Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro BMW is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to a fire risk caused by faulty starter motors, impacting cars worldwide. This comes at a challenging time for the German automaker.
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BMW has issued an urgent and wide-reaching recall affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles. The issue at hand is serious, potentially leading to spontaneous fires, even when the car is turned off and parked.
What’s causing the fire risk?
Water can seep into the starter motor, damaging it and causing short circuits and overheating. BMW has been clear: in the worst-case scenario, the car could catch fire even while stationary. The company strongly advises owners not to park
BMW announces large-scale recall over fire risk in thousands of cars
BMW has issued an urgent and wide-reaching recall affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles. The issue at hand is serious, potentially leading to spontaneous fires, even when the car is turned off and parked.
Water can seep into the starter motor, damaging it and causing short circuits and overheating. BMW has been clear: in the worst-case scenario, the car could catch fire even while stationary. The company strongly advises owners not to park their cars in garages or near buildings until the necessary repairs are carried out.
The affected models and numbers
The recall affects a wide range of BMW models, from the compact Series 1 to the larger X7 SUV, all produced between September 28, 2015, and September 7, 2021. In Germany alone, approximately 136,500 vehicles are impacted, while in the United States, the number exceeds 190,000. On a global scale, BMW has not provided a precise estimate, but it’s likely that over 300,000 cars are involved worldwide.
The repairs will require replacing the starter motor, and in some cases, installing a more powerful battery. This is a complex technical operation, and with such a large number of affected vehicles, the cost to BMW will be substantial.
This recall comes at a time of financial pressure for the company. Just months ago, CEO Oliver Zipse reported a 32% drop in net profits in the second quarter. Despite this, he noted that earnings remain above expectations, totaling €1.72 billion ($1.84 billion).
This is not the first time BMW has faced fire-related issues. Last year, 150,000 Mini Cooper SE electric vehicles were recalled due to battery insulation problems. And this month, Stellantis, the parent company of brands like Fiat and Chrysler, had to recall over 750,000 vehicles for a faulty connection that could lead to fuel leaks.
The automotive industry under pressure
The German automotive industry is currently navigating a challenging transition. On the one hand, carmakers are moving towards electric vehicles, but they are lagging behind international competitors. On the other hand, German politics are not providing stable support, with subsidies running out and uncertain investments in battery production within the country.
The difficulties are evident in major markets:
- In China, German carmakers are losing market share;
- In Europe, registrations have not returned to pre-COVID levels;
- In the US, German brands are still hindered by tariffs and past scandals like Dieselgate.
In 2024, the automotive sector in Germany employed approximately 773,000 people. However, according to the VDA, the German automotive industry association, over 150,000 jobs could be at risk in the coming years. This figure seems plausible, especially given that Volkswagen has already announced plans to cut 35,000 positions by 2030.
The switch to electric vehicles requires fewer parts and less labor. While a traditional combustion engine might consist of 1,000-2,000 parts, an electric motor uses only a few hundred. Bosch, a major supplier, has already announced a reduction of 13,000 jobs in response.
Combustion engines: should we keep them?
Not everyone in the industry agrees on the future direction. Hildegard Müller, president of the VDA, has called on the European Union to reconsider its 2035 deadline for phasing out combustion engines, proposing an embrace of alternative fuels and plug-in hybrid models.
However, not all agree with this stance. At the recent IAA Mobility show, Audi’s CEO, Gernot Döllner, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to an all-electric future, with no going back.
The problem, however, is that the demand for electric vehicles is decreasing. Volkswagen has already had to slow down production at some of its factories. For this reason, the European Commission has opted for a middle ground: confirm the transition to electric vehicles but monitor the situation and assess in a year whether the set timeline is achievable.
Source: NHTSA
