BMW recall covers nearly 721,000 vehicles as NHTSA says park them outside

What happened

US auto safety regulators told drivers of nearly 721,000 BMWs to keep their cars parked outdoors because an electrical connector on the water pump can let in moisture, short out, and start a fire even when the car is off. The warning came Friday from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to the agency, a repair is still being developed and the company lacks a ready fix.

What is affected and what to do

The campaign covers 14 models produced for the 2012 through 2018 model years. These vehicles were already called back in 2024 for a water pump issue and need a second repair. NHTSA said BMW identified 10 incidents that may be linked to the problem in vehicles that previously received the earlier repair, and that there have been no crashes or injuries.

"If you have one of these vehicles, you should park your vehicle outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until the vehicle is repaired," the agency said in a consumer alert. Notification letters are expected to start mailing on December 25. BMW did not provide comment right away when asked.

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Why it matters for investors

BMW is also trying to rein in costs and reshuffle leadership as competition from Chinese automakers intensifies. The company trimmed its profit outlook last week and outlined plans to ramp output of next generation models to support margins in coming years.

The bottom line: recurring quality fixes can weigh on near term sentiment, while the production strategy is aimed at longer term profitability. Keep an eye on recall costs, the timing of the repair rollout, and how management follows through on its cost and product plans.

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