German luxury carmaker BMW has been ordered to recall more than 330,000 vehicles worldwide due to a potential fire hazard linked to improper wiring routing inside the cockpit, according to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, or KBA).
The recall affects an estimated 337,374 vehicles globally, including 29,441 registered in Germany, and spans five model lines: the BMW i5, i7, 5 Series, 7 Series and high-performance M5. All affected vehicles were manufactured between June 2022 and December 2025, according to details posted on the KBA’s official recall database.
What’s the Issue?
The regulator identified that the cockpit wiring harness in these vehicles may have been routed incorrectly during assembly. While this defect does not typically pose a risk under normal driving conditions, it can be exposed and damaged during routine maintenance work — specifically when a technician replaces the microfilter, a common service operation. If the wiring is disturbed during this process, it could lead to a short circuit, creating smoke or even the possibility of a fire in rare circumstances.
Response from BMW
BMW acknowledged the recall notice in the KBA database and said it plans to contact affected owners to arrange inspection and corrective repairs. A spokesperson confirmed that no incidents, accidents or injuries have been reported in connection with this particular wiring issue to date. The company said the recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure to ensure driver and passenger safety.
This recall marks the second safety action by BMW in under a month related to fire risks. Earlier in February, the automaker announced a separate global recall affecting hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to concerns about starter motor fire risks. In late 2024, BMW also recalled 1.5 million vehicles because of a brake system defect, which had prompted a downward revision of its business outlook.
Models and Timeline
The models affected — i5, i7, the 5 Series, 7 Series and M5 — include both internal combustion and fully electric variants. The recall extends worldwide, although precise distribution by country outside Germany has not been independently confirmed by BMW at this time.
Owners of affected vehicles are advised to contact their authorized BMW service centers for inspection and required corrective work. BMW has stated that repairs or adjustments will be made at no cost to the customer as part of the recall programme.
