BMW and Toyota Supra Recall Summary
- Who is affected: 2021 to 2026 BMW 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, X3, X4, and Z4 owners, plus 2023 to 2024 Toyota Supra owners
- Why Toyota Supra is included: The current Supra was co-developed with BMW and shares BMW’s engine and starter design, so this is one joint recall covering both brands, not BMW recalling a Toyota-owned vehicle
- What is the defect: The engine starter can wear internally after repeated use, allowing a buildup of metallic material that, in rare cases, can produce a thermal event or fire when starting or running the engine
- Recall size: 318,495 vehicles in the United States
- Fix status: No fix is currently available yet. Owner notification letters and VIN searchability on NHTSA.gov are both expected to begin August 28, 2026
- Check your VIN: Search your VIN on NHTSA.gov (not yet searchable for this campaign as of this writing) | Think you may have a lemon law claim? Contact The Margarian Law Firm
- California owners: If your BMW or Toyota Supra has had starting problems, unusual starter noise, or an electrical smell your dealer could not resolve, contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation
What triggered this recall?
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 318,495 vehicles across nine BMW model lines and the Toyota Supra, which BMW co-developed and which shares BMW’s engine starter design. According to NHTSA’s recall record for campaign 26V438, the affected models include the 2023 to 2024 Toyota Supra, 2022 to 2025 2 Series, 2021 to 2023 5 Series, 2022 to 2026 Z4, 2023 to 2024 4 Series, 2023 to 2024 3 Series, 2021 to 2025 X4, and 2021 to 2024 X3.
The defect involves the engine starter (the small motor that turns the engine over to start it). Over time and after a high number of starting cycles, an internal component can wear down and allow a buildup of metallic material inside the starter. Cars.com reported that in an extreme case, this condition can produce a thermal event or fire either while starting the engine or while it’s running.
This recall is an expansion of an earlier campaign, 26V056, issued by BMW earlier this year for a related starter issue. Toyota’s own newsroom confirmed the Supra’s inclusion, since it uses the BMW-sourced starter. As of this writing, no permanent remedy is available. Dealers will eventually install a redesigned engine starter that isn’t subject to the wear condition, free of charge, but owner notification letters aren’t expected until August 28, 2026, and VINs for this campaign won’t be searchable on NHTSA.gov until that same date.
Have you had starting problems with your BMW or Toyota Supra? The Margarian Law Firm can help you understand your options.
Sources: NHTSA | Cars.com | Toyota
Which vehicles are included in this recall?
- 2023 to 2024 Toyota Supra, 2022 to 2025 BMW 2 Series, 2021 to 2023 BMW 5 Series, 2022 to 2026 BMW Z4, 2023 to 2024 BMW 4 Series, 2023 to 2024 BMW 3 Series, 2021 to 2025 BMW X4, and 2021 to 2024 BMW X3: 318,495 units
- Total U.S. vehicles affected: 318,495
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) for this campaign are not yet searchable on NHTSA.gov. BMW expects VINs to become searchable, and notification letters to begin mailing, on August 28, 2026. Until then, owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417, or Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331 for Supra owners, to ask whether their specific vehicle is included.
What should BMW and Toyota Supra owners do right now?
- Contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417, or Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 if you own a Supra, to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, since VIN lookup isn’t live yet for this campaign
- Watch for your notification letter, expected around August 28, 2026, and contact your dealer to schedule the starter replacement once it’s available
- Document any symptoms in writing: difficulty starting the engine, unusual grinding or clicking from the starter, or any burning or electrical smell
- Keep every service record and repair order related to starting or electrical issues, even from before this recall was announced
For repair scheduling and recall status, contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. This contact is for repair tracking only. For questions about your legal rights, contact The Margarian Law Firm.
Could this recall affect your lemon law rights?
Not every recall directly supports a lemon law claim. It depends on the nature of the defect and what your repair history shows. This recall is not that kind of gray area. A starter defect that can produce a fire directly affects vehicle safety, and it’s the second time this year BMW has had to address this specific starter issue. For California owners who experienced starting problems or related symptoms without a lasting fix from their dealer, it may form the foundation of a lemon law claim.
Reach out to The Margarian Law Firm to discuss your specific situation.
Could your BMW or Toyota Supra qualify? A quick self-check
- Have you taken your vehicle to the dealer two or more times for a starting or electrical issue without a lasting fix?
- Has your vehicle been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days for this or a related issue?
- Have you experienced difficulty starting your engine, unusual starter noise, or an electrical or burning smell?
- Did your dealer acknowledge the problem but fail to resolve it?
- Is your vehicle still within the manufacturer’s warranty period?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you may be entitled to compensation under California’s lemon law. Contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation.
If your vehicle qualifies, California law requires the manufacturer to pay your attorney fees, meaning representation typically costs you nothing out of pocket.
What California’s lemon law actually covers
Why the timing of this recall creates a legal window right now
Here is something most recall notices will not tell you, and most law firms will not explain. Without a remedy available yet, and with VINs not even searchable on NHTSA.gov until late August, dealers cannot perform the required repair right now, which creates a documented period of unresolved defect for any owner already experiencing symptoms.
The right time to understand your options is before the fix is available, not after. Talk to a lemon law attorney now to understand what your repair history already shows.
Even once a remedy is released, prior repair attempts remain relevant. If your vehicle was in for starting or electrical symptoms before this recall was acknowledged, including under the earlier related campaign, those visits may factor into your claim.
The Margarian Law Firm team can review your case and clearly lay out your options.
Get a free, honest case assessment
California BMW or Toyota Supra owner?
If you have experienced starting problems, unusual starter noise, or an electrical smell, and your dealer has not been able to fix it, or if you want to understand your rights and what you may be legally entitled to, The Margarian Law Firm can help.
Our firm practices exclusively in California automotive consumer law, including lemon law, dealer fraud, and automotive class actions. That exclusive focus means deeper case knowledge, greater litigation resources, and a track record built entirely on cases like yours. We stay closely attuned to how recalls affect consumers’ legal rights and have the resources to litigate, not just negotiate.
Frequently asked questions
1- Is my BMW or Toyota Supra included in this recall?
The recall covers specific 2021 to 2026 BMW 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, X3, X4, and Z4 models, along with the 2023 to 2024 Toyota Supra. VIN lookup for this campaign isn’t live yet, so the fastest way to confirm is to call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
2- Can I still drive my car during this recall?
BMW has not issued a directive to stop driving affected vehicles, but the underlying defect is a fire risk tied to starting the engine. If you notice difficulty starting, unusual starter noise, or any burning smell, contact your dealer promptly.
3- Does this recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not automatically. A recall on its own doesn’t make a vehicle a lemon under California law. What matters is your specific repair history, including any prior visits for starting or electrical issues. That history is what The Margarian Law Firm reviews when evaluating a case.
4- What is the starter fire risk exactly?
The engine starter can wear internally after a high number of starting cycles, allowing metallic material to build up inside it. In rare cases, that buildup can produce a thermal event or fire while starting or running the engine.
5- When will the recall repair be available?
BMW expects owner notification letters, and VIN searchability on NHTSA.gov, to begin August 28, 2026. No remedy is currently available before then.
6- What if my car was damaged or caught fire? Do I have a legal claim?
If your vehicle sustained fire or electrical damage, that may support a legal claim beyond a simple recall repair. Contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation of your specific situation.
7- What if my dealer told me nothing was wrong before this recall?
If you raised a starting or electrical concern with your dealer and were told nothing was wrong, or the fix didn’t last, that visit still counts as part of your repair history. Written service records from those visits can matter a great deal to a lemon law claim.
8- Should I take my car to the dealer now, even if there is no fix yet?
Yes. Even without a permanent fix available, documenting any symptoms now, in writing, and keeping every service record, helps build the record that may support a claim later. It also puts you in position to get the repair as soon as it becomes available.
Standard Legal Disclaimer
The information in this post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual merits, and outcomes vary based on the manufacturer, the defect, repair history, and other factors. Attorney fees in qualifying lemon law cases are paid separately by the manufacturer upon a successful outcome under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Contacting The Margarian Law Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Official sources and further reading
- NHTSA VIN check and recall search
- Cars.com: “318,000-Plus BMWs, Toyota Supras Recalled for Fire Risk”
- Toyota USA Newsroom: “Toyota Recalls Certain Supra Vehicles”