Frequently Asked Questions

A Court has authorized this Settlement Website because you have a right to know about the proposed settlement of this class action lawsuit, and your options, before the Court decides whether to give “final approval” to the Settlement. This frequently asked questions page explains the lawsuit, the proposed Settlement, and your legal rights. This Settlement may impact current or former BMW owners or lessees of one or more of the following vehicles purchased or leased in the United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico (Class Vehicles):

District Judge William J. Martini of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is overseeing this class action lawsuit, known as Craft v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-06826-WJM-CF (the Action). Tim Craft, the person who sued, is called the “Plaintiff,” and the company that was sued, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA), is called the “Defendant.”

This lawsuit alleges that the Shark-Fin Antenna on Class Vehicles may not be fully sealed to the vehicle’s roof, leading to water infiltration and, possibly, damage to components located below the antenna (the Sealing Defect). BMW NA, which distributes and warrants BMW vehicles in the U.S., denies these allegations and stands behind and supports its products.

In a class action, one or more people called “Class Representatives” assert claims on behalf of people who have similar claims. All of these people are the “Class” or “Class Members.” One court resolves the issues for all Class Members, except for those who timely exclude themselves from (or opt out” of) the Class. The Class Representative in the Action is the Plaintiff identified above in Question 1.

All parties have agreed to a Settlement to avoid further cost and risk of a trial, and so that the people affected can begin getting benefits in exchange for releasing the Defendant from liability for the claims that were raised or could have been raised in the Action involving the Class Vehicles’ alleged issues with the Shark-Fin Antenna. The Settlement does not mean that the BMW NA broke any laws, or otherwise did anything wrong, because Judge Martini did not decide which side was right. The Class Representative and the lawyers representing him think the Settlement is fair and reasonable for the Class.

The Class includes all persons or entities in the United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, who currently own or lease, or previously owned or leased, certain U.S.-specification Model Year 2019-2020 BMW vehicles purchased or leased, and registered and operated, in the United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which include the following vehicles:

If Judge Martini grants final approval of the Settlement and the Settlement becomes effective (the Effective Date), you may be eligible for reimbursement of costs you incurred for a “Sealing-Defect Repair” (repair of the Shark-Fin Antenna, telematics unit, and battery for telematics unit) on your Class Vehicle if you have already paid for such repairs, either at a BMW Center or an independent repair shop prior to the Effective Date, by filing a claim with the required proof, which includes:  

• That the replacement was made at an authorized BMW dealer (e.g., a BMW Center), or at an independent repair shop; and
• Your Class Vehicle’s Model, Model Year, and VIN; and
• The identity of the owner/lessee of the Class Vehicle; and
• That your Class Vehicle had fewer than 10 years and 120,000 miles at the time of the repair, as evidenced by proof such as a repair order with vehicle mileage at the time of replacement or service records from before and after the replacement; and
• The cost of repair, with parts and labor separated; and
• Proof of payment for the amount(s) sought for reimbursement (credit card receipt, credit card statement, or cancelled check); and
• The nature of the repair; and
• The part(s) description and part number(s) used in the repair; and
• The date of repair.
  If the Sealing-Defect Repair was performed at a BMW Center, you will be reimbursed 100% of the repair costs you incurred without any payment cap. If the repair was performed at an independent repair shop, you will be reimbursed 100% of the repair costs you incurred up to a cap of $2,000. Regardless of where repairs were made, reimbursement is limited to Class Vehicles that were under 10 years old or 120,000 miles (whichever comes first) at the time of repair from the vehicle’s in-service date. If you are unsure of your Class Vehicle’s in-service date, please check with your local BMW Center, which can look up the in-service date based on your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Reimbursement amounts will be reduced by goodwill or other adjustment, coupon, refund, or payment made by an authorized BMW Center, BMW NA, any person or entity associated with BMW NA, an insurer, or a provider of an extended service contract. 

In addition, if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, for 60 days after entry of the Final Approval Order, BMW Centers will provide no-cost Sealing-Defect Repairs for any Class Vehicle, regardless of age or mileage.

Finally, regardless of whether the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, BMW NA has extended its New Vehicle Limited Warranty, as it relates to the Sealing Defect in Class Vehicles, to 10 years or 120,000 miles (whichever comes first) from the vehicle’s in-service date to cover all costs associated with diagnostics and Sealing-Defect Repair(s). After the mailing date of this notice, any Class Vehicle that requires a Sealing-Defect Repair will be repaired by a BMW Center free of charge during the Extended Warranty Period. No reimbursement will be available for repairs performed after the mailing date of this notice because such repairs will be provided at no cost under the extended warranty at BMW Centers. If you experience the Sealing Defect after the Notice date, you must take your Class Vehicle to a BMW Center if you want the free repair offered under the limited warranty extension.

Limitations: BMW NA does not warrant or guarantee any do-it-yourself repairs or repairs performed at independent (non-BMW Center) repair shops and, should any such repairs fail after a Class Member has made a reimbursement claim under the Settlement, the Class Member will not be entitled to submit an additional claim or seek replacement under the extended warranty. BMW NA does not warrant replacement parts that were not certified by the original equipment manufacturer. The limited warranty extension will not apply to vehicles declared a total loss, sold for salvage purposes, or branded with a “salvage” or “flood” title. There are additional limitations and exclusions from reimbursement and extended-warranty coverage set forth in BMW NA’s New Passenger Vehicle Limited Warranty and in the Settlement Agreement, which can be accessed on the Important Documents page of the Settlement Website.

To receive reimbursement for eligible past out-of-pocket expenses, you must submit a Claim Form and include all of the documentation described in the Settlement Agreement and identified on the Claim Form.

If the Settlement becomes final, Class Members will release BMW NA and related people and entities from the claims described and identified in Paragraphs 33 and 34 of the Settlement Agreement. In essence, Class Members are releasing all claims (except for personal injury or damage to property other than the Class Vehicle) that could arise based on alleged shark-fin antenna defects contained in the Class Vehicles. The Settlement Agreement is available on the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website. The Settlement Agreement describes the released claims with specific descriptions, in necessarily precise legal terminology, so read it carefully.

Judge Martini has appointed specific lawyers to represent the Class in this lawsuit and Settlement. You can contact one of the lawyers listed in Question 15 below, free of charge, if you have questions about the released claims or what they mean. You can also speak with your own lawyer, should you have one, about this Settlement.

If you are a Class Member and would like to obtain the reimbursement benefits (described in Question 6 above), you need to complete the Claim Form on the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website and mail it, with all the required proof, to the address provided on the Claim Form or file the Claim Form online through the Submit Claim button. Additional Claim Forms are available at the Documents page above. The current deadline for submitting your Claim Form is August 27, 2026. Claim Forms submitted after the Claims Submission Period are not eligible for reimbursement. This date may or may not be extended, so please check the Settlement Website.

These benefits are also subject to limitations, which are discussed in Question 6 and in the Settlement Agreement. If you have any questions on how to complete the Claim Form or what information is needed, you can call (833) 447-8559.

There is a process in the Settlement Agreement to allow you to cure deficient Claims, such as those Claims missing required documentation, as well as a process to validate your Claim. If the independent Claims Administrator determines that your Claim is deficient, the Claims Administrator will notify you and allow you thirty (30) days to cure your Claim. If the Claims Administrator determines that your Claim is still invalid, it will notify you of that decision, which is final. If you have questions regarding this process, please visit the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website, or contact Class Counsel below.

If you have submitted a Claim, your Claim Form will be processed and payments will be issued on a continuing, rolling basis after the Effective Date of the Settlement, which will be after the Court’s Final Approval Hearing, scheduled for July 28, 2026, and all appeals, if any, are resolved.

Please note that the Final Approval Hearing date may change. Please check this website for updates.

Yes. If you want to keep the right to sue or if you are already suing BMW NA in another action over the legal issues in this case, then you must take steps to do so. This is called asking to be excluded from – sometimes called “opting out” of – the Settlement.

If you ask to be excluded, you will not receive any of the reimbursement benefits of the Settlement and you cannot object to the Settlement. However, your Class Vehicle will still receive the limited warranty extension described in Question 6, above. If you opt out of the Settlement you may sue, continue to sue, or be part of a different lawsuit against BMW NA for the same or similar claims in the future, including for claims that this Settlement resolves. You will not be bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit

No. Unless you exclude yourself, you give up the right to sue BMW NA for the claims that this Settlement resolves. 

To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must send a letter by mail to the Claims Administrator saying that you want to be excluded from Craft v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-06826-WJM-CF. Be sure to include: (1) your full name and current address; (2) the Model Year, Model, and Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”) of your Class Vehicle(s) and the date(s) of purchase/lease; (3) specifically and clearly state your desire to be excluded from the Settlement and from the Class; and (4) your signature. You cannot ask to be excluded over the phone or via the internet. You must mail your request to be excluded, postmarked no later than June 30, 2026, to: 

Craft Claims Administrator
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC
P.O. Box 225391
New York, NY 10150-5391

Failure to comply with any of these requirements for excluding yourself will result in you being bound by this Settlement.

The Plaintiffs and the Class have been represented by the law firm of Sauder Schelkopf LLC, who Judge Martini has approved as “Class Counsel” to represent Class Members:

Matthew D. Schelkopf
Joseph B. Kenney
Sauder Schelkopf LLC
1109 Lancaster Avenue
Berwyn, PA 19312

The Class will not be charged for these lawyers. BMW NA will pay the Class Counsel Court-approved Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses separate and apart from the Settlement benefits provided to the Class, and such payment will not reduce the value of the benefits distributed to Class Members. If you want to be represented by another lawyer, you may hire one to appear in Court for you at your own expense.

Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve an award of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses not to exceed $800,000, plus a Service Payment for the Class Representative not to exceed $5,000. If the Court approves this request, BMW NA will pay it separate from the Settlement benefits. BMW NA has also agreed to pay the costs of Settlement Notice and Administration. None of these payments will reduce the value of the benefits distributed to Class Members.

If you don’t like some part of the Settlement but still want to remain included in the Settlement, you can object to it. You can give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it. To object, you must send a letter to the Clerk of the Court saying that you object to the Settlement Craft v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-06826-WJM-CF. You must include: (1) your full name, current address, current telephone number, and the name of your lawyer and your lawyer’s address if you are represented by a lawyer other than Class Counsel; (2) the Model Year, Model, and VIN of your Class Vehicle(s) and the date(s) of purchase or lease; (3) whether the objection applies only to you, to a specific subset of the Class, or to the entire Class; (4) the reasons why you object and the factual and legal reasons for your objection (including all relevant documents that pertain to your objection); (5) copies of relevant repair history or other proof that you have owned or leased the Class Vehicle (i.e., a true copy of a vehicle title, registration, or license receipt); (6) a statement that you have reviewed the Settlement Class definition and understand that you are a Settlement Class Member, and you have not opted out of the Settlement Class; (7) a detailed list of any other objections to any class action settlements you have submitted in the previous five (5) years to any court, whether state, federal, or otherwise, in the United States; (8) a Notice of Intention to Appear at the Final Approval Hearing, if you intend to appear in person at the hearing; and (9) your signature. A total of four copies of the objection must be mailed, one to the Court, one to the Claims Administrator, one to Class Counsel, and one to Defendant’s Counsel at the addresses below. The mailed copies must be postmarked on or before June 30, 2026:

Note: Class Counsel or Defendant’s Counsel may depose objectors or conduct discovery related to your objection. If you fail to make yourself available or comply with expedited discovery, the Court may not consider your objection. If your objection is found to be frivolous or made for an improper purpose, the Court may tax you for the costs of any discovery.

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you don’t like something about the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you request to be removed from, and not included in, the Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the Settlement no longer affects you.

The Court will hold a “Final Approval Hearing” to decide whether to approve the Settlement on July 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. At this hearing, Judge Martini will determine whether the Settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable and whether Class Members’ objections, if any, have merit. If you have filed an objection on time, you may attend and ask to speak, but you don’t have to. However, Judge Martini will only listen to people who have properly requested to speak at the hearing (see Question 21 below). At this hearing, Judge Martini will also decide the Service Payment for the Class Representative, as well as the Attorney’s Fees and Expenses for the lawyers representing the Class Members. We do not know how long the Court’s decision will take, and the hearing date may change due to other court business. You should monitor this Settlement Website to find out if any dates have changed and to learn if Judge Martini has approved the Settlement.

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have, but you are welcome to come at your own expense. If you send an objection, you don’t have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you mail your valid written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay another lawyer to attend, but that’s not required.

You may ask Judge Martini for permission to speak at the Final Approval Hearing. To do so, you must file a “Notice of Intent to Appear” in Craft v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-06826-WJM-CF. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, signature, and other requirements outlined in Question 17. Your Notice of Intent to Appear must be postmarked no later than June 30, 2026, and mailed to the addresses listed in Question 17. You cannot speak at the hearing if you have excluded yourself from the Settlement.

If you do nothing, you will remain part of this Settlement and give up the right to be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant about the legal claims released by this Settlement. Your Class Vehicle will, however, still get the benefit of the extended warranty, if applicable. To be eligible for reimbursement benefits described in Question 6 offered by this Settlement, you must submit a Claim Form (and the required supporting documentation) on or before the deadline. 

This Settlement Website summarizes the proposed Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement. You can review the Settlement Agreement and related documents on the Important Documents page of this Settlement Website.

If you need to update your address, you may contact the Claims Administrator at the below address

Craft Claims Administrator

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391

or by emailing: [email protected].