BMW recalls 196,355 US vehicles over starter relay fire risk

BMW is recalling 196,355 vehicles in the United States after federal safety regulators said a defect in the engine starter relay can corrode, overheat and short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. The recall, announced Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covers a range of BMW sedans, coupes and SUVs from model years 2019 through 2022 and also includes a limited number of Toyota GR Supra 2.0 models that use the same starter assembly.

NHTSA said the affected BMW models include the 230i, 330i, 430i and 530i, as well as the Z4 sDrive30i, X3 sDrive30i and xDrive30i and X4 xDrive30i. Toyota Supra 2.0 models from 2020 to 2022 are included; one source cited 1,469 Supras in the recall population. Regulators warned owners to park recalled vehicles outside and away from structures until the starter can be replaced.

According to the NHTSA notice, the engine starter relay may corrode if water enters the relay housing, leading to overheating and a potential short circuit. Valeo is identified as the supplier of the suspect starter assembly, listed under BMW part number 8671503. BMW said it began investigating the issue on July 2, 2024, after receiving reports of...