AI Damage2020 BMW M8: common problems
Owners of the 2020 BMW M8 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and electrical system. The maker issued 163 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 163
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 40% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 20% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 20% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (40% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 61.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Engine: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Visibility: 1 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.4 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1 | 61 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 63 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Lane departure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My car went into unintended acceleration at full throttle of 8000 RPMs. The engine was stuck at maximum power and would not slow down. My car slide until it hit a curb and was forced to stop. However, the engine was still running at full maximum capacity at full unintended acceleration.
Engine misfire and loss of power. Too to bmw for check up. It was coolant tank leak into injectors. BMW is not replacing the tank as part of recall. It is changing only injectors even though the recall specifically addresses the tank causing the issue.
While driving, the vehicle immediately went into full unintended acceleration without any input from the accelerator pedal. I removed my foot completely from the pedal, but engine RPM increased to full 7000 rpm’s and the throttle was stuck there. The vehicle surged forward unexpectedly.
Fuel pump failed within a minute of initial warning and performance indicating a problem. While driving ~60 mph on the highway, available power dropped to zero within a couple tenths of a mile, *barely* allowing me to move to the shoulder.
Tl* the contact owns a 2020 bmw m8. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at 55 mph, the windshield became foggy. The contact activated the defroster/defogger however, failed to immediately clear the windshield. The contact pulled over and waited for the windshield to clear up.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,688 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 20% least complained about).
On average one model year of the M8 has 1 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- The Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the…
The Fuel Injector Condition-Specific Repair Coverage Program applies to qualifying repairs for the required replacement of one or more the fuel injectors which were determined to have failed due to a buildup of…
- Engine Return
- The NVLD limited emission related warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15…
The NVLD limited emission related warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date
- BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective April 15, 2024) on certain Model Year 2018 - 2023 BMW…
BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective April 15, 2024) on certain Model Year 2018 - 2023 BMW vehicles that were produced between November 7, 2017, and September 9, 2022.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met
- The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3)
FaultB7F8F9 ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHU-H: ResetÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàwill be stored in the HU-H3.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few…
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important…
- At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e
when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the…
- SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction
1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. See attached video V32 03 23 2. Humming noise while…
- A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP)…
A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system(NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). For this condition, the following fault is stored in the DME: 190302 - fuel…
- Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop
- ?Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction
NHTSA lists 163 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 BMW M8?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: unintended acceleration (40%), fuel system, fuel smell (20%), loss of power / limp mode (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 BMW M8?
NHTSA lists 163 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 BMW M8 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.