A potential safety issue has been identified by BMW of North America in over 105,000 vehicles. The engine starter software in certain models may allow for electrical overload, leading to two main concerns.
First, a failing starter could prevent the engine from restarting. Second, the starter’s proximity to soundproofing materials raises the possibility of heat damage. BMW initiated an investigation in March 2023 after receiving reports of both no-start situations and localized thermal events.
Owners can easily verify if their vehicle is subject to a recall by inputting the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the automaker’s recall portal or through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN lookup tool.
BMW has initiated a software update for affected vehicles at no cost and will notify owners by September 23rd. In the first half of 2024, BMW sold 175,712 vehicles in the US, a slight increase over the previous year.
The X5 led sales with 33,600 units, followed by the X7 at 14,351. Surprisingly, the 4 Series outsold the 3 Series in passenger car sales, with 14,137 and 5,138 units respectively. BMW trailed Mercedes-Benz (178,219 units) but surpassed Audi (92,913 units) in sales.
