But a fix is coming.
Back in 2018, BMW issued a recall for 1.6 million vehicles worldwide over a potential fire issue. Today the German automaker is recalling 917,000 vehicles in the United States for a similar issue that may cause engine compartment fires. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted the recall documents, which claim an electrical short in the positive crankcase ventilation valve heater could overheat and start a fire.
Vehicles affected by the issue include the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, 1 Series, X5, X3, and Z4 built from 2006 to 2013. BMW hasn't said which engine(s) have the problematic valve, but all six of those models shared engines during that period, including the N54/N55 inline-six.
BMW says the fire risk occurs while the vehicle is driven or shortly after the vehicle is parked. But unlike the recent Chevy Bolt fire situation where owners were told to park their vehicles outside away from buildings, BMW says this issue is rare enough that the cars can be left in a garage.
As of now, there are no reported cases of a BMW catching fire and spreading to a building. BMW has reported eight fires total, but no crashes or injuries. The company advices its customer to pull over and shut off the vehicle if they see/smell smoke or burning plastic.
A fix is not currently available as of this writing, but BMW is working to solve the issue. BMW spokesperson Jay Hanson says the solution and parts supply are expected in mid-2022. Owners will be notified and scheduled for a fix starting on starting April 25, 2022. Many of the vehicles involved in this recall has the same issue back 2017 and 2019. Those cars will need to come in again to receive the new fix. If you own a BMW from this period, we suggest inputting your VIN into the NHSTA website to check if your car is part of the recall.
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Automobili Pininfarina
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Ineos Automotive
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo
Join The Discussion