BMW recalls 195,000 cars in the U.S. over fire risk

German automaker BMW is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide to fix starter motor issues that could even lead to engine fires.

The company announced that the recall affects about 136,500 vehicles in Germany and another 195,000 in the United States.

BMW has not disclosed the total number of vehicles subject to the recall globally, but the figure could reach several hundred thousand, as the issue involves models produced between September 2015 and September 2021 and sold in Asia and other European markets.

According to the automaker, water can enter the starter motor, causing corrosion that may prevent the engine from starting. In some cases, this could also result in a short circuit and overheating, leading to fire.

BMW warned that short circuits and fires could occur even when the vehicle is parked.