BMW Announces Recall 105 Thousand Vehicles Due To Engine System Error

BMW X5 2019. (Doc. BMW Group)

JAKARTA - Bad news came from BMW. The premium brand announced the recall of 105,588 units of crossovers and sedans in the United States (US).

The trigger for the recall is due to software in the engine starter which can cause mechanical damage and make the engine unable to turn on.

Automotive News reported Monday, August 12, if drivers repeatedly try to turn on the engine for a long time, this could cause the motor starter to overheat due to excessive electrical load.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), overheating motors can ignite flammable material around the engine room that increases the risk of a fire.

The recall includes the 2019-2020 X5 model, X7 xDrive40i produced in 2019-2020, Series-7 model 2020-2021, X6, Series-8 Convertible, Coupe, Gran Coupe, and Series-3 production in 2020.

The manufacturer first became aware of this issue in March 2023 after receiving reports that the engine could not be turned on and there was thermal damage to the engine compartment, according to NHTSA's filing.

Then in August 2023, potential pattern failures have been discovered. This year's further review of certain engine starter configurations could be linked to reported error cases. On July 25, BMW decided to start a voluntary safety withdrawal.

BMW also learned of this because he received 12 customer complaints and field incidents but had not received reports of an accident or injury involving the problem.

The German manufacturer will handle the issue by updating the software to prevent electric overloaded engine starters.

The dealer will be notified of the matter this month with a notification to the vehicle owner planned for September 23.

This adds to the list of recalls made by BMW involving a number of the latest models. Earlier in February, they announced the recall of nearly 80,000 units for models in 2023 and 2024.

The recall is related to a flaw in the ABS system and stability control that could lead to a failure of braking assistance, which has the potential to cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

The vehicles involved in this recall are series 5 and 7 years of models 2023 and 2024, i5, i7, X1, X5, X6, X7, and XM, as well as Rolls-Royce Spectre.