German premium car manufacturer BMW is recalling some 575,000 cars worldwide to replace the starter motor, which can fail to function or, in rare cases, overheat and catch fire.
Models of concern are found throughout the BMW portfolio: the 2-Series coupe, 3-, 4-, and 5-Series, the 6-Series Gran Turismo and the 7-Series, the X4, X5, and X6 SUVs, and the Z4 sports car. Most of them were built between July 2020 and July 2022.
BMW has discovered that after a high number of start procedures, increased wear can sometimes be detected, resulting in refusal to start and, in rare cases, a short circuit due to overheating, with a risk of smoke and, eventually, fire.
Several thousands in Belgium
The German news agency DPA reports that about 28,500 cars are affected in Germany, while in Belgium, the number is likely limited to several thousand. According to a spokesman for BMW Belux, Jeroen Lissens, all belgian clients have already been warned in a letter and in half of the cases the starter motor has already been replaced, free of charge.
Clients who are concerned can continue using their car, even if the replacement hasn’t taken place yet. Another recall of BMW cars was issued last year, affecting more than a million BMWs worldwide due to starter motor problems. At that time, a short circuit was possible due to possible water infiltration in the starter motor. Here also, fire could be the ultimate (worst-case) scenario.
Owners of BMWs, who are possibly concerned, can check this on the BMW website. A small number of Toyota Supra owners have also been contacted by the Japanese manufacturer, since the latest version of the Supra shares much of its technology with the BMW Z4.
Production of the BMW Z4 will end in March 2026. Customers have a short window to place orders for the BMW Z4 Final Edition. Order intake has started in late January 2026.
More recalls?
The impression that there have been more recalls of cars (from any make) in recent years can be confirmed. Some surveys even report that the number of recalls is six times what it was a decade ago.
The reasons are fairly obvious. Cars have become far more complex in recent years, while their development time has been reduced for several reasons, not the least the high competitive pressure. This, of course, also increases the pressure on quality control.
To cut costs, manufacturers are increasingly relying on external suppliers, which can deliver parts at lower cost by producing them at a much larger scale for several OEMs. Of course, when a supplier part fails, the consequences for many manufacturers across the industry can be severe.
The most renowned case in recent history is the Takata airbag recall, affecting many car models from almost every major manufacturer worldwide. Millions of cars had to be recalled, and the whole replacement procedure isn’t over yet. The Japanese airbag manufacturer went bankrupt in 2017; several manufacturers are still struggling with the consequences.
