BMW is recalling 720,796 older cars and SUVs because a badly sealed plug on the water pump can let in water and short out, which can start a fire even while the car is parked and turned off.
Story Highlights
- BMW announced the recall on Friday, November 13, and federal safety officials told owners to park outside, away from homes and other cars.
- The fire risk comes from an electrical plug on the water pump that can let in water and short circuit.
- These same cars were recalled for a water pump problem in 2024, and about 10 fires were reported in cars that had already had that repair.
- The covered models run from 2012 to 2018 and include the 2, 3, 4 and 5 Series, the X1, X3, X4, Z4 and X5 xDrive40e.
- A fix is still being built, and owner letters are expected to go out starting December 25.
Why Owners Are Told to Park Outside
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency that oversees car safety, says the problem is an electrical plug on the water pump that was not sealed well. The water pump moves coolant through the engine to keep it from overheating. If water gets into that plug, it can cause a short circuit, which means electricity jumps along a path it should not take and makes heat. That heat can start a fire, and the agency says the risk is there while the car is parked and turned off.
That is why the warning is so blunt. The agency says owners should park “outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until the vehicle is repaired.” A fire that starts in a closed garage can spread to a house before anyone notices.
A Second Recall for the Same Cars
These vehicles were already recalled in 2024 for a water pump issue, and federal officials say they must be repaired again. BMW is aware of about 10 fire incidents in the United States that may be tied to the problem, according to reports, and all of them happened in cars that had already been repaired under the 2024 recall. BMW says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries.
The recall covers these models:
- 2012-2016 3 Series, 5 Series and Z4
- 2012-2015 X1
- 2013-2017 X3
- 2014-2016 2 Series coupe, 3 Series Sportswagon, 328xi Gran Turismo, and 4 Series coupe and convertible
- 2015-2016 2 Series convertible and 4 Series Gran Coupe
- 2015-2018 X4
- 2016-2018 X5 xDrive40e
What Owners Should Do
If you own one of these models, park it outside and away from buildings and other cars until it is fixed. BMW is still working on the repair. When it is ready, dealers will do it free of charge. Owner letters are expected to be mailed starting Friday, December 25, and owners will be able to look up their vehicle identification number, the 17-character code on the dashboard and registration, at NHTSA.gov/Recalls starting that same day.
Owners with questions can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or the federal Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. The federal recall number is 26V733000.
Federal officials have used the same “park outside” step before when a car could catch fire while parked. In 2023, Hyundai and Kia told owners of more than 3.3 million vehicles to park outside over a short circuit risk. In 2021, owners of some Chevrolet Bolt electric cars got the same warning after two fires happened in cars that had already been repaired. Each time, the goal was the same: keep a possible fire away from homes and families until a proven fix is in place.
Sources:
nhtsa.gov, claimsjournal.com, nhtsa.gov/recalls
