BMW Shark Fin Settlement Ends Class Action Lawsuit Over Allegedly Defective Antenna Seals

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BMW of North America has agreed to a settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit that alleged the shark fin antennas on certain 2019-2020 vehicle models were improperly sealed, causing drivers to experience water infiltration and damage to the antenna’s components.  

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The BMW shark fin class action settlement received preliminary approval from the court on March 2, 2026. The deal covers all individuals and entities in the United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, who currently own or lease, or previously owned or leased, any of the following BMW models with production ranges of November 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020:

• -2019-2020 X3;
• -2019-2020 X4;
• -2019-2020 X5;
• -2019-2020 X6; and
• -2019-2020 X7.

The court-approved website for the BMW shark fin class action settlement can be found at SharkFinSettlement.com.

Class members who submit a timely, valid claim form can receive reimbursement of 100 percent of the costs for sealing defect-related repairs at an authorized BMW dealer incurred prior to the date of final approval, provided the class vehicle is under 10 years old or under 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

To receive this benefit, class members must submit documentation of the repairs, including their vehicle identification number (VIN), model and model year, date of repair, mileage at the time of repairs, an adequate description of the services rendered regarding the shark fin antenna seal failure and repair, and proof of payment.

Reimbursable repairs are limited to those made to the BMW shark fin antenna, telematics unit, and battery for the telematics unit.

Class members who did not have repairs done at an authorized BMW dealer can receive up to $2,000 in reimbursement for sealing defect repair costs from a third party incurred prior to final approval, provided the vehicle is under 10 years old or under 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

To claim this benefit, class members must submit supporting documentation with the VIN, model and model year, date of repair, mileage at the time of repair, a description of the services rendered, and proof of payment. Reimbursable repairs under this benefit are limited to the shark fin antenna, telematics unit, and battery for the telematics unit.

If ownership and leasing records accessible to BMW North America and the settlement administrator do not match information submitted on a claim form, or if multiple claims are made for the same vehicle, class members will be required to submit documentation that identifies the owner of the car at the time of repairs, such as a copy of the title, registration, or proof of insurance coverage.

Additionally, the class action settlement agreement states that for 60 days following final approval, BMW will provide free sealing defect repairs for any class vehicle, regardless of the vehicle’s age or milage.

Finally, regardless of whether the court grants the settlement final approval, BMW has agreed to extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW) for all class vehicles to 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the vehicle’s in-service date, to cover costs associated with diagnostics and sealing-defect repairs. No action is required to receive the NVLW.

To submit a BMW shark fin settlement claim form online, class members can head to this page and enter the class member ID found on their copy of the settlement notice. Alternatively, class members can download a PDF claim form to print, complete and return by mail to the settlement administrator.

All BMW shark fin settlement claim forms must be submitted online or postmarked by August 27, 2026.

Any repairs to a class vehicle for a sealing defect repair will be free at any authorized BMW dealer during the extended NVLW period.

The court will determine whether to grant the BMW shark fin settlement final approval following a hearing on July 28, 2026. Settlement benefits will begin to be distributed to class members only after final approval has been granted and any appeals have been resolved.

The BMW class action lawsuit alleged that certain model year 2019-2020 BMW vehicles had defective sealing around the shark fin antenna, potentially leading to water damage to the antenna’s interior electrical components. The case claimed that the sealing defect led to the failure of vital vehicle components, such as the GPS and radio.

Did you know that some class action settlements require no proof to submit a claim? Check out the latest class action settlements.