Here at TopSpeed, we like to celebrate all things automotive. But anything that runs on gasoline (and electricity) runs a not insignificant risk of not igniting that fuel for propulsion, but, you know, as a bomb. A new NHTSA recall is warning of just that very, very serious hazard, and to as many as 200,000 cars made by BMW and, in turn, Toyota, because of the overlap in supplied parts to the Z4 sports car and Toyota Supra. Here’s the skinny, and why drivers of 2 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, and X3 crossovers should take heed, pronto!
The Cars Impacted
Here are the BMWs impacted. You’ll note that this is a very broad recall, impacting smaller 2 Series and 3 Series sedans, and also X3 and X4 crossovers.
All The Recalled Cars
| Make | Model | Model Years |
|---|---|---|
| BMW | 230i | 2022 |
| BMW | 330i | 2019–2021 |
| BMW | 430i | 2021–2022 |
| BMW | 430i Convertible | 2021–2022 |
| BMW | 530i | 2020–2022 |
| BMW | X3 | 2020–2022 |
| BMW | X4 | 2020–2022 |
| BMW | Z4 | 2019–2022 |
| Toyota | Supra | 2020–2022 |
The Fine(r) Print
We read deeper into NHTSA’s recall. It’s alarming. This recall impacts up to 80,318 330i sedans sold between 2019–21. The recall includes 9,618 4 Series Coupes, and 9,621 430i convertibles. The recall isn’t as broad for X4 crossovers. NHTSA only suspects 6,716 of those are in danger of catching fire. But NHTSA is recalling a whopping 70,887 X3 sDrive30i, and X3 xDrive30i models. BMW 5 Series is also impacted to the tune of over 20,000 cars.
The Z4 has been recalled to the tune of 4,539 cars, while the Supra’s count is comparatively light, at just 1,469 units. There’s exactly one not-golden-ticket owner of a 230i impacted by this recall, according to NHTSA. That’s a serious bummer.
The Benign—Or Severe Consequences
The crux of the issue, according to NHTSA, could be benign. It could also be deadly. Here’s what NHTSA’s language has to say. Don’t worry. We’ll translate the bureaucratic lingo:
“This safety recall involves the engine starter. In some cases, water could contact the starter’s electrical relay and, over time, lead to corrosion.”—NHTSA Defect / Noncompliance Description
That first bit describes corrosion, which, in turn, could lead to a broken starter. That would stink because you’d be stranded with a car that won’t start. But NHTSA also warned of a “…safety risk, including crash, fire, death, [and] injury.” Because corrosion could…
“…also lead to a short-circuit and possible overheating of the starter. In an extreme case, this could cause a thermal event during vehicle operation or when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is off.”—NHTSA Defect / Noncompliance Description
Translation: whether running or static in your garage, your BMW or Toyota could catch fire. That’s a lot worse than calling for an Uber because your BMW won’t start. That’s burn-your-house-down horrible.
BMW’s Core Cars Impacted
By NHTA’s head count, the bulk of the models impacted are both the 3 and 5 Series sedans, and the X3. While other outlets are reporting that this is a recall mostly about BMW (and Toyota) sports cars, the fine print shows it’s of far greater impact if you drive BMW sedans or the X3. This is really the bread-and-butter of BMW, and sports car owners are likely to feel this recall less.
What Should I Do?
First, don’t panic. Check the table above for the model and years of BMWs impacted. If you’re at all concerned, NHTSA advises the following:
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is complete.”—NHTSA Safety Recall Report
Second, in BMW’s response to NHTSA, they say they will notify all impacted owners by November 14th of this year—though that recall will likely happen sooner, as dealers receive replacement parts to address wiring corrosion. Owners will be notified by mail from BMW. If your car’s starter was already affected, likely because the car wasn’t running, BMW will reimburse you for that cost.
TopSpeed’s Take
Beyond parking outdoors, BMW owners can also call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. You may not get full satisfaction, because BMW doesn’t have the parts they need for this repair just yet, and although you can search for your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on NHTSA.gov, the specific cars impacted won’t populate the website until November 13, 2025.
Source: NHTSA