According to media reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on August 8 that German automaker BMW will recall 105,558 crossovers and sedans in the United States and issue a software update to address a potential issue of starter motor overheating.
The recall affects several models, including certain X5, X7, 3 Series, and 7 Series vehicles. The NHTSA stated, "If the starter motor fails, repeated attempts to start the vehicle may cause the starter to overheat due to electrical overload."
This recall is prompted by the use of a differently designed starter motor in certain vehicles produced at BMW's factory. BMW stated, "In some cases, if the engine starter has some mechanical damage, the engine may fail to start. If the driver repeatedly attempts to start the engine for an extended period, it may lead to electrical overload of the starter."
In theory, due to the proximity of the starter to soundproofing material, this electrical overload could result in a thermal event. However, BMW emphasized that the company has not yet received any reports of fires caused by this issue. Dealers will resolve the issue by installing a software update to prevent starter motor overload. After receiving the notification, owners should visit their local dealers for the necessary software upgrade to check if their vehicle is affected. The NHTSA indicated that dealers will update the vehicle software at no cost to the owners, and notification letters are expected to be sent out by the end of September this year.
Just a month ago, BMW recalled 390,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a defect in the airbags, which posed an explosion risk during deployment and could cause serious injury to occupants.
