2020 BMW M engine problems
51 of the 69 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW M name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 187 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 26
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
69 complaints in all about the 2020 BMW M, 26 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: BMW M engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
2020 BMW M5 a metal-shavings engine failure at highway speed is a safety event. I had total catastrophic engine failure at less than 50,000 miles. No warning lights, found metal shavings in the engine system and engine needs complete replacement.
PCV fails prematurely, the car makes a high pitch noise and check engine light comes on. Car stalls making it dangerous to drive since it's not responsive as originally designed
Oil level won’t read. Can cause engine issues. Car has no dipstick to check for oil
Oil pump failure, causing inability to read oil level. Also flickering oil light on and off. After some research noticed it was happening to a lot of others as well due to oil pump being made with plastic internals. BMW has since updated to a new pump with metal internal the next year however never recalled old pumps
Coolant expansion tank is leaking on fuel injectors, coils and plugs on engine below causing ‘drivetrain malfunction’ which puts vehicle into Limp Mode. Car can begin to shudder, misfire and stall. BMW has an SIB on the expansion tank, but has done nothing to address the components underneath that get damaged.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 21V598000 HighAug 2, 2021 · 50,024 vehicles
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available.
187 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- B010224 Warranty extensionMay 5, 2026
- The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
- B011724 Warranty extensionSep 19, 2025
- The Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the required replacement of one or more the fuel injectors which were determined to have failed due to a buildup of external corrosion in the eng
- B063525 OtherJun 17, 2025
- Engine Return
- B010821 Warranty extensionDec 11, 2024
- The NVLD limited emission related warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date
- B170324 Service campaignJun 7, 2024
- Under certain driving situations, coolant leaks onto the fuel injectors on cylinder bank (5-8).
- B170324 Service campaignMay 16, 2024
- Under certain driving situations, coolant leaks onto the fuel injectors on cylinder bank (5-8).
- B170324 Service bulletinApr 15, 2024
- BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective April 15, 2024) on certain Model Year 2018 - 2023 BMW vehicles that were produced between November 7, 2017, and September 9, 2022.
- B011423 Service bulletinNov 13, 2023
- PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE (PCV) EXTENDED LTD WTY 15 YEARS/150,000 MILES
The 8 newest are listed (the model year’s page has its newest of every kind). Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2020 BMW M?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (74% of everything owners filed about it), and 187 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2020 BMW M?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 21V598000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2020 BMW M?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.