (4 complaints)
latest recall 25V644000 (reported Sep 25, 2025)

1 complaint reporting a crash (5.6%)
1 complaint reporting a fire (5.6%)
1 complaint reporting an injury (5.6%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW 340i complaints by model year

5 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2016 model year has the most complaints: 6 of 18, or 33.3%. Next come 2017 (5) and 2018 (3). The fewest are for 2024, with 2 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

BMW 340i complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW 340i complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
2016	6	1	0	1
2017	5	0	0	0
2018	3	0	1	0
2023	2	0	0	0
2024	2	0	0	0
All model years	18	1	1	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW 340i components

top 13 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 4 complaints (22.2% of all 18), followed by Engine (4) and Wheels (2). Another 6 complaints are filed under NHTSA’s “Unknown or Other” category.

Components named most often in BMW 340i complaints (top 13)

Components named most often in BMW 340i complaints (top 13)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Unknown or Other	6	33.3%
Electrical System	4	22.2%
Engine	4	22.2%
Wheels	2	11.1%
Air Bags	1	5.6%
Back Over Prevention	1	5.6%
Exterior Lighting	1	5.6%
Forward Collision Avoidance	1	5.6%
Fuel/Propulsion System	1	5.6%
Service Brakes	1	5.6%
Structure	1	5.6%
Visibility	1	5.6%
Visibility/Wiper	1	5.6%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW 340i recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name 340i, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model years 2018 to 2020. The 2018 and 2020 model years appear in the most campaigns (1 each).

2 recall campaigns

BMW 340i recall campaigns covering each model year
2018: 1 campaign	2019: no campaigns	2020: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 25V644000
Reported Sep 25, 2025
Electrical System › Starter Assembly
Model year 2020
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.
Consequence:
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.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 18V465000
Reported Jul 11, 2018
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Model year 2018
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, 740i, 740i xDrive, MINI Cooper, Cooper S, JCW, MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), and MINI Clubman (Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, JCW All4) vehicles.
Consequence:
A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW 340i questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW 340i have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW 340i, covering model years 2016 to 2024. The most recent, 25V644000, was reported on September 25, 2025 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 2018 and 2020 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which BMW 340i model year has the most complaints?

The 2016 model year, with 6 of the 18 complaints in NHTSA’s file (33.3%). The next are 2017 (5) and 2018 (3). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW 340i complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 4 complaints, or 22.2% of all 18. Engine (4) and Wheels (2) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW 340i?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW 340i complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 18 complaints, 1 report a crash, 1 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.