The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a recall affecting more than 720,000 BMW vehicles because of a water pump issue that poses a fire hazard.

BMW is recalling a total of 720,796 vehicles manufactured between 2012 and 2018. The recall includes models such as the BMW X1, X3, X4, and X5. According to the report from the NHTSA dated Aug. 19, the luxury car manufacturer stated that a “poorly sealed electrical connector on the water pump might come into contact with water and cause a short circuit.” This electrical short can significantly raise the risk of fire, as reported by NHTSA.

To address this problem, BMW dealerships will inspect and, if needed, replace the water pump and electrical connector at no cost to owners. They will also add a protective shield. Notifications for the recall will be mailed out starting on Oct. 4. Vehicle owners can reach out to BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 for more information.

Vehicles Involved in the Recall:

• 2014-2016 228i
• 2014-2016 228xi
• 2012-2016 328i
• 2012-2016 328xi
• 2014-2016 428i
• 2015-2016 428xi
• 2012-2016 528i
• 2012-2015 X1
• 2013-2017 X3
• 2015-2018 X4
• 2016-2018 X5
• 2012-2016 Z4

BMW Recalls Over 100,000 Vehicles Due to Risk of Overheating Motors

Earlier this month, BMW announced a recall affecting over 105,588 of its sedans and crossovers because of an increased fire risk related to overheating motors, according to the NHTSA report.

The report, issued on Aug. 7, indicated that a problematic starter motor could not only prevent the vehicle from starting but also cause an electrical overload, which might result in overheating and potentially lead to fires in other engine parts.

Owners of affected vehicles may find starting issues due to starter motor failures. If attempts to start the engine are made repeatedly, it could lead to overheating since the electrical overload may ignite flammable materials inside the engine area, raising the fire risk.

BMW dealerships will update the vehicle’s software for free to remedy this. Recall notification letters are set to be distributed by Sept. 23. Vehicle owners can also contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 for assistance.

Vehicles Involved in this Recall:

• 2020 340xi
• 2020-2021 740i
• 2020-2021 740xi
• 2020 840i
• 2020 840xi
• 2020 M340i
• 2019-2020 X5
• 2020 X6
• 2019-2020 X7

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, YSL News.