The starter motor has a fire hazard; BMW recalls multiple models worldwide.

On February 11th, local time, German automaker BMW Group announced a recall of multiple vehicle models worldwide.

BMW stated that during product inspections, it was found that after multiple starts, the electromagnetic switch inside the starter may experience abnormal wear, leading to difficulty starting the vehicle or inability to start altogether, and there is also a risk of short circuit, which could cause localized overheating of the starter. BMW indicated that in extreme cases, the vehicle may pose a fire hazard while driving, and owners are advised not to leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.

BMW pointed out that the potentially affected vehicles mainly use starter relays produced between July 2020 and July 2022. However, due to differences in the production and transportation cycles of starters and the vehicles, it is not possible to precisely define the production date range of affected vehicles. Additionally, vehicles that have had problematic starters replaced during repairs may also be affected.

It is reported that this recall involves multiple BMW models, including the 2 Series coupe, various versions of the 3 Series, 4 Series, and 5 Series, the 6 Series Gran Turismo, 7 Series sedans, as well as X4, X5, X6, and Z4.

This is not BMW’s first large-scale recall due to starter issues. In fall 2025, BMW recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles because the starter could be waterlogged, leading to corrosion and increasing the risk of short circuits or fires.

(Source: CCTV News)