The risk notice, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last Friday, is directed to owners of 2019–2022 model-year vehicles.
“Owners must park their vehicles outdoors, away from buildings and other cars, until it is confirmed that their vehicle is not affected by the recall or that the repair has been performed,” the statement says.
According to the NHTSA, the engine starter relay may corrode, causing overheating and a short circuit, which increases the risk of a fire. This issue affects several models, including the 2019–2022 Z4, the 2019–2021 330i, the 2020–2022 X3, the 2020–2022 X4, the 2020–2022 530i, the 2021–2022 430i (both standard and convertible), and the 2022 230i, as well as the BMW-built Toyota Supra.
The NHTSA has indicated that BMW dealerships will replace the engine starter at no cost. Due to limited parts availability, owners will begin to be notified by letters sent starting November 14. A second notification will be sent as parts become available.
NHTSA announced that owners can check the vehicle identification numbers of affected cars at NHTSA.gov starting November 14. From that date, owners have the option to visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter their license plate number or 17-digit VIN to check if their vehicle is on the recall list, or to call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Additionally, the NHTSA mentioned that drivers can stay up to date on ongoing recalls thru its SaferCar app.
BMW dealerships will replace the starter motor at no cost; however, the recall process will be carried out gradually based on parts availability, according to the NHTSA. Preliminary letters will be sent to owners on November 14, and a second letter will provide details on the availability of replacement parts.
The withdrawn models are:
- BMW Z4 2019-2022
- BMW 330i 2019-2021
- BMW X3 2020-2022
- BMW X4 2020-2022
- BMW 530i 2020-2022
- BMW 430i estándar y convertible 2021-2022
- BMW 230i 2022
- Toyota Supra 2020-2022
To check if your car has been subject to a recall, you can enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate on the NHTSA website starting November 14.
Owners also have the option to contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 for recall details.
This isn’t the first time this German luxury brand has faced fire-related issues with its vehicles. In 2018, the South Korean government imposed a 0 million fine on BMW after 50 of its cars caught fire in a single year. An investigation carried out by the country’s Ministry of Transport revealed that BMW attempted to cover up the issue and delayed the recall of 172,000 affected vehicles.