BMW Recall: 105,000 Cars at Risk of Fire Due to Faulty Starter Motors

BMW Issues Recall for Over 105,000 Vehicles Due to Starter Motor Issue

Recall Details

The recall impacts various BMW models including X5, X6, X7, 7-Series, 8-Series, and 3-Series.
Impacted vehicles may experience starter motor failure and pose a fire risk.
Dealers will resolve the issue through a simple software update.

BMW has announced a recall for more than 105,000 sedan, coupe, convertible, and SUV models in the United States. The recall is due to a potential mechanical damage in the starter motor, which could prevent the engine from turning over. Additionally, the affected BMW vehicles pose a fire risk.

Background

In March 2023, BMW began receiving field reports of fire damage within engine compartments and engines that wouldn’t start. Initially, it was unclear if there was a connection between the “thermal damage” and the starting issue. However, after conducting an in-depth investigation and receiving more incident reports, BMW concluded that the two issues are related.

The manufacturer has determined that engine acoustic protection material could be contaminated by oil, potentially leading to a fire. Additionally, repeatedly attempting to start the engine for an extended period can also damage the starter.

Affected Models

The recall includes a total of 105,588 vehicles. The most impacted models are the 2019-2020 X5 sDrive40i and X5 xDrive40i, with 68,105 examples manufactured between August 1, 2018, and May 31, 2020. Other affected models include the 2020 X6 sDrive40i and X6 xDrive40i built from April 9, 2019, to May 28, 2020, and the 2019-2020 X7 xDrive40i units built from September 25, 2018, to May 31, 2020.

The recall also covers the following models:

2020-2021 740i and 740xi
2020 840i Convertible and 840xi Convertible
2020 840i Coupe and 840xi Coupe
2020 840i Gran Coupe and 840xi Gran Coupe
2020 M340i and M340xi

Resolution

BMW dealers were notified of the recall on August 1, and affected owners will receive notification by First Class mail starting from September 23, 2024. Owners will be advised to schedule an appointment with a BMW dealer to have a software update performed. This update will prevent the starter from being electrically overloaded after multiple starting attempts, resolving the issue.