BMW recalls X3 SUVs over faulty door locks

BMW recalls X3 SUVs over faulty door locks 

March 6, 2025 Bojan Popic

Westwood, NJ – March 6, 2025 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling 40,736 SUVs whose doors can be opened accidentally. This defect could cause injuries to the car occupants, especially if they fall out of the vehicle.

The following models are affected: 

  • 2022 – 2024 BMW X3 sDrive30i
  • 2022 – 2024 BMW X3 xDrive30i

Recall summary  

BMW car doors can be unlocked from the inside by pulling on the interior door handle twice – the first pull unlocks the door and the second opens it. In the affected SUVs, the rear doors can be opened with a single pull of the handle due to a manufacturing error.  

Recall risks

An occupant may accidentally open the door while the vehicle is in motion and fall out of the car.

Other BMW recalls

In August, close to 300,000 X3 SUVs were recalled because their luggage rails could detach in a crash, as reported.

In September 2024, BMW recalled over 12,000 Mini hybrids over a battery issue that could result in a vehicle fire, also as reported.

The repair

The dealers will replace rear door lock modules free of charge. 

The owners should receive letters with more information by April 14, 2025.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 40,000 SUVs are affected by this BMW door handle recall. To do a BMW recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicBMW recalls X3 SUVs over faulty door locks 
BMW recalls hybrid Minis over fire risk

BMW recalls hybrid Minis over fire risk

September 11, 2024 Bojan Popic ,

Westwood, NJ  – September 11, 2024 – BMW (OTCMKTS: BMWYY), which owns the Mini brand, is recalling 12,535 2020 – 2024 Mini Hardtop two-door hybrids that may catch on fire even when turned off and parked.

The defect ups the risk of injury and property damage. 

Recall summary  

The listed vehicles are equipped with a high-voltage system, whose job is to power the hybrid electric drive. Due to a manufacturing error, this assembly may develop an electrical short, which may cause it to overheat and burst into flames. 

Recall risks

A fire greatly augments the risk of an injury to the car occupants.

Other BMW recalls

In May 2023, there was another BMW fire recall, as reported.

More recently, in August 2024, BMW recalled almost 300,000 X3 SUVs whose trunk luggage rails would detach in a crash. 

The repair

Dealers will update the vehicle’s software free of charge.

Owners should receive notifications by mail on October 7, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This BMW fire recall affects more than 12,000 Minis. To do a BMW recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicBMW recalls hybrid Minis over fire risk
BMW recalls X3 SUVs over faulty luggage rails

BMW recalls X3 SUVs over faulty luggage rails

August 16, 2024 Bojan Popic

Westwood, NJ – August 16, 2024 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling 291,112 2018-2023 BMW X3 SUVs whose luggage rails may detach from the vehicles’ body in a crash, upping the risk of injury.

The recall comes on the back of a lawsuit from an affected owner.

Recall summary

The listed SUVs have rails inside their trunks that can be used to secure cargo for transport. These rails, however, may detach from the vehicles’ body in a crash.

Recall risks

If the car is rear-ended, unsecured luggage or the rails themselves may be flung at the car occupants, causing an injury.

Background of the recall

The recall follows on the heels an “extreme rear crash” around August 2022, after which the owner took legal action against the carmaker.  

Other BMW recalls

In November 2023, BMW recalled older X3 and 3 series vehicles that could stall while driving, as reported.

In May 2023, close to 100,000 Mini models were recalled because they could have caught fire due to an electric short. 

The repair

The dealers will replace the bolts that hold cargo rails in place with upgraded ones free of charge.  

The owners should receive notifications starting on August 30, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 290,000 SUVs are affected by this BMW rear cargo rails recall. To do a BMW recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicBMW recalls X3 SUVs over faulty luggage rails
BMW issues second recall for stalling cars

BMW issues second recall for stalling cars

November 28, 2023 Bojan Popic

Westwood, NJ  – November 28, 2023 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling  155,627 cars and SUVs that may stall while driving.  This ups the risk of a crash and injury, especially if it happens in dense traffic.

 The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2010 – 2012 BMW 1 Series
  • 2010 – 2012 BMW 3 Series
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW 5 Series
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW X3
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW X5
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW Z4

Some of these cars were recalled over the same issue back in 2014.

Recall summary  

All listed vehicles have an engine with variable valve timing, called VANOS, which adjusts the opening and closing of engine valves to achieve better performance and improve fuel economy. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that hold the VANOS housing in place may become loose or break.

If that happens, the VANOS may develop a leak which may subsequently lead to the activation of the limp-home mode or a stall.

The component causing the recall is the VANOS bolt, with part number 8602263.

Background of the recall

The seemingly identical problem was already addressed in 2014, in a recall where these bolts were replaced with new ones. But, due to a quality issue, the repair turned out to be insufficient. 

The present recall is also composed of additional vehicles that back in 2014 were included into an “extended warranty program” to address the same “condition”.

Recall risks

If the car stalls or enters the limp-home mode – which would decrease the power output – it may get hit from behind. The accident may result in injuries for the occupants of the car and other motorists involved.

Warning signs

The driver may see the “Check the engine” or “Service the engine soon” message of the dashboard. He or she may also perceive “distinct change in engine running condition, reduced engine power, and hear increased engine noise.”

Other BMW recalls

In May 2023, BMW recalled almost 100,000 Minis that were at risk of catching fire.  

On a separate note, BMW’s electric SUVs were recalled in July 2022 because their displays did not show critical safety information when parked by a valet.

The repair

Dealers will once again replace the suspected bolts with new ones free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information on December 12, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This BMW VANOS recall affects more than 150,000 cars. To do a BMW recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicBMW issues second recall for stalling cars
BMW recalls Minis that may catch fire

BMW recalls Minis that may catch fire

May 28, 2023 Joseph Estabillo ,

Westwood, NJ – May 28, 2023 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY), which owns the Mini brand, is recalling 97,933 vehicles in the 30 “salt belt” states due to the risk of fire because of water and salt entering the cars.

This is the second recall issued by BMW over the defect internationally but the first one of its kind in the U.S.

The following models are covered by this recall: 

  • 2007 – 2013 Mini Cooper
  • 2008 – 2014 Mini Cooper Clubman
  • 2007 – 2013 Mini Cooper S
  • 2007 – 2013 Mini JCW

Recall summary

Affected vehicles were registered or sold in the states that use road salt in the winter “to control snow and ice” and also experience large temperature fluctuations throughout the year.  They are also equipped with a sunroof.

Repeated temperature changes result in damage to the sunroof drain hose, allowing water to enter the cabin and combine with the road salt that may also be present in the footwell to form an “electrolyte solution.”

The solution may then come into contact with a computer called the footwell control module (FRM) which controls lighting and power windows. This may lead to the module short-circuiting, causing a fire.

Recall risks

You can read more about the risks caused by vehicle fires in this article about a Hyundai recall due to the same risk. For tips on what to do if your car catches fire, please see this article about a recent Navistar fire-related recall. 

Background of the recall

This is the second recall because of this issue internationally but the first one in the U.S. In 2018, these cars were recalled in the Canadian market due to the risk of fires caused by corrosion in the FRM. Following the recall, the manufacturer received reports of the repaired vehicles experiencing fires. The subsequent investigation found the sunroof hose to be the culprit, leading to the present recall.

As of May 2023, BMW has received reports of six incidents in the U.S. market involving the defect, with no record of accidents or injuries.   

Other BMW recalls

In May 2022, BMW recalled 61,221 vehicles over a defect that allowed the sunroof to close even when the key fob is inside the vehicle, leading to an increased risk of injury. 

In July 2022, BMW also recalled 6,930 vehicles for failure to display critical safety information while the car is being parked by a valet, presenting an increased danger of an accident.  

The repair

The remedy for the issue is being developed. It will be offered free of charge once it is made available. BMW will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced.

Owners of the affected vehicles will receive letters with more information on July 3, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 97,000 vehicles are affected by this Mini footwell control module recall. To run a Mini recall check or check for more BMW and Mini recalls,  please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloBMW recalls Minis that may catch fire
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