The Recall Desk
Our severity:ModerateNHTSA·21V831000·Announced 2021-10-22

2022 BMW X4 Rear License Plate Lamp Illumination Defect

BMW is recalling certain 2022 X4 vehicles because the rear license plate may not be properly illuminated, violating federal safety standards and potentially creating visibility issues for other drivers.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 2/5 (Moderate).

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: This recall is scored as Moderate because no injuries, deaths, or crashes have been reported. While the defect affects vehicle visibility and compliance with federal safety standards, it is a preventive recall addressing a potential hazard before actual harm occurs.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2022 BMW X4 vehicles, including the X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, and X4M models. The affected vehicles have a defect in the rear license plate illumination system due to incorrectly positioned license plate lamp cutouts.

This defect prevents the rear license plate from being properly illuminated, violating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108 (Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment). An improperly illuminated license plate can create confusion for other drivers, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

Approximately 2,577 vehicles are affected by this recall. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 17, 2021.

Dealers will modify the rear license plate bracket free of charge. Owners should contact their BMW dealer to schedule the repair, or they can reach BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. For additional information, owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

The recalled product

Product
BMW X4
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Exterior Lighting
Hazard
Affected units
2,577

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • X4

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · BMW

Same manufacturer · BMW of North America, LLC

See all →

Same hazard · lighting defect

See all →

Similar recalls