2021 BMW X4 Engine Recall (21V598)
BMW of North America, LLC · 50,024 vehicles · Reported August 2, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 50,024 2021 BMW 745LE; 2021 BMW X4; 2021 BMW Z4; 2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available. Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V598 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V598000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 2, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 BMW 745LE; 2021 BMW X4; 2021 BMW Z4; 2021 Toyota Supra |
| Units affected | 50,024 |
| Component | Engine |
| Safety risk | Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 BMW X4 in recall 21V598?
During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 X4 with recall 21V598?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your X4 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the engine, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V598?
Recall 21V598 covers 50,024 vehicles: 2021 BMW 745LE; 2021 BMW X4; 2021 BMW Z4; 2021 Toyota Supra.
NHTSA lists 50,024 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BMW | 745LE |
| 2021 | BMW | X4 |
| 2021 | BMW | Z4 |
| 2021 | Toyota | Supra |
What is the fix for the X4 engine recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 21V598 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 21V598 to NHTSA on August 2, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 2, 2021 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V598000. |
| September 17, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 62 months ago. If your X4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my X4 is part of recall 21V598?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V598 is open on your X4, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V598000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should X4 owners do about recall 21V598?
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 21V598000 applies to your X4.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized BMW dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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 engine 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are X4 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 8 of them about the engine.
Since recall 21V598 was reported on August 2, 2021, owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 3 of them (38%) 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 engine and were received on or after August 2, 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 engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 27 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 8 of them involve the engine. 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 Toyota Supra: 20 complaints in total, 6 about the engine
- 2021 BMW X4: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the engine
- 2021 BMW Z4: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the engine
- 2021 BMW 745LE: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System). While the vehicle was in park(P), there were abnormal sounds coming from the engine.
2021 BMW X4 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11717328, filed February 11, 2026
I am reporting a safety concern regarding BMW vehicles equipped with the B58 Technical Update (B58TU) engine, commonly found on models from 2019 to 2021. The oil pump in these vehicles is failing prematurely. I was told this by service technicians at BMW and confirmed it through my own research.
2021 BMW X4 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11729655, filed April 7, 2026
I am reporting a safety recall issue involving my Toyota vehicle. Toyota stated that this safety recall remedy can be available in the last quarter of 2025, but the recall has still not been available and fixed.
2021 Toyota Supra owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11708558, filed January 3, 2026
Can recall 21V598 make my X4 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.
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 X4 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.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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 X4 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW X4 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V598
Did the recall 21V598 fix work?
Since recall 21V598 was reported on August 2, 2021, owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 3 of them (38%) 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 21V598000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my X4 is part of recall 21V598000?
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 21V598000 (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, Toyota. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.