BMW Recall 15V-520: Exterior lighting

Affected: 2012–2015 BMW 320i, 2014–2015 BMW 328d, 2012–2015 BMW 328i and 4 more. Filed with NHTSA on August 17, 2015, covering about 7,727 vehicles.

The problem

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

The risk

If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Recall details

NHTSA campaign15V-520 (15V520000)
ManufacturerBMW of North America, LLC
ComponentExterior lighting
Report dateAugust 17, 2015
Owners notifiedOctober 7, 2015
Vehicles affected7,727
Initiated byManufacturer

Vehicles covered

Plus 10 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.

Owner complaints about the lights

Frequently asked questions

Is the recall 15V-520 repair free?

Yes. BMW dealers will fix the problem at no cost: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

How do I know if my car is included?

Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 7,727 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.