2023 BMW X7 Catalytic Convertor Recall (23V294)
BMW of North America, LLC · 5 vehicles · Reported April 26, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 5 2023 BMW X7; 2023 BMW XM vehicles. The fasteners that connect the exhaust system and the catalytic converter may not have been tightened correctly. A loose connection between the exhaust system and catalytic converter increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V294 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V294000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 26, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2023 BMW X7; 2023 BMW XM |
| Units affected | 5 |
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling > Exhaust System > Emission Control > Catalytic Convertor |
| Safety risk | A loose connection between the exhaust system and catalytic converter increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 BMW X7 in recall 23V294?
The fasteners that connect the exhaust system and the catalytic converter may not have been tightened correctly.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 X7 M60i and XM vehicles. The fasteners that connect the exhaust system and the catalytic converter may not have been tightened correctly.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 X7 with recall 23V294?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose connection between the exhaust system and catalytic converter increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose connection between the exhaust system and catalytic converter increases the risk of a fire.
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 catalytic convertor.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V294?
Recall 23V294 covers 5 vehicles: 2023 BMW X7; 2023 BMW XM.
NHTSA lists 5 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BMW | X7 |
| 2023 | BMW | XM |
What is the fix for the X7 catalytic convertor recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the gasket between the exhaust system and the catalytic converter, and tighten the fasteners, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the gasket between the exhaust system and the catalytic converter, and tighten the fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 23V294 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 23V294 to NHTSA on April 26, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 22, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 26, 2023 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V294000. |
| June 22, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 41 months ago. If your X7 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my X7 is part of recall 23V294?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V294 is open on your X7, 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 23V294000. 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 X7 owners do about recall 23V294?
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 23V294000 applies to your X7.
- 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 catalytic convertor 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 X7 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the engine.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the engine have been filed since recall 23V294 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 46 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 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.
- 2023 BMW X7: 44 complaints in total, 2 about the engine
- 2023 BMW XM: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
I have owned this vehicle for under 6 months. The brakes stopped working and have had to have car towed into shop now twice due to the car not being able to be started due to error codes.
2023 BMW X7 owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11522298, filed May 16, 2023
We are unable to sell the car because it’s listed as unsalable because of the recall and we are unable to drive the vehicle. BMW should replace the vehicle at their cost.
2023 BMW X7 owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11614703, filed September 15, 2024
Can recall 23V294 make my X7 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 catalytic convertor recall means their X7 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)).
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 X7 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 X7 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW X7 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V294
Is the 23V294000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 22, 2023.
How do I know if my X7 is part of recall 23V294000?
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 23V294000 (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.