WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ – Automotive manufacturers issue recalls for their vehicles all of the time, typically for minor issues that don’t pose any significant risk to their owners; as a result, there are times when people will simply ignore a recall notice they’ve received in the mail. However, when the company that you bought your car from is warning you that it may burst into flames if you don’t address an issue sooner rather than later, most people should obviously sit up and take notice.
That is the case with a new recall issued by BMW which affects 720,796 of their vehicles, with the luxury automotive giant noting – according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – that the issue in question stems from a defective seal on a water pump utilized across numerous different models which could, in turn, start a fire in a worst-case scenario.
Multiple cars and SUVs are affected by BMW’s recall within model years spanning from 2012 to 2018, with the vehicles included being the Z4 convertible; certain cars in the 2-,3-,4-, and 5-series; and certain SUVs in the X1, X3, X4, and X5 series.
The specific problem with the water pump involves its electrical pump connector, which may have a leak in certain models, which in turn could cause a potential short circuit due to water dripping from the positive crankcase ventilation system through the seal. If this were to take place, it could cause a fire in the engine bay, which houses the engine, transmission, battery, and other important components.
To date, BMW reports that there have been 18 instances where this defect resulted in damage to a vehicle or a customer lodging a complaint; however, there have been no injuries or deaths associated with the issue so far.
BMW dealers have already begun notifying customers who own the affected models of the recall, and the company itself is expected to begin mailing out notifications at the beginning of October. Owners of vehicles covered by the recall will be directed to bring their vehicle to a local BMW dealership, at which time the water pump and plug connector will be inspected and – if needed – replaced, free of charge.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.