BMW recalls vehicles for second time over fire risk

Westwood, NJ – December 5, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS: BMWYY) is recalling 50,404 vehicles that were previously repaired for a coolant leak for the same issue. The leak may result in an engine fire, which increases the risk of a crash and injury.  

Some of the vehicles that are affected by this BMW coolant recall include:  

  • 2014 BMW 328d
  • 2014 BMW 328d xDrive Sports Wagon
  • 2014 BMW 535d
  • 2015 BMW 740Ld xDrive
  • 2015 BMW X3 xDrive28d SAV
  • 2014 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAV

Recall summary  

Exhaust Gas Recirculation, or EGR, is a system that lowers emissions by rerouting a portion of exhaust gases towards the engine. In vehicles that are part of this BMW recall, a cooler within the EGR system may crack and develop a coolant leak. As this fluid mixes with exhaust gases, it will create “smoldering particles”.  This may cause the plastic intake manifold to melt or even result in a fire inside the engine compart]ment. 

The intake manifold “supplies the fuel/air mixture to the cylinders” for optimal engine performance, according to a Wikipedia article.

The full list of vehicles is available here

Recall background

Vehicles that are part of this recall were recalled for the same issue  in 2018. However, field data showed that the repair was not sufficient which prompted the manufacturer to call them in for repairs once again.

Recall risks

An engine fire increases the risk of a crash, with flames and smoke distracting the driver. Another risk is the inability to stop and leave the vehicle in time, leading to an injury or even death. For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please refer to the following page.

Warning signs

There are several signs that may alert a driver about this issue, including a “low coolant” warning light on the dashboard and an unusual odor from the exhaust. In more severe cases, the engine may lose power and there might be some smoke  coming from under the hood. 

Other BMW recalls 

Some of these vehicles may have been a part of a recall in August, which was caused by a high-pressure fuel pump that suffers from excessive wear. In addition, even vehicles with gasoline engines, such as the 328i station wagon, had problems with their fuel pumps in the past.  

The repair

To fix the issue, BMW authorized dealers will replace the EGR module and clean the pipe that connects to it. In addition, they will check the intake manifold for any damage and replace it if necessary. All repairs will be done free of charge.

Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners around January 12, 2022.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This BMW coolant leak recall includes more than 50,000 vehicles. To check if your BMW is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

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