2021 BMW M340I 12-Volt Battery Recall (20V761)
BMW of North America, LLC · 812 vehicles · Reported December 9, 2020
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 812 2021 BMW 530I; 2021 BMW 540I; 2021 BMW 740LI; 2021 BMW 840I; 2021 BMW M340I; 2021 BMW M440I; 2021 BMW X5; 2021 BMW X6; 2021 BMW X7 vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections. Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V761 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V761000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 9, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 BMW 530I; 2021 BMW 540I; 2021 BMW 740LI; 2021 BMW 840I; 2021 BMW M340I; 2021 BMW M440I; 2021 BMW X5; 2021 BMW X6; 2021 BMW X7 |
| Units affected | 812 |
| Component | Electrical System > 12V / 24V / 48V Battery |
| Safety risk | Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 BMW M340I in recall 20V761?
The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 M340I with recall 20V761?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your M340I shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the 12v and 24v and 48v battery, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V761?
Recall 20V761 covers 812 vehicles: 2021 BMW 530I; 2021 BMW 540I; 2021 BMW 740LI; 2021 BMW 840I; 2021 BMW M340I; 2021 BMW M440I; 2021 BMW X5; 2021 BMW X6; 2021 BMW X7.
NHTSA lists 812 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BMW | 530I |
| 2021 | BMW | 540I |
| 2021 | BMW | 740LI |
| 2021 | BMW | 840I |
| 2021 | BMW | M340I |
| 2021 | BMW | M440I |
| 2021 | BMW | X5 |
| 2021 | BMW | X6 |
| 2021 | BMW | X7 |
What is the fix for the M340I 12-volt battery recall?
Yes. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge.
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 20V761 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 20V761 to NHTSA on December 9, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 9, 2020 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V761000. |
This recall was filed 70 months ago. If your M340I was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my M340I is part of recall 20V761?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V761 is open on your M340I, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 M340I vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should M340I owners do about recall 20V761?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V761000 applies to your M340I.
- Call a BMW dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any 12v and 24v and 48v battery symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are M340I owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 53 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 20V761 was reported on December 9, 2020, owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 8 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after December 9, 2020, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 202 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 53 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 BMW X5: 108 complaints in total, 36 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW X7: 46 complaints in total, 8 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW 530I: 17 complaints in total, 4 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW M340I: 11 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW 540I: 9 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW X6: 7 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW M440I: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
- 2021 BMW 740LI: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic; however, the contact used an OBD scanner, which diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The vehicle was not repaired.
2021 BMW X5 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11641690, filed February 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the Auto START/STOP feature activated and the engine was turned off; however, when the light turned green, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to restart as designed.
2021 BMW X5 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11641978, filed February 11, 2025
In the middle of a busy intersection, the car just completely shut down. The car only had ~35,000 miles on the odometer and has been serviced only by BMW. It turned out that the water pump broke, which led to downstream impact on additional surrounding systems.
2021 BMW X5 owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11667027, filed June 15, 2025
Can recall 20V761 make my M340I a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 20V761000 does not automatically make your M340I a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2021 BMW M340I back, and the problem shows up again.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the M340I went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your M340I been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW M340I recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V761
Did the recall 20V761 fix work?
Since recall 20V761 was reported on December 9, 2020, owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 8 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 20V761000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my M340I is part of recall 20V761000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V761000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or BMW. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.