BMW of North America is recalling 720,796 vehicles, according to a recall notice filed online with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on November 13. NHTSA said improperly sealed electrical connectors on the vehicles' water pumps may be exposed to moisture and short circuit, increasing the risk of fire.
The regulator said the vehicles may catch fire even when switched off and parked, and urged owners to park them outdoors and away from buildings and other vehicles until repairs are completed. The vehicles were previously recalled in 2024 for a water pump issue, but BMW has since received 10 reports of fires that may be related.
Affected models include BMW 3 Series and 5 Series cars built from 2012 to 2016, the X1 from 2012 to 2015, the X3 from 2013 to 2017, and some 2 Series, 4 Series, X4, X5 and Z4 models. BMW said it is still developing a new remedy, repairs will be free at authorised service centres, and owner notifications are expected to be mailed from December.