Nearly 200,000 BMW Cars Recalled For Potential Fire Risk

Drivers who own certain BMW models are being told to park their vehicles outside, rather than placing them in a garage or another kind of enclosed space. The directive comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who announced on Friday that nearly 200,000 vehicles have been recalled.

The NHTSA says that the cars are at risk for catching fire when they're being driven or when they're parked. “Owners should park outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until they either confirm their vehicle is not subject to the recall or have their vehicle remedied,” the organization said.

The organization also noted that BMW is conducting its recall of the vehicles in phases due to the scarcity of certain parts needed to fix it.

Which Models are Being Recalled?

The first notice to owners of the affected vehicles will be sent on November 14, and a second notice will be mailed out after all the necessary parts are available.

BMW models affected by the recall include the 2019-22 Z4; the 2019-21 330I; the 2020-22 X3; the 2020-22 X4; the 2020-22 530I; the 2021-22 430I standard and convertible and the 2022 230I.

In addition to the BMW models that have been recalled, roughly 1,500 Toyota Supra vehicles from 2020 through 2022 have been included as they were manufactured by the German company.

What is the Source of the Issue?

The NHTSA is attributing the issues with the vehicles to their engine starter relays, which it says can corrode. The corrosion can cause the relay "to overheat and short circuit, which may cause a fire.”

BMW will fix the cars for no additional charge, but owners will need to wait before safely parking their vehicles in enclosed spaces. The fix isn't scheduled to be ready for another few weeks, and those drivers will be forced to find alternative ways or locations to park until the issue is addressed.

The NHTSA has instructed affected drivers to consult the year and model of their car. They can go to the NHTSA website at NHTSA.gov/recalls to determine if their car is affected, by entering either their license plate or VIN number. For further questions, the organization instructed drivers to contact BMW directly.

This is one of BMW's most notable recalls in recent years. The company recalled more than 1 million cars and SUVs back in 2017, for a similar reason. That year, they also instructed drivers to park their car outside until a fix was determined. In 2019, the existing recall was extended to an additional 185,000 cars out of an abundance of caution.