29,919 owners.
That is how many BMWs might catch fire if left indoors.
The luxury automaker has issued a directive that is blunt.
Park outside.
Stay away from the house.
The problem lies in a starter relay.
Specifically, the one in older plug-in hybrids.
Corrosion sets in.
Water gets in.
It eats at the metal, leading to overheating and short circuits.
This isn’t some vague “maybe” warning.
The NHTSA report states that thermal events are a real risk.
It could happen while driving.
Or while the car sits in the driveway.
With the ignition off.
Who is affected?
It is mostly the 2015-era plug-ins.
* 2016–2018 330e
* 2017–2019 740Le
* 2018–2020 530e (and its xDrive sibling)
You might remember a bigger recall in 2022.
Nearly 200,000 vehicles were flagged then.
Some even burned.
But this one?
This is separate.
And it specifically targets these plug-ins that were excluded last time.
BMW didn’t just guess at this.
They pulled roughly 150 starters from fields across the country.
Examined them.
Saw the damage.
Then decided to fix it.
Properly.
The fix involves replacing the entire starter with a newly designed unit.
One that handles moisture better.
Dealerships are waiting for official notifications.
They drop in late August.
Until then?
If you own one of these cars?
Keep it outside.
It is a small inconvenience for a massive risk.
But do we really trust our garage that much?
“In an extreme case… this could cause a thermal event”
The letter comes late summer.
You’ll find out soon if you’re next in line for a tow truck and a new part.
Until the fix arrives, your garage is technically a fire hazard.
Think about it.
