German automaker BMW is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide due to a potential fire risk, a company spokesperson announced Wednesday, confirming reports from the specialist magazine Kfz-Betrieb.
“Product checks and customer complaints have shown that, in the identified vehicles, the engine starter could develop into defective,” potentially leading “in the worst case to a vehicle fire,” the company stated.
According to Kfz-Betrieb, approximately 575,000 vehicles are affected globally, a figure the BMW spokesperson declined to confirm precisely, stating only that the number is “in the six figures.”
At Least 16 Models Affected
A total of sixteen models equipped with a starter relay produced between July 2020 and July 2022 are affected, according to BMW. Vehicles in which a defective starter was subsequently installed during a repair are also included in the recall.
BMW has determined that “wear” can occur on a component of the starter “after a high number of starts,” preventing the vehicle’s engine from starting correctly. This can, in some cases, lead to a “short circuit.” “This can result in localized overheating at the starter,” which “in the worst case can lead to a vehicle fire,” BMW explained.
As a precaution, BMW recommends that owners do not leave the vehicle unattended after starting the engine. “On all potentially affected vehicles, the starter must be replaced,” as well as the battery on certain models “to adapt it to the new starter,” the company said.
Late in 2024, BMW recalled 1.5 million vehicles due to a faulty braking system, which prompted the company to lower its annual targets. The group’s spokesperson indicated that the current recall is expected to have little to no impact on the company’s financial results.
