2021 BMW X5 Brake Fastener Recall (21V089)
BMW of North America, LLC · 9 vehicles · Reported February 18, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 9 2021 BMW X5 vehicles. The right front brake disc may have been assembled with incorrect fasteners, which over time, could result in the front brake disc becoming loose. A loose brake disc could affect vehicle handling and control, and increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V089 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V089000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 18, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 BMW X5 |
| Units affected | 9 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | A loose brake disc could affect vehicle handling and control, and increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 BMW X5 in recall 21V089?
The right front brake disc may have been assembled with incorrect fasteners, which over time, could result in the front brake disc becoming loose.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X5 sDrive40i and X5 xDrive40i vehicles. The right front brake disc may have been assembled with incorrect fasteners, which over time, could result in the front brake disc becoming loose.
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 X5 with recall 21V089?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose brake disc could affect vehicle handling and control, and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose brake disc could affect vehicle handling and control, and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the critical fasteners.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V089?
Recall 21V089 covers 9 vehicles: 2021 BMW X5.
NHTSA lists 9 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BMW | X5 |
What is the fix for the X5 brake fastener recall?
Yes. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right front brake disc and replace it if necessary, along with the unaffected left side brake disc, free of charge.
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right front brake disc and replace it if necessary, along with the unaffected left side brake disc, free of charge. There are no owner vehicles affected; therefore, owner notification is not necessary and, as such, a planned owner notification date is not entered into the recall schedule. Owners may contact BMW's customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 21V089 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 21V089 to NHTSA on February 18, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 18, 2021 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V089000. |
This recall was filed 68 months ago. If your X5 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my X5 is part of recall 21V089?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V089 is open on your X5, 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 X5 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 X5 owners do about recall 21V089?
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 21V089000 applies to your X5.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 X5 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 6 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 21V089 was reported on February 18, 2021, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) 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 brakes and were received on or after February 18, 2021, 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 brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 108 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 6 of them involve the brakes. 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, 6 about the brakes
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated while reversing out of their driveway and making a right turn, the display screen on the center console went red. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the pedal went all the way to the floor.
2021 BMW X5 owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11422175, filed June 24, 2021
Car was parked in fairly level spot with engine off, gear selector in park position, , key fob not near vehicle. Approx 30 minutes later, I returned to find vehicle approx 30 feet behind parking spot, having apparently drifted into another car in parking lot. No idea how car moved.
2021 BMW X5 owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11480688, filed August 23, 2022
Good Morning, I was driving down the road at around 60 mph in my car. Abruptly my car had simultaneous warning lights about 12 of them. More importantly, I lost my power steering and brake by wire putting all of our lives at risk.
2021 BMW X5 owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11545761, filed September 21, 2023
Can recall 21V089 make my X5 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.
Owners often ask whether this critical fasteners recall means their X5 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
If the 2021 BMW X5 brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
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.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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 X5 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW X5 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V089
Did the recall 21V089 fix work?
Since recall 21V089 was reported on February 18, 2021, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) 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 21V089000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my X5 is part of recall 21V089000?
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 21V089000 (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.