Fear of fire: BMW calls on owners of more than 720,000 cars in the US to park outside buildings

BMW is recalling more than 720,000 cars in the US due to a risk of fire from a defect in the water pump electrical connector. The company is asking owners to park outside until repairs are completed. This is the second recall for the same issue, as the previous fix did not resolve it.

German automaker BMW is recalling more than 720,000 cars in the US due to a fire risk, and is asking owners to park them outside and away from other vehicles until repairs are complete. The defect is in the water pump electrical connector, which can allow moisture to enter, causing a short circuit and fire, even when the car is parked and the engine is off. The recall covers models from 2012–2018, including the 3 Series, 5 Series, Z4, X1, X3, X4, and X5 plug-in hybrid. This is the second recall for the same issue: a shield was installed in August 2024, but reports of abnormal heating came in April and June 2025 even in repaired cars. Following a thorough investigation, BMW decided on another recall on October 28, 2026. The company is aware of ten cases in the US related to the defect, with no accidents or injuries. A final solution has not yet been developed, and car owners will receive mail notifications in December. It is unclear whether the recall will also apply to cars sold in Israel.