BMW Launches a Third Recall Over a Fire Risk in Older Models

• 917,000 vehicles from the 2006 to 2013 model years are recalled in the US

• A short circuit could cause an engine fire while driving or shortly after

• Vehicles that have already been recalled will have to go back to the dealer

BMW had to launch a third recall campaign to fix the same problem in close to a million units of its older vehicles.

In 917,000 US-market BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, X3, X5 and Z4 vehicles from the 2006 to 2013 model years, an engine compartment fire can occur while driving or shortly after being parked.

This is caused by a short circuit in the positive crankcase ventilation valve heater, which could overheat and set fire to the engine.

The company didn’t say how many vehicles are recalled outside of the United States, but the number  could be quite high since Canadian market vehicles have the same mechanical elements and are therefore expected to be subject to the same problem.

Most of the affected vehicles had already been recalled in 2017 and again in 2019 for the same problem, meaning that the repair procedures made at that time were ineffective in preventing fires.

The automaker says that since fires are rare (only 8 have supposedly been reported), owners can still drive their vehicles and park them indoors as normal.

BMW advised drivers to stop in a safe location, turn of the engine and move away from the car if they see or smell smoke while driving.

The company is currently working on a new solution they hope will be effective in curing this problem. A spokesman said that the fix and the parts inventory needed to repair all of the affected vehicles is expected in the middle of the year. Owners will begin to be notified by mail on April 25 and they will then be able to schedule an appointment with their BMW dealer to have their car repaired for free.