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Campaign 19V883 Posted December 11, 2019 3,012 units

2019-2020 BMW M5/M8 Recall 19V883: Wiring Harness Short

Recall 19V883 affects 3,012 2019-2020 BMW M5, M8, and M8 Gran Coupe vehicles for transmission wiring damage. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.

BMW is recalling 3,012 2019-2020 M5, M8, and M8 Gran Coupe vehicles because the transmission wiring harness can become damaged and short circuit. The short can shift the transmission into neutral, causing loss of propulsion and increasing crash risk; BMW dealers will repair the harness free of charge.

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What's wrong?

The transmission wiring harness on affected 2019-2020 BMW M5, M8, and M8 Gran Coupe vehicles is the bundle of insulated wires that carries electrical signals between the transmission and the vehicle control systems. Those signals help the transmission stay in the selected gear and respond when the driver shifts between Park, Drive, Neutral, and other positions.

On these vehicles, the harness uses insulation material, routing, and fastening points that place it at risk of damage where it attaches to the transmission housing. If the insulation wears through, the exposed wiring can create an electrical short circuit. That short can make the transmission shift into Neutral unexpectedly, which cuts engine power from the wheels and causes a loss of propulsion.

The warning sign is practical and visible: the instrument cluster displays Neutral. If the driver presses the accelerator while the vehicle is in Neutral, engine speed rises, but vehicle speed does not increase with it.

Who's affected?

Spans the M5, M8, and M8 Gran Coupe across 2019 and 2020, with both wiring and automatic transmission components listed.

2019 BMW M5 wiring
2019 BMW M5 automatic transmission
2020 BMW M5 wiring
2020 BMW M5 automatic transmission
2020 BMW M8 wiring
Units affected3,012
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.

What's the safety risk?

An electrical short circuit can shift the transmission into Neutral, causing a loss of propulsion and increasing the risk of a crash. Watch for a Neutral gear display in the instrument cluster or rising engine rpm without an increase in vehicle speed. If that happens, move out of traffic when safe and schedule service. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 BMW M5, M8, or M8 Gran Coupe is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the free transmission-wiring-harness repair that reroutes and secures the harness to stop electrical shorts from shifting the transmission to neutral.
  3. Bring the recall notice if BMW mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V883 when you call.
  4. Avoid unnecessary driving until the repair is complete, and move out of traffic safely if the transmission shifts to neutral.
  5. Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a BMW technician checks the transmission wiring harness, replaces any damaged harnesses, then reroutes and secures all harnesses so they stay clear of damage points. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. BMW used its standard reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you already paid for a related transmission harness repair before the recall notice, ask BMW customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit repair documentation for review.

ReimbursementReimbursement available

Timeline

December 11, 2019 NHTSA published the recall
December 11, 2019 Dealer notification began
December 11, 2019 Dealer notification ended
February 3, 2020 VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
February 3, 2020 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)
February 7, 2020 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 19V883?

Recall 19V883 covers 3,012 BMW vehicles: 2019-2020 M5 models and 2020 M8 and M8 Gran Coupe models. The transmission wiring harness can become damaged and short, shifting the transmission to neutral and causing loss of propulsion. BMW dealers will replace damaged harnesses, then reroute and secure all harnesses for free.

What should I do if my 2019-2020 BMW M5, M8, or M8 Gran Coupe is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific BMW is included in recall 19V883. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the transmission harness inspection and repair. Reference recall 19V883 when you call. The dealer repair is free.

Is the BMW recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and BMW says dealers will replace any damaged transmission harnesses, reroute all harnesses, and secure them free of charge at a franchised BMW dealer.

What is the safety risk in BMW recall 19V883?

The safety risk is loss of propulsion. If the damaged transmission wiring harness causes an electrical short circuit, the transmission can shift to neutral while driving. That loss of power increases crash risk. The repair path is to have a BMW dealer inspect, reroute, secure, and replace damaged harnesses for free.

Who should I contact about BMW recall 19V883?

Contact a franchised BMW dealer after you confirm your VIN is included. You can also call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with recall 19V883. Give the service desk your VIN so they can verify parts, scheduling, and the free repair procedure.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V883000
BMW customer service1-800-525-7417
NHTSA recall #19V883
NHTSA recall # (full)19V883000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →