BMW recalls nearly 30,000 plug-in hybrids over fire risk

BMW has announced a voluntary safety recall in the United States affecting nearly 30,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles due to a potential fire risk. Owners of the affected models are being advised to park their vehicles outdoors and away from buildings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from an engine starter relay that may corrode or become damaged. This degradation can lead to overheating and a subsequent short circuit. The recall specifically targets older plug-in hybrid models, including the 330e iPerformance (2016–2018), the 740Le xDrive iPerformance (2017–2019), and the 530e iPerformance (2018–2020).

This action follows a previous, larger recall involving nearly 200,000 vehicles of various models that were not plug-in hybrids. After investigating approximately 150 starter motors following reports of vehicle fires, BMW initiated this voluntary safety recall. Dealership technicians will resolve the issue by replacing the faulty components with an improved version.