Problem Lookup › BMW › 7 Series › 2020
Car problem report
2020 BMW 7 Series problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 BMW 7 Series has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 5owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 8%fail the UK MOT
5 complaints, against an average of 15 for the other 12 BMW 7 Series model years.
Every BMW 7 Series model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2020 BMW 7 Series?
The components named most often in the 5 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2020 BMW 7 Series been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 BMW 7 Series as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2020 BMW 7 Series recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAReplace the Engine Starter Motor
Risk: For affected vehicles there is a concern involving water ingress and corrosion to the starter motor for where a short circuit cannot be ruled out. It is strongly recommended to park the vehicle outdoors and not in the immediate vicinity of buildings until the repair has been carried out.
Fix: Replacement of the starter motor.
UK DVSAIn rare cases the starter motor can inadvertently be activated permanently presenting a risk of a thermal event
Risk: In rare cases the starter motor can inadvertently be activated permanently presenting a risk of a thermal event.
Fix: Rework the starter motor assembly.
UK DVSAUndetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold
Risk: Undetected EGR System leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold.
Fix: The engine management control unit (DDE) will be programmed with improved software incorporating the latest OBD functionality.
UK DVSAThe exhaust gas recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident
Risk: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler may leak over time and cause thermal incident.
Fix: On the affected vehicles the EGR cooler module will be replaced.
UK DVSAThe integrated brake system hydraulic unit may have been produced incorrectly
Risk: The Integrated Brake system hydraulic unit may have been produced incorrectly
Fix: Replace the Integrated Brake system hydraulic unit.
UK DVSARemaining particles in the cells of the high voltage battery can cause a short circuit
Risk: A possibility of impurities contained in the HV batteries may cause short circuit.
Fix: Testing of battery charge cycles and replacement of the HV cells where necessary.
UK DVSARemaining particles in the cells of the high voltage battery can cause a short circuit
Risk: In very rare cases welding beads were not always completely removed in the cleaning process during battery production.
Fix: Test and replace the High Voltage batteries if affected.
EU Safety GateWater may enter the starter motor and cause damage.As a result, the engine may no longer start, or the starter motor may short-circuit or remain continuously activated. This could cause local overheating of the starter motor or thermal overload of surrounding components and lead to a vehicle fire, including when the ignition is switched off.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 31/08/2026
EU Safety GateThe RSW22 starter with reinforced water tightness (RWT) may experience increased abrasion of the magnetic contact, causing deposits to…The RSW22 starter with reinforced water tightness (RWT) may experience increased abrasion of the magnetic contact, causing deposits to build up at the lowest point inside the relay. These deposits may increase relay contact resistance, leading to starting failures or short circuits. If a short circuit occurs, either when attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibration-related movement of the deposits, it could cause a thermal event and increase the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 07/07/2026
EU Safety GateThe engine starter’s electrical contacts may overheat and cause the vehicle to start improperly.Continued starting attempts can intensify the overheating and ignite surrounding components, potentially leading to a vehicle fire while driving or shortly after parking.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateWater may come into contact with the starter relay and gradually cause corrosion.This could affect the electrical connection inside the relay and make the engine difficult to start. It may also result in a short circuit and could cause the starter to overheat leading to a fire when the vehicle is in motion or when it is parked with the ignition off.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe software-based overload protection function cannot sufficiently prevent the starter being overloaded in the event of repeated long…The software-based overload protection function cannot sufficiently prevent the starter being overloaded in the event of repeated long start-up attempts. The starter may overheat or sparks may be produced as a result of an increased current flow. This increases the risk of a fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDefects in the winding of cell-internal foils in the high-voltage batteries can lead to the occurrence of increased self-discharge.This can cause high voltage cell modules to overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDefective hydraulic unit of the braking system may cause a limited braking support and increased braking distance.Moreover, in such cases the ABS system would not be available. This will lead to increased risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA short circuit in the high-voltage battery could occur during initial charging due to a particle in the form of a welding bead.This may trigger a chain reaction in the battery, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance…The press-in force of the counterbalance shaft’s bearing shells may not have met the specifications, which could cause the counterbalance shaft to become loose. As a result, the engine could be damaged and locked in motion, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2020 BMW 7 Series fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2020, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2020 BMW 7 Series owners report?
5 of the 5 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact own a 2020 BMW 740I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V644000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Took my 2020 BMW 7 Series into BMW San Diego because there was fluid leaking. Upon diagnosis at the dealership, I was notified I needed to replace the front differential as it was coming apart. The leaking fluid was identified as differential fluid. The vehicle has 54,308 miles on it. My research indicates front differentials should not need replacement until nearly 150,000 miles. A broken front differential is considered to be very bad and makes a car unsafe to drive as it causes severe handling issues, loss of control and potential damage to the transmission. A broken differential can cause…
On [XXX], while driving on a busy boulevard in Wilmington, Delaware, my 2020 BMW 750i suddenly lost all power (engine and electrical) without any warning. The vehicle completely shut down in traffic, creating an extremely dangerous situation. There were no warning lights or messages before the failure. I called BMW Roadside Assistance for help but was informed that because my warranty had just expired, they canceled the tow truck that was already en route and turned it away. This left me stranded in a live traffic lane until I could arrange my own tow service from Geico. I called Wilmington…
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 750I. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot at slow speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the expansion tank had cracked and leaked on the fuel rail and the injector had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and covered the injector repair and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
The middle Console on the car has aluminum trim, the trim starts peeling off right at the button where you can open the console and I just hurt my finger as it’s very sharp and cuts the skin right away I will provide also pictures of the problem .
2020 BMW 7 Series: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 BMW 7 Series reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW 7 Series; the most common categories were electrical system (2, 40%), engine and engine cooling (1, 20%), power train (1, 20%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 BMW 7 Series?
Across 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (40% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (20% of complaints), power train (20% of complaints), steering (20% of complaints), structure (20% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 BMW 7 Series have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 BMW 7 Series. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own 7 Series
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2020 only.