Fire Hazard: BMW Recall Now Includes Customers in the UAE; Dealerships Contact Owners for Repairs

BMW has advised its customers in the UAE and around the world not to leave their vehicles unattended after starting the car, especially when using the remote start feature, while the engine is running.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed on Thursday that residents in the UAE affected by the global recall of the German automotive giant, BMW, due to a technical issue, will be contacted by authorized dealerships for repairs.

As reported on Wednesday, BMW announced it is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles worldwide due to a potential fire hazard related to the engine starter. This global recall is expected to involve "a number in the range of several hundred thousand vehicles."

The spokesperson for BMW Group Middle East said: "Our authorized partners in the UAE will contact customers to repair their vehicles, and most repairs will be completed on the same day. We will also provide a loaner car to affected customers during the service period."

According to BMW, sixteen models equipped with starters produced between July 2020 and July 2022 may be affected. This issue is due to excessive wear of the electric magnet over time, which can lead to a malfunction.

The spokesperson confirmed that the necessary parts for repairs are available in the UAE.

While dealerships are actively contacting affected customers, owners in the UAE can also check if their vehicle is included in the recall by entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the company's website.

BMW has advised customers in the UAE and other countries not to leave their vehicles unattended after starting the car, especially when using the remote start feature, while the engine is running.

This recall follows complaints from customers and inspections of vehicles that showed the engine starter in some cars may be prone to malfunction. However, BMW has not disclosed the exact number of vehicles affected by this defect.

Source: Gulf Times