BMW recalling more than 1 million vehicles worldwide over an engine-ventilation system that could overheat and increase the risk of fire.
The German luxury-car maker will recall roughly 917,000 cars and sport utility vehicles in the United States, plus about 98,000 vehicles in Canada and 18,000 in South Korea, according to a spokesperson.
The campaign involves half a dozen BMW vehicles from the 2006 to 2013 model years, most of which were subject to a prior recall, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
Part irregularities could lead to a short circuit and cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
German auto supplier Mahle International makes the PCV valve heater.
Starting in 2019, BMW received several reports of overheating in the engine compartment of vehicles subject to a previous recall. By the end of last month, it was determined that supplier production and process issues could cause variations leading to valve heaters being damaged over time. The automaker decided a week ago to conduct a voluntary recall.
The expanded recall “includes certain model year 2012 and 2013 vehicles not previously recalled and re-recalls many of the vehicles previously named in the 2017 and 2019 campaigns,” Jay Hanson, BMW’s product and technology spokesperson, said in a statement to sibling publication Automotive News.
“However, it also removes a number of vehicles from previous recall lists because they were produced with a different, more robust PCV valve heater design.”
Hanson said the new remedy and a sufficient inventory of parts are expected by mid-2022.
“In the meantime,” he said, “as the likelihood of failure is extraordinarily remote, customers may continue to drive their vehicles.”
BMW has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue, according to the report.
Dealers were notified March 2. Vehicle owners will be sent notification letters starting this month, Hanson said.
Automotive News contributed to this report.
