Thousands of BMW vehicles are affected by a second recall repair. Here’s why

The BMW car logo is shown in Munich, Germany on March 20, 2019. (Matthias Schrader / AP Photo)

BMW is advising some car owners to take their vehicles back to a dealer for a second repair due to a fire risk.

Dealer repairs for certain vehicles affected by a previous recall “may not be effective” and the problem could result in a fire, according to Transport Canada in a notice on its website. The issue affects 14,573 vehicles, the notice reads.

Transport Canada said certain vehicles could have a defective starter, an electrical device that starts an engine.

“On certain vehicles, if you try to start the engine repeatedly, the starter could overheat,” the notice says. “If this happens, and nearby components contact the starter, it could cause a fire.”

The notice was updated on Oct. 3. It is related to a recall that was posted more than a year ago in August 2024.

Which vehicles are affected?

The following BMW models are affected:

• 3 Series 2020;
• X5 2019 and 2020;
• X6 2020;
• X7 2019 and 2020.

What is BMW doing to help owners?

BMW will inform affected owners by mail if they need to bring their vehicle to a dealership to replace the engine starter, according to the notice.

Similar recalls in U.S.

The second repair notice comes as BMW recalls more than 145,000 vehicles in the United States over a similar problem.

The country’s national auto safety regulator said it’s concerned that an overheated starter could increase the risk of a fire, Reuters reported on Oct. 1. The U.S. recall affects 2020 340i, X7 and X5 models.

BMW dealers will replace the starter for free, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s notice.

The regulator previously issued another notice in late September. That advisory stated that BMW was recalling more than 196,000 vehicles over an engine starter that could overheat and short-circuit. That recall affects 2019-22 vehicles.

With files from Reuters