BMW Recalls 720,796 Vehicles in the U.S. Over Potential Fire Risk
Key Facts
BMW of North America filed a recall with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on November 4 covering 720,796 vehicles potentially affected by a defect in the electric water-pump connector. The action is numbered 26V733, according to the recall filing submitted to the agency. The company said deterioration of the connector material over time could allow moisture to enter the pump. This could cause an electrical short circuit, increasing the risk of a thermal event and, in rare cases, a fire. BMW advised owners of affected vehicles to park them outdoors and away from buildings until repairs are completed.
The recall covers selected models from the 2, 3, 4 and 5 Series, as well as the Z4, X1, X3, X4 and X5 xDrive40e. The model years involved range from 2012 to 2018, depending on the model, according to the company’s filing with the agency. The scope means owners of used vehicles from these model lines should check whether their vehicles are included once a vehicle identification number search becomes available. BMW said a remedy was still under development when it filed the notice. Repairs will be free at authorized BMW centers, according to the recall notice.
BMW said it had identified about 10 field incidents in the United States related to, or potentially related to, the problem as of the October 28, 2026, recall decision. The company said it was unaware of any related crashes or injuries. The incidents involve a potential sequence beginning with deterioration of the water-pump connector material, followed by moisture intrusion and an electrical short circuit. BMW warned in its guidance that the risk could, in rare cases, lead to a fire. Although the company reported no crashes or injuries, it recommended keeping affected vehicles away from buildings while awaiting repairs.
The action extends BMW’s earlier recall number 24V-608, which the company said was issued on August 13, 2024. The remedy at the time included installing a protective shield and inspecting the pump connector and wiring plug. But the new recall filing says vehicles that received the earlier remedy still require the new remedy. Installing the earlier shield alone is therefore not enough to close the current recall for affected vehicles. Owner guidance for the earlier campaign instructed drivers to stop driving and move to a safe location if smoke appeared from the engine compartment. The earlier notice also described inspecting the pump and connector, replacing them if necessary, and installing the shield free of charge.
The recall filing set December 25, 2026, as the scheduled date to begin notifying owners and to make a vehicle identification number search available for affected vehicles. The filing said repairs would be carried out in stages. Until repairs begin, BMW recommended parking the vehicles outdoors and away from buildings. A vehicle identification number search will allow owners to confirm whether the campaign applies to their vehicles once the service opens. The filing did not set a single date for all repairs to be completed, describing the repair schedule as phased.
The recall announcement followed BMW’s November 3 update to its 2026 financial outlook. The company cut its forecast range for the automotive segment’s earnings before interest and taxes margin to -0.5% to +0.5%, from 1% to 3%. It attributed the change to plans to expand and intensify measures related to its product portfolio and structure, and to their expected impact on fourth-quarter earnings. The outlook update came before the recall filing the following day. The company did not link the outlook revision to recall costs in its filing.