German automaker BMW is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide due to a potential fire risk linked to a defective engine starter, a company spokesman confirmed.
The recall affects a “mid-six-figure number” of cars across 16 models fitted with a specific starter manufactured between July 2020 and July 2022. BMW said the electromagnet in these starters could experience excessive wear over time.
Following customer complaints and inspections, the company determined that a short circuit in the electromagnet could occur, potentially causing local overheating. “In the worst case, this can lead to a vehicle fire while driving,” BMW warned in a statement.
Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by BMW to arrange replacement of the faulty starters. As a precaution, the company advised drivers not to leave the engine running unattended, especially after remote engine start.
The spokesman said the recall is expected to have minimal impact on BMW’s earnings. This comes after a major 2024 recall of 1.5 million vehicles over defective brakes supplied by Continental, which cost the company hundreds of millions of euros and led to a revised outlook.
The new starter-related recall was first reported by industry publication kfz-betrieb.
