German Authorities Recall Vehicles Over BMW Emissions Problems

German authorities have ordered the recall of over 11,000 BMW models due to BMW emissions problems.

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) ordered the recall of over 11,000 BMW luxury car models due to BMW emissions problems which have sparked a class action lawsuit in the United States. The recall affects BMW 250 3.0 Diesel Euro 6 and BMW M550 3.0 Diesel Euro 6 models. German Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said “inadmissible defeat devices are to be removed” from the vehicles.

German prosecutors raided BMW headquarters in March, saying they had started an investigation into suspected diesel-emission fraud. Although BMW emissions problems have been public since 2015, BMW has routinely denied any involvement with the emissions scandal.

“As a matter of principle, BMW Group vehicles are not manipulated and comply with all respective legal requirements,” a BMW spokesman said. The company maintains that the BMW emissions problems are a result of faulty use of software, not targeted manipulation of testing.

In addition to German recalls, BMW also faces a class action lawsuit in the United States. The class action alleges that BMW colluded with Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC to create software that would mask illegal BMW emissions problems while undergoing testing.

The complaint alleges that the diesel SUV and 4-door sedan emit up to 26 times the legal standard for nitrogen oxide emissions.

“At these levels, these cars aren’t just dirty – they don’t meet standards to be legally driven on US streets and no one would have bought these cars if BMW had told the truth,” said the representing law firm. “BMW chose to join the likes of Volkswagen and so many others, to build an illegal emissions-cheating system.”

BMW joins other automakers, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, Fiat Chrysler, and General Motors, that have been accused of manipulating emissions testing to evade EPA standards. Like BMW, these automakers allegedly use “defeat devices” provided by Bosch.

The alleged defeat devices turn off the emissions control system when the vehicle is not being tested. According to the BMW emissions problems class action lawsuit, the devices are “activated by illegal software in the vehicle’s engine control module (ECM), which is the computer that controls the operation of the engine and emission control devices.”

Diesel vehicles are fuel-efficient alternatives to gasoline vehicles and get 20 to 30 percent more miles to the gallon. Diesel vehicles are also usually more powerful.

However, the vehicles product dirtier and more environmentally harmful emissions than gasoline vehicles. The EPA sets strict standards on nitrogen oxide emissions, as the chemical has been linked to serious health complications.

Automakers have struggled to create clean diesel vehicles and allegedly turn to emission control devices to charge a premium price for a “powerful, environmentally friendly” vehicle.

If you or a loved one owned a 2009-2011 BMW 335D diesel vehicle or 2009-2013 X5 diesel vehicle, you may qualify for legal action. A BMW emissions problems class action lawsuit could recover compensation for false advertising, misrepresentation, fraud and more.

Join a Free BMW Diesel Emissions Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own or owned a 2009-2013 BMW X5 or 2009-2011 335D diesel vehicle, you may qualify to file a BMW diesel emissions lawsuit or class action lawsuit.

Learn More