BMW Recalls Nearly 29,000 Plug-In Hybrids in US Due to Starter Defect
BMW announces recall of 29,000 PHEVs in the US due to a starter relay defect that can cause fires. Owners advised to park outdoors until repair.
German automaker BMW has announced a recall of approximately 29,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the United States. The recall is due to a starter relay defect that allows water ingress, leading to corrosion and a short circuit, which can cause the starter to overheat and, in extreme cases, result in a fire.
This issue was previously known to the manufacturer – in September 2025, BMW recalled nearly 200,000 vehicles with internal combustion engines for the same reason. At that time, plug-in hybrids were inspected but not included in the recall. The current recall only affects the US market and specific models: BMW 330e iPerformance (2016–2018 model years), BMW 530e iPerformance and 530e xDrive (2018–2020 model years), and BMW 740Le xDrive (2017–2019 model years).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned of potential fire hazards. Until the necessary repairs are performed, BMW advises owners to park their vehicles outdoors to reduce the risk of fire.
