BMW recall check UK
Check for open recalls by VIN or registration for free, and see the recall work already done on a car.
VIN check result
Vehicle identified!
Our report shows the campaigns and services recorded for the car. For open recalls, use the free official checks below.
Free ways to check a BMW for recalls
There are two free official checks in the UK, and for a BMW it is worth using both:
- BMW UK recall VIN check: open BMW recalls
- GOV.UK check by registration: open safety recalls
- Vehicle Status in iDrive or the My BMW app
- BMW's separate Takata airbag VIN check
BMW UK's recall check on bmw.co.uk shows open BMW recalls that apply to your car when you enter the 17-character VIN. The GOV.UK "check if a vehicle has been recalled" service uses the registration number and shows safety recalls that have not been checked or fixed. It does not show recalls for reasons other than safety. Searching GOV.UK by make, model and year only tells you whether that type of car has had a recall, not whether your car is affected.
BMW also has a dedicated Takata airbag recall VIN check, as some models built between 1999 and 2018 may be affected.
Easier than ever
Checking a car’s records? Just type the VIN.
We have made it easier than ever to look up a BMW or MINI. Type the VIN into the search box at the top of this page and we will show what is available for that car before you order anything.
Where to find the VIN
The VIN is 17 characters long. On a UK BMW you can usually read it through the windscreen at the bottom of the passenger side, and it is printed on the V5C registration document. Our free BMW VIN check confirms the model and build date from the same number.
Recalls vs technical campaigns
A safety recall fixes a defect that affects safety. BMW usually writes to the registered keeper, and in some cases the advice is not to drive the car until the work is done. A technical campaign is work BMW asks its retailers to carry out to improve or correct something that is not necessarily a safety issue. BMW covers the cost of safety recalls and technical campaigns.
If a check shows an open recall, contact a BMW retailer or BMW UK customer services to book the work, and follow the guidance in the letter or the recall check on whether the car can be driven.
Seeing recall work that has already been done
The free checks are built to show recalls that are still open. When you are buying a used BMW, it also helps to see what has already been carried out: which campaigns were completed, when, and at what mileage, alongside the car's services.
Run the free checks
BMW UK by VIN and GOV.UK by registration for open recalls.
Enter the VIN above
We identify the car and count the dealer records found.
Get the report
£19 for services, repairs and recorded campaigns, with mileage.
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Check the records against the advert and the MOT history.
Our report is based on BMW dealer network records, so it shows the campaigns recorded for the VIN there, along with services, repairs and the mileage at each visit (in km). It complements the official recall checks rather than replacing them.
BMW recall check FAQ
How do I check if my BMW has a recall?
Use BMW UK's free recall VIN check, which shows open BMW recalls for your car, or the free GOV.UK check by registration number, which shows safety recalls that have not been fixed. BMW owners can also look in the Vehicle Status menu in the car or in the My BMW app.
Is a BMW recall check free?
Yes. Both the BMW UK VIN check and the GOV.UK registration check are free, and BMW covers the cost of safety recalls and technical campaigns carried out by its retailers.
Can I check a BMW recall by registration?
Yes, with the GOV.UK service. It shows safety recalls that have not been checked or fixed. Recalls for reasons other than safety are not shown there, so also use BMW's own VIN check.
Can I see recalls that have already been done?
The free recall checks focus on recalls that are still open. To see campaigns and recall work recorded as carried out by the BMW network, alongside services and mileage, use a BMW service history report by VIN.
What is the difference between a recall and a technical campaign?
A safety recall fixes a defect that affects safety, and you will usually receive a letter from BMW. A technical campaign is work BMW asks its retailers to carry out to improve or correct something that is not necessarily a safety issue. BMW covers the cost of both.
Should I buy a used BMW with an open recall?
An open recall is not a reason to walk away on its own, because the work is free at a BMW retailer. Ask the seller to have it done before you buy, or book it straight away afterwards, and follow BMW's guidance on whether the car can be driven in the meantime.