2023 Toyota Supra Transmission Control Module Recall (23V821)
BMW of North America, LLC · 552 vehicles · Reported December 6, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 552 2023 BMW 3 Series; 2023 BMW 4 Series; 2023 BMW 5 Series; 2023 BMW 8 Series; 2023 BMW X3; 2023 BMW X4; 2023 BMW X5; 2023 BMW X6; 2023 BMW Z4; 2023 Toyota Supra vehicles. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured properly, which could allow automatic transmission oil to leak into the transmission control unit. Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V821 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V821000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Toyota – 23TA14 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 6, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2023 BMW 3 Series; 2023 BMW 4 Series; 2023 BMW 5 Series; 2023 BMW 8 Series; 2023 BMW X3; 2023 BMW X4; 2023 BMW X5; 2023 BMW X6; 2023 BMW Z4; 2023 Toyota Supra |
| Units affected | 552 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Control Module (Tcm / Pcm / Tecm) |
| Safety risk | Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Toyota Supra in recall 23V821?
The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured properly, which could allow automatic transmission oil to leak into the transmission control unit.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 8 Series Coupe (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (850i xDrive, M8), X3 SAV (X3 xDrive30i, X3M), X4 SAV (X4 xDrive30i), X5 SAV (X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M), X6 SAV (X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M), and Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i vehicles. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured properly, which could allow automatic transmission oil to leak into the transmission control unit.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Supra with recall 23V821?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Supra shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the control module, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V821?
Recall 23V821 covers 552 vehicles: 2023 BMW 3 Series; 2023 BMW 4 Series; 2023 BMW 5 Series; 2023 BMW 8 Series; 2023 BMW X3; 2023 BMW X4; 2023 BMW X5; 2023 BMW X6; 2023 BMW Z4; 2023 Toyota Supra.
NHTSA lists 552 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BMW | 3 Series |
| 2023 | BMW | 4 Series |
| 2023 | BMW | 5 Series |
| 2023 | BMW | 8 Series |
| 2023 | BMW | X3 |
| 2023 | BMW | X4 |
| 2023 | BMW | X5 |
| 2023 | BMW | X6 |
| 2023 | BMW | Z4 |
| 2023 | Toyota | Supra |
What is the fix for the Supra transmission control module recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Manufacturer recall number: Toyota – 23TA14.
When was recall 23V821 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 23V821 to NHTSA on December 6, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 26, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 6, 2023 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V821000. |
| January 26, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 34 months ago. If your Supra was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Supra is part of recall 23V821?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V821 is open on your Supra, 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 23V821000. 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 Supra owners do about recall 23V821?
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 23V821000 applies to your Supra.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Toyota dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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 control module 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 Supra owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 9 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 23V821 was reported on December 6, 2023, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 2 of them (33%) 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 transmission and were received on or after December 6, 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 transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 61 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 9 of them involve the transmission. 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 X5: 33 complaints in total, 8 about the transmission
- 2023 BMW X3: 15 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
- 2023 BMW X4: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 Toyota Supra: 5 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 BMW X6: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 BMW Z4: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 BMW 8 Series: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2023 BMW 3 Series: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Rear differential bolt failure: Failure has not happened yet, but will happen eventually with enough mileage as seen with many other BMW X3M vehicles. Problem is with the rear differential bolt. The bolt is prone to shearing or snapping, noises may be heard from differential up until failure occurs at some point.
2023 BMW X3 owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11534242, filed July 25, 2023
Two incidents I was driving the vehicle and the notification popped up saying drivetrain error at that moment the Car Detail and I was unable to go over 30 mph while driving in the fast lane on California highways 2/13/2025 3/30/2025…
2023 BMW X5 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11653446, filed April 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X5. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed a fluid leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated.
2023 BMW X5 owner, HI, NHTSA complaint 11665727, filed June 9, 2025
Can recall 23V821 make my Supra 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 23V821000 does not automatically make your Supra 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))?
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2023 Toyota Supra: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
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.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 Supra been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Toyota Supra recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V821
Did the recall 23V821 fix work?
Since recall 23V821 was reported on December 6, 2023, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 2 of them (33%) 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 January 26, 2024.
Is the 23V821000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Supra is part of recall 23V821000?
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.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
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 23V821000 (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.