BMW Recalls Hundreds of Thousands of Vehicles Globally Over Fire Risk in Starter Motor

BMW is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles globally across 16 models due to a fire risk associated with the starter motor. The affected component, manufactured between July 2020 and July 2022, contains an electromagnet that may degrade over time, potentially causing a short circuit, localized overheating, and—in extreme cases—a fire while the vehicle is in operation. BMW has acknowledged the defect and will notify owners by mail to arrange free replacement of the faulty starter motors. The company also advises owners to avoid leaving their vehicles unattended while the engine is running, particularly cautioning against the use of remote start features, to reduce the risk.