Over Half A Million BMWs Recalled For Fire Risk, And Toyota’s Caught In It Too

  • Faulty BMW starter motors can wear out and trigger engine fires.
  • Recall affects over 575,000 vehicles, 87,394 in the United States.
  • BMW dealers will replace parts for free starting March 24, 2026.

In an action spanning multiple model lines and markets, BMW is recalling as many as 575,000 vehicles worldwide, including more than 87,000 in the United States, after identifying a problem with its starter motors. The issue centers on premature wear that can prevent the starter from engaging the engine.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, BMW says the starter motor can trigger a fire when starting the engine, or even when the vehicle is running.

Read: BMW’s Latest Recall Is Bad News For Toyota Owners, Especially If They Park In A Garage

The starter motor at the heart of the recall was supplied by Valeo and first showed signs of trouble last September. BMW began investigating after three vehicles caught fire, two 2022 3-Series models and one 2023 4-Series. That inquiry set the tone for a deeper look into the component itself.

Tracing The Source Of The Fire Risk

An exhaustive analysis of the parts found a build-up of metallic material in the electrical relay chamber, caused by excessive abrasion. Last month, another 2021 3-Series was investigated after catching fire, and it also shared the same issue.

A formal recall has now been issued. BMW has not yet published a detailed breakdown of affected vehicles by market, but it has confirmed that 87,394 cars in the United States will require replacement starter motors.

Which Models Are Affected?

Over Half A Million BMWs Recalled For Fire Risk, And Toyota’s Caught In It Too

The recall covers a wide range of BMW models across several recent model years, along with the BMW-powered Toyota Supra. The affected vehicles and their production windows are summarized below.

Recalled Models
Model and Model Years Production Dates
2-Series Coupe MY2022-2023 December 15, 2020 to July 13, 2020
5-Series MY2021-2024 June 24, 2021 to March 27, 2023
Z4 MY2021-2022 June 24, 2021 to August 29, 2022
4-Series MY2022-2024 July 1, 2021 to November 29, 2023
4-Series Convertible MY2021-2024 June 24, 2021 to December 4, 2023
3-Series MY2021-2024 November 26, 2020 to May 7, 2024
X4 MY2021-2023 December 14, 2020 to December 14, 2022
X3 MY2021-2024 December 14, 2020 to December 14, 2022
Toyota Supra MY2021-2023 June 24, 2021 to September 1, 2022
SWIPE

BMW says the estimated percentage of vehicles involved in the recall currently suffering from the engine starter is “much lower” than 0.1 percent. Owners will be notified of the recall on March 24, and dealers have been instructed to replace the starter motor at no charge.

Over Half A Million BMWs Recalled For Fire Risk, And Toyota’s Caught In It Too

The Auto World

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