BMW Recalls 840i, 540i Models Over Driveshaft Connection
Areazine synthesizes this NHTSA vehicle recall directly from NHTSA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
BMW is recalling certain 2021-2026 vehicles because the driveshaft and rear differential connection may become damaged, leading to loss of power or rollaway risk.
What this NHTSA vehicle recall tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by NHTSA on August 12, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Vehicle Recalls - determines the consumer-protection framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, repairs, or the recall itself) are available to affected consumers and which agency holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are recall, product-safety, nhtsa, vehicle.
What Happened
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain vehicles because 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.
Which Products Are Affected
The recall covers certain 2022-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. A total of 27,720 units are affected.
What You Should Do
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 are expected to be mailed October 2, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 2, 2026.
Why This Matters
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.
Source
NHTSA Campaign Number 26V525000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov)
Original source: NHTSA Official Notice ↗
Related Vehicle Recalls
All Vehicle Recalls →Nationwide notices with similar length or severity timing 8
Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this NHTSA vehicle recall: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.
Similar body length
Nearest notices by article body length (1,215 characters here).
Similar severity timing
Same severity (high) notices issued closest in time to August 12, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this NHTSA vehicle recall.