BMW issues yet another massive worldwide recall over potential fire risk

BMW has launched a global recall campaign affecting more than 740,000 vehicles due to a potential fire hazard linked to a component in the engine starting system, coming only a short while following a previous major calling back of cars.

According to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), a total of 744,234 vehicles worldwide are affected, including around 42,300 vehicles in Germany and more than 318,000 in the United States, as German media cites.

The recall covers selected models from the BMW 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, and 7 Series, as well as the X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 SUV lines. The Z4 roadster and the BMW i3 electric vehicle are also included. The affected vehicles were produced between July 31, 2020, and February 26, 2026.

According to the KBA, the issue involves deposits forming inside the so-called RWT starter relay. These deposits, caused by material wear, may increase electrical resistance at the contact points. In certain circumstances, this could result in a short circuit and increase the risk of a vehicle fire.

To address the defect, BMW plans to replace the engine starter units in affected vehicles. The manufacturer has not yet disclosed how long the repair process will take.

The scale of the recall is comparable to a previous BMW campaign announced in February, when a company spokesperson described the number of affected vehicles as being in the “mid-six-figure number” range. The campaign was later reported to involve approximately 575,000 vehicles worldwide.

Rising number of vehicle recalls worldwide

The frequency and scale of vehicle recalls have increased in recent years, with more models and owners being affected. In Germany alone, the number of vehicles involved in recalls rose by 48% compared with the previous year, which is reflective of the situation in many other countries.

The German automobile association ADAC attributes this trend to several factors, including manufacturers introducing more models within shorter development cycles. At the same time, the growing use of electronics and software has increased vehicle complexity and created additional potential sources of technical failures.

The rise of new manufacturers, particularly from Asia, has also contributed to the growing number of recalls, alongside major safety campaigns in recent years involving defective airbags and other critical vehicle components.

By Nazrin Sadigova