I own a 2023 BMW 530i affected by NHTSA recall campaign 26V-438 (BMW "Engine Starter" recall), issued July 8, 2026. Per BMW's own recall documentation, unexpected wear on an internal starter component can cause the starter to malfunction and, in an extreme case, cause a thermal event or fire when starting the engine OR while the engine is running. As of this complaint, BMW's official status for this recall is "Remedy not available" — there is no repair available and no timeline has been provided to me for when one will be. Because BMW has acknowledged a fire risk that can occur while the vehicle is being driven, and because no remedy exists, I have stopped driving the vehicle out of concern for the safety of myself and my two young children. I contacted BMW to request a loaner or alternative transportation until the recall can be repaired. BMW Recall Support Services declined, stating that no alternative transportation is provided for this recall and directing me to my local dealership. My local dealership declined and directed me back to BMW. I first requested that a case be opened on July 15, 2026, and have followed up multiple times by phone and email without resolution. I am left with a vehicle the manufacturer has identified as a fire risk during normal operation, no available fix, no repair timeline, and no alternative transportation. I am filing this complaint to document the safety defect and BMW's failure to provide interim relief while owners await a remedy. I request that NHTSA take this into account in monitoring the adequacy and timeliness of BMW's recall response. No crash, injury, or fire has occurred
NHTSA complaint #11752807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
oil filter housing is plastic and is bound to give I hadn’t reach 150k miles its an expensive job not normal maintenance problem bmw is expensive but recall this part to protect consumers
NHTSA complaint #11731750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 530I. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, and while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that the infotainment system might have been remotely hacked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an air bag failure. Additionally, the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); because the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had failed the State Inspection due to the open recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11731883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2021 BMW 530i. VIN [XXX] . I brought my vehicle to Pompano Beach BMW and Coconut Creek BMW in Florida. They said both my motor mounts have collapsed. I have discussed the matter with other experts and mechanics, and been told the failure of motor mounts is a serious safety issue and vehicle defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11726067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving my car for about 7 min (in 0 degree weather) and it overheated and just shut off on the road. I noticed it was over heating and headed to the repair shop. It stalled again. Even after apparently it was fixed the engine continues to act like it wants to stall. It’s says malfunction, but codes do not show up in the system. They keep telling me it’s fine and they fixed it, it keeps wanting to shut off.
NHTSA complaint #11722692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Refill Coolant" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered a puddle of blue liquid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a leak in one of the hoses and that the hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the radiator and hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a diagnostic test; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11714234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On the night of 9/4/25, I parked my 2019 BMW 530i in my closed garage and believed I had turned off the vehicle. I removed the key fob. Hours later, our household carbon monoxide detector activated. The fire department responded and measured 480 ppm CO throughout the house and 1,500 ppm inside the vehicle. They stated we were seconds from death due to carbon monoxide exposure. The engine bay reached nearly 600°F, and oxygen in the garage dropped to 7%. The fire department incident report is not yet available, but I will provide it once obtained. The keyless ignition system did not shut off the engine when the fob was removed, even though the vehicle usually shuts off automatically during brief stops (via Auto Start/Stop). The engine continued running indefinitely, creating a life-threatening hazard. My family survived only because the CO detector activated in time.
NHTSA complaint #11685194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The oil filter housing has a plastic coolant passage that cracked. That lead to a complete loss of coolant, leaving my teenage daughter stranded. The problem seems pretty wide spread on these cars and happens right around the end of the warranty period. It could have been a more than $2500 repair. I ended up fixing it myself for a little less.
NHTSA complaint #11682017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving home after picking my son up from school and out of no where the vehicle temperature was in the red and a message popped up stating that vehicle coolant needed to be replenished but that continued driving of the vehicle was ok. It was not ok at all! The car started smoking and we were left stranded on the side of the road. I’ve read numerous blogs showing that the same thing has happened to other people and that there have even been recalls on other bmw’s in regards to the engine coolant system.
NHTSA complaint #11667326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW 530I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with motor mount failure. There was an abnormal pulling sound detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke with two experts and was informed that the failure should not have occurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11667076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 5301. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the warning light that the engine was overheating was displayed on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the failure had occurred at various speeds, and the vehicle stalled due to the engine overheating. The contact was constantly refilling the coolant reservoir monthly. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and the radiator hoses were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V138000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11658526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am unknown of what system has failed but the issue is that while the car is in motion, it will completely shut off. All Electrical will disengage and there have been times where a pop up has come on my screen stating that air bags and seat belts are non functioning to get to a service station as soon as possible. It has happened multiple times while driving on a large highway. This is a severe safety issue and I am so thankful I have not suffered serious injuries due to a major accident. The vehicle is unsafe and I do not feel comfortable driving it with myself nor guest in the car.
NHTSA complaint #11657485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is the second time I’ve had overheating issues, and it now seems more severe. I’ve noticed both coolant and oil leaking, and the car is unsafe to drive. Also fault codes related to emission. Here are the symptoms I’m experiencing: •Smoking: The car I started smoking, likely from oil or coolant leaking onto hot engine parts. Caused me to pull over at midnight on side of highway and get towed •Coolant and oil mixing: I’ve observed signs of contamination, which may indicate a gasket failure or internal leak. •Safety concerns: Due to the risk of overheating or fire, I am not driving the vehicle. •The engine could overheat, leading to catastrophic damage. •Leaked oil on hot parts could increase the risk of fire. •The compromised lubrication can cause engine seizure. I suspect the issue may be related to plastic components, as I’ve read they can become brittle over time and lead to leaks Also, the these BMWs involves the water pump's electrical pump connector allowing water to drip from the positive crankcase ventilation system through the seal, potentially causing a short circuit.
NHTSA complaint #11649178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact's wife owns a 2018 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir, and the warning light turned off; however, the check engine light soon returned. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where a diagnostic test discovered that coolant and freon had leaked from the turbo lines, causing damages to the oil housing and water pump. The dealer provided the contact with an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #11638278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a coolant-level message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test determined that there was a coolant leak inside the engine. The contact was informed that the vehicle was covered under warranty and that an undisclosed part inside the coolant system was replaced. The contact stated that one week after the repair, the message returned, and the contact was informed that the upper coolant hose was defective. The contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty and the contact paid for the repair. After the second repair, the contact stated that the failure returned and there was coolant leaking from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #11633671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On October 22 while driving home from work my vehicle warning notified me to refill coolant. This was the first time I received the notification so I immediately took the vehicle to BMW. The service advisors checked the coolant level which was indeed low. The service advisor was also able to point out the smell of coolant and evidence of dried up coolant leaking unto the engine. I scheduled an appointment immediately to have the problem thoroughly inspected. The water pump was leaking at the seals which could cause overheating and a potential engine fire. After the official inspection I was informed that my water pump/carrier assembly was leaking at seals and would need to be completely replaced. My water pump needing to be changed was alarming considering my vehicle is well maintained and only 42000 miles. I am also aware of the recent recall with BMW water pumps issues.
NHTSA complaint #11625717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle has been re[aired for cooling system problems multiple time by BMW dealer. Now that the vehicle is approximately 90 days outside of warranty a cooling system leak has arisen with the engine oil cooling interface. On-line there is mention of this issue with the B46 Engine which is in this vehicle developing coolant leaks. The repairs are very expensive for this apparently well know issue.
NHTSA complaint #11618522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle was vandalized and the vandalism targeted the electrical, mechanical and the seat belts in the back. I reported cyber violence and stalking in 2023 to BMW, and my finance company Ally and at the beginning of 2024 my car overnight started leaving puddles oil and the entire electrical system would shut down (and it still does) as I'm driving with my seven year old child with autism. The seat belts are severely destroyed and my seven year old is not strong enough to push them down to the point where a safety belt cannot be latched. I contacted Gieco and they told me to take it to Caliber Collision on Cottman Ave as the vandalism did impact some body work but not much and the collision center took the vehicle to BMW of the Mainline in PA. First - Caliber Collision did not communicate the information I provided to them to BMW of the Mainline. Second- I contacted BMW of the mainline as I did not receive pictures and photos of the work they completed and did not complete Thirst - BMW of mainline stated that all the electrical and. mechanical issues were all attributed to wear and tear and that is blatant deception I have tried to work with Geico, Caliber and Geico to get this resolved but my car is dangerous to drive, and the people that were paid to do the work paid for by Geico failed and gave me back a vandalized car that is dangerous for me and my seven. year old to be in let alone drive on highways or anywhere we go. I reported BMW of the Mainline to BBB and I don't know what to do or where to take it because Geico closed the claim, refused to pay for additional days of rental and BMW of the Mainline refused to provide a loaner leaving me with a child and no car. There is anti-freeze that burning and another dealership said they can smell it, my son cannot be safely and securely belted in the backseat, I'm loosing a great deal of gas all the time and I have no idea how, and the car right after I got it back from BMW of Mainline began to shutter.
NHTSA complaint #11586293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.