US agency urges owners of 7.2 lakh BMW cars to park vehicles away from buildings over fire risk

FILE PHOTO: A BMW logo on the newly presented i3 Long Wheelbase model.

BMW has recalled 720,796 vehicles in the US due to a fire risk and urged owners to park their cars outside, away from buildings and other vehicles, until repairs are completed, Reuters reported.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the warning after identifying a potential electrical fault involving the vehicles’ water pumps. The affected cars had previously been recalled in 2024 over a water pump issue but now require further repairs.According to the report, an improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump could be exposed to water, potentially causing a short circuit and increasing the risk of fire, even when the vehicle is parked and switched off.BMW is still working on a fix for the latest recall and has reported 10 fire incidents that may be linked to the issue. These incidents occurred after the vehicles had already undergone repairs under the 2024 recall, the report said.NHTSA has advised owners of affected vehicles to keep them parked outdoors and away from buildings and other vehicles until the necessary repairs are carried out.Which BMW models are affected?The recall covers several models manufactured between 2012 and 2018, including: