BMW Recalls Nearly 90,000 Vehicles Due to Engine Starter Fire Risk

BMW of North America is recalling 87,394 vehicles equipped with potentially faulty electrical systems that could result in overheated motors and risk fire and injury.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notice posted on Feb. 9, the recall involves these models: the 2021 to 2023 Toyota Supras; 2022 to 2023 2 Series Coup; 2021 to 2024 5 Series (xDrive): 2021 to 2022 Z4; 2022 to 2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe); 2021 to 2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible); 2021 to 2023 4 Series (Coupe); 2021 to 2024 3 Series; 2021 to 2023 X4; and 2021 to 2024 X3 vehicles.

Dealers will replace the engine starter free of charge. To date, BMW said it has not received any reports of any accidents or injuries related to this issue.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by March 24. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24.

Earlier on the same day, the NHTSA posted another notice indicating that BMW North America issued a recall of more than 200 vehicles for rear lights that may not be functioning properly, increasing the risk of a collision. This recall involves certain 2026 228i Gran Coupe, 228i xDrive Gran Coupe, and M235i xDrive Gran Coupe models.

Dealers will replace the rear lights free of charge, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out by March 27. Owners of potentially affected vehicles can contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning on March 27. 

An earlier BMW recall, as reported by Kelley Blue Book, took place during the summer of 2025, when the company announced possible malfunctions with the electric drive motor software in more than 70,000 models of certain 2022 to 2024 vehicles. The glitch was said to cause a possible shutdown of the high-voltage systems and cause of loss of drive power. 

In the spring of 2025, the automaker recalled more than 40,500 vehicles over problems with door locking modules that caused doors to become unlocked.

Kelley has also reported other similar incidents involving fire risks with Volvo and Hyundai vehicles. In January, Volvo recalled 40 of its EX30 subcompact electric SUVs for 2025 because of issues with the high-voltage battery. Volvo stated that potential overheating of the battery cell could lead to an internal cell short, causing a fire.

In the case of the BMW’s most recent potential fire hazard recall, the company said it began an engineering investigation in September 2025, following field incidents involving starters with indications of thermal damage.

Established in 1975 as the U.S. importer of BMW luxury vehicles, BMW of North America is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. The company began to import and distribute BMW motorcycles in 1980 and light trucks in 1999.