BMW Recalls 27,720 Cars Over Rare Rollaway Risk Linked to Driveshaft Wear

BMW is pulling 27,720 vehicles from the road due to a driveshaft connection that can wear down severely, potentially cutting power to the rear wheels or, in rare cases, allowing the car to roll away while parked. The recall affects the 2022-2026 BMW 840i and 840i xDrive, the 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, and M550i xDrive, and the 2024-2026 750e xDrive.

According to BMW’s report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the joint between the drivetrain and the rear differential is the problem. This connection transfers power from the transmission to the rear wheels, so when it wears out, the car can lose drive entirely.

The rollaway scenario happens if the connection fails and the parking brake isn’t engaged while the car is in park, then the vehicle could move on its own. Both issues raise crash risk, though BMW says it has no reports of accidents or injuries linked to the problem so far.

Dealers will inspect the driveshaft-to-differential connection and either apply adhesive to reinforce it or replace the driveshaft and rear differential completely, at no cost to owners. BMW plans to start mailing notification letters by October 2. Since some owners may miss the letter, due to moving, buying used, or other gaps, it’s wise to check your VIN against NHTSA’s database directly rather than waiting for mail.