Use caution Vehicle recall · NHTSA · Published September 30, 2020

BMW 2020 M5 Recall: Rearview Camera Image Obstruction Risk

BMW recalls 2020 M5 vehicles with potential rearview camera image obstruction, increasing crash risk. Owners must contact customer service for software update by November 18, 2020.

Plain-English summary generated from official NHTSA data by GovInfoNow · Published by Carlos Caban · How we make summaries

🇺🇸 NHTSA recall #20V598000Vehicle BMW ›

Use caution until it’s fixed

If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Take action

Contact the company

Call(800) 525-7417

✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer

BMW is recalling certain 2020 M5 vehicles because the rearview camera image may be slightly obscured, which could increase the risk of a crash or injury if the driver relies solely on this image for rear visibility. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/79236-bmw-2020-m5-recall-rearview-camera-image-obstruction-risk.

Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/79236-bmw-2020-m5-recall-rearview-camera-image-obstruction-risk · Updated August 18, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #20V598000

Cite this page

“BMW 2020 M5 Recall: Rearview Camera Image Obstruction Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated August 18, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/79236-bmw-2020-m5-recall-rearview-camera-image-obstruction-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #20V598000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=20V598000).

BMW of North America, LLC recalled certain 2020-2021 BMW vehicles for a rear visibility issue, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on September 30, 2020. The hazard involves a slightly obscured rearview image that increases crash risk. Owners should contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

How to tell if you have it

BMW X3 sDrive 30i, 2020-2021
BMW X3 xDrive 30i, 2020-2021
BMW X3M 40i, 2020-2021
BMW X3 xDrive 30e, 2020-2021
BMW X4 xDrive 30i, 2020-2021
BMW X4M 40i, 2020-2021
BMW 530i, 2020-2021
BMW 540i, 2020-2021
BMW 540i xDrive, 2020-2021
BMW M550i xDrive, 2020-2021
BMW M5, 2020-2021
BMW 550e, 2020-2021
BMW 550e xDrive, 2020-2021
BMW 550e iPerformance, 2020-2021

What to do

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

The hazard

A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured, increasing the risk of a crash or injury if the driver relies on only the rearview camera image. These vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." GovInfoNow's records show no specific incidents or injuries reported in this recall record.

Context

GovInfoNow's records show BMW of North America, LLC has 291 other recalls on record since October 12, 2009. Other recent recalls include a power loss risk for the BMW 750e XDrive (August 12, 2026), a steering control risk for the BMW X3 (August 12, 2026), and a fire risk for the BMW X4 (August 7, 2026). Similar recent recalls of rearview camera issues include the Volvo EX40 (December 23, 2025), the Audi Q7 (December 19, 2025), and the Buick Encore GX (August 20, 2026).

How to tell if you have this one

Check if your vehicle is a 2020 BMW M5. The recall covers specific 2020-2021 model years and trim levels listed in the official notice.

Brand
BMW
Category
Vehicle

Based on the official NHTSA remedy

What to do — step by step

Contact BMW Customer Service
Call 1-800-525-7417 to schedule a software update at a dealer.

Official remedy

What NHTSA says to do

How this recall unfolded

Recall timeline

2 dated steps over 49 days.

Sep 30, 2020NHTSA received the defect report
Nov 18, 2020Recall began

Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.

Take action

Contact BMW

We’ve drafted a message you can send BMW to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.

✉️ Open in email📞 +18005257417

Subject: Recall 20V598000 — BMW 2020 M5 Recall: Rearview Camera Image Obstruction Risk

Hello,

I own a BMW 2020 M5 Recall: Rearview Camera Image Obstruction Risk that is covered by recall 20V598000 from BMW.

The official recall notice states: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this?

Thank you.

Keep exploring

Link to this recall

<a href="https://govinfonow.com/recall/79236-bmw-2020-m5-recall-rearview-camera-image-obstruction-risk">BMW 2020 M5 Recall: Rearview Camera Image Obstruction Risk (GovInfoNow)</a>

Where this comes from

The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.

Official source: NHTSA Recall #20V598000 (September 30, 2020)
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 18, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.