BMW has issued an urgent recall for 720,796 vehicles due to a severe fire risk, advising owners to park their cars outside and away from buildings until a permanent fix is available.
The recall, announced by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November 2026, affects specific models manufactured between 2012 and 2018. The defect stems from an improperly sealed electrical connector on the vehicle’s water pump.
According to the NHTSA safety report, material degradation at the connector can allow moisture to enter the pump over time. This exposure may lead to a short circuit, increasing the risk of a thermal event or fire, even when the vehicle is parked and switched off.
“Over time, due to material degradation at the connector, this could allow moisture to enter the pump and lead to the possibility of a short circuit,” the NHTSA document stated. “This could increase the risk of a thermal event and, in rare cases, a fire.”
The automaker confirmed it is aware of approximately 10 incidents in the US linked to this defect, all occurring in vehicles that had already received a previous repair [[2]]. No crashes or injuries have been reported so far.
This development follows an earlier recall in 2024 (NHTSA recall 24V-608), where dealers were instructed to inspect the pump, replace damaged parts, and install a splash shield. However, recent testing revealed that the connectors themselves were becoming brittle and cracking, rendering the 2024 splash shield fix ineffective. Consequently, the new 2026 recall (26V-733) supersedes the previous one, meaning even previously repaired vehicles require the new remedy.
The affected models include the 2012-2016 3 Series, 2012-2016 5 Series, 2012–2015 X1, 2012-2016 Z4, 2013-2017 X3, 2014-2016 2 Series coupe, 2014–2016 3 Series sportswagon, 2014-2016 328xi Gran Turismo, 2014-2016 4 Series convertible and coupe, 2015-2016 2 Series convertible, 2015-2016 4 Series gran coupe, 2015-2018 X4, and 2016-2018 X5 xDrive40e.
While a permanent repair is still under development, the NHTSA has issued a strict safety alert: “If you have one of these vehicles, you should park your vehicle outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until the vehicle is repaired”.
BMW is expected to begin mailing notification letters to affected owners in December 2026, with free repairs to be conducted at authorised dealerships once parts become available. Nigerian owners and importers of used BMW vehicles are advised to verify their Vehicle Identification Number on the NHTSA website or contact the BMW recall hotline for further guidance.
