NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Defect Petition DP26-009: Driveshaft to rear differential connection failure
- Open
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Defect Petition DP26-009 on September 14, 2026; NHTSA's investigations file listed it as open on October 23, 2026. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2022 BMW 540I for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- DP26-009 (also written DP26009)
- Investigation type
- Defect Petition A petition asking NHTSA to open a defect investigation; NHTSA grants or denies it, and granting one opens an investigation.
- Status
- Open since September 14, 2026
- Opened
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- BMW of North America, LLC
- Component
- Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2022 BMW 540I
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Defect Petition DP26-009.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received on September 1, 2026 a defect petition dated August 5, 2026, requesting an investigation into an alleged defect in BMW rear differential assemblies. The petitioner alleges Model year (MY) 2022 BMW 540i vehicles are experiencing a sudden mechanical failure that severs the drive connection between the driveshaft and the rear wheels. This defect petition has been opened to evaluate the issue and determine whether to grant or deny the petition. BMW filed Safety Recall 26V525 on August 12, 2026. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11761650.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Defect Petition DP26-009. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
BMW
BMW 540I
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
BMW VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for DP26-009
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.