Browse over 9,000 car reviews

BMW recalls 500,000 vehicles

“Vibrations in the car can cause poor connection and electrical issues as a result.”

Following a recall two days ago for a brake defect, BMW has issued another that affects more than 500,000 vehicles worldwide and 17,500 in Australia

The German carmaker has issued a wide-ranging recall on more than 500,000 vehicles across several of its model lines – including about 17,500 cars in Australia -- ranging from the 1-Series to the Z4 sports car.  The cause of the problem is a faulty battery cable connector, which may fail over time. The recall follows one from two days ago for a faulty brake hose that affected 1600 of BMW’s X5 SUVs in Australia.

BMW says the latest recall is for the connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box, which on the affected vehicles may degrade over time due to high current flow and heat from electrical resistance. Should this occur, there could be a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, causing it to stall and possibly crash.

“Vibrations in the car can cause poor connection and electrical issues as a result,” BMW spokesman Scott Croaker says. “In the main, those problems would be flickering lights or the vehicle failing to restart after it’s stopped. But in absolute extreme cases, it could lead to the car stalling while driving.”

Croaker says there has been one field report of the problem in an Australian vehicle, and another in Canada. “Give the nature of it, it’s an important thing to take very seriously – we can’t rule out that these are isolated cases so we’ve taken this action. We’re not trying to sweep anything under the rug we take the responsibility very seriously.”

The recall affects:

  • 2007-2012 BMW 1-Series Coupes and 1-Series Convertibles built from December 2007 through July 2011.
  • 2007-2011 BMW 3-Series sedans built from March 2007 through October 2011.
  • 2007-2011 3-Series Sports Wagons built from March 2007 through June 2011.
  • 2007-2011 BMW 3-Series Coupes and 3-Series Convertibles built from March 2007 through July 2011.
  • 2009-2011 Z4 roadsters built from March 2009 through June 2011.

BMW is in the process of notifying owners of the affected vehicles. They will be requested to take their cars to their nearest BMW dealership, which will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge.