2022-2023 BMW I4 Pedestrian Alert Sound Recall (23V026)
BMW of North America, LLC · 3,431 vehicles · Reported January 25, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 3,431 2022-2023 BMW I4; 2022-2023 BMW IX vehicles. During vehicle start-up, the artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault and fail to generate the external pedestrian warning sound. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles." Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V026 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V026000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 25, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022-2023 BMW I4; 2022-2023 BMW IX |
| Units affected | 3,431 |
| Component | Forward Collision Avoidance > Warnings > External / Pedestrian Alert |
| Safety risk | Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022-2023 BMW I4 in recall 23V026?
During vehicle start-up, the artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault and fail to generate the external pedestrian warning sound.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 i4 eDrive40 and iX xDrive50 electric vehicles. During vehicle start-up, the artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault and fail to generate the external pedestrian warning sound. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 I4 with recall 23V026?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your I4 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the external and pedestrian alert, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V026?
Recall 23V026 covers 3,431 vehicles: 2022-2023 BMW I4; 2022-2023 BMW IX.
NHTSA lists 3,431 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | BMW | I4 |
| 2022-2023 | BMW | IX |
What is the fix for the I4 pedestrian alert sound recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the external artificial sound generator software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the external artificial sound generator software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 9, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 23V026 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 23V026 to NHTSA on January 25, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 9, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 25, 2023 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V026000. |
| March 9, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 44 months ago. If your I4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my I4 is part of recall 23V026?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V026 is open on your I4, 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 23V026000. 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 I4 owners do about recall 23V026?
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 23V026000 applies to your I4.
- Call a BMW dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the external and pedestrian alert 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 I4 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 13 of them about the driver assistance.
Since recall 23V026 was reported on January 25, 2023, owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the driver assistance on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) 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 driver assistance and were received on or after January 25, 2023, 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 driver assistance issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 122 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 13 of them involve the driver assistance. 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.
- 2023 BMW I4: 45 complaints in total, 3 about the driver assistance
- 2023 BMW IX: 38 complaints in total, 3 about the driver assistance
- 2022 BMW IX: 29 complaints in total, 6 about the driver assistance
- 2022 BMW I4: 10 complaints in total, 1 about the driver assistance
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2023 BMX IX. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at approximately 5 MPH while attempting to pull into a parking space the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and accelerated forward crashing into the rear of a second vehicle. The second vehicle then crashed into a third vehicle.
2023 BMW IX owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11501292, filed January 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 BMW iX. The contact stated while parking in a parking spot, the vehicle suddenly increased in speed without any warning. As a result, the contact crashed into the corner of a building. The front end of the vehicle was damaged as well as minor visible damage to the building.
2023 BMW IX owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11537500, filed August 9, 2023
While parking in a rather standard strip mall parking lot, it was discovered the car was too close to the car on the right. The car was backed up a few feet and braked to a stop.
2023 BMW IX owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11627725, filed November 27, 2024
Can recall 23V026 make my I4 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 23V026000 does not automatically make your I4 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))?
Driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping and adaptive cruise rely on software and sensors. Phantom braking or a system that shuts off can be dangerous, and these complaints often return after an update.
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 I4 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 I4 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW I4 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V026
Did the recall 23V026 fix work?
Since recall 23V026 was reported on January 25, 2023, owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the driver assistance on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) 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.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed March 9, 2023.
Is the 23V026000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my I4 is part of recall 23V026000?
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.
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 23V026000 (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.