According to foreign media reports, the BMW Group will recall more than 70,000 electric vehicles in the United States due to a software defect in the electric motor. The failure may cause a sudden interruption of the vehicle’s power while driving, increasing the risk of accidents, and the recall involves i4, i5, i7 and iX series models.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a recall from BMW as usual, pointing out that there is a potential risk of failure of the high-voltage system of the vehicle involved. The range of recalled models includes: 2022 to 2024 i4 and iX, 2023 to 2024 i7, 2024 i5, and 2025 i4 eDrive35 and eDrive40 models.
NHTSA issued an announcement stating that the recall involves a software defect in the electric drive motor, which “may cause the high-voltage system to shut down, causing disruption of drive power.” However, NHTSA specifically pointed out that the assisted braking and steering systems are not affected by this problem. 15 to 20 seconds before the power interruption, the instrument cluster will display a red warning sign.
Image credit: BMW
Fortunately, the solution to this defect is relatively simple, with the recall statement stating that BMW “will update the electric drive motor software for owners free of charge through OTA remote upgrades or dealer offline refreshes.” BMW said that as electric vehicles become more dependent on software, OTA updates provide an efficient and convenient solution to such problems. Despite this, BMW urges owners to check the recall status of their vehicles in a timely manner to ensure driving safety.
According to BMW’s assessment, the company has received 43 warranty claims related to the failure so far, but has not received any reports of accidents or casualties as a result. Owners of affected vehicles are expected to receive a notification letter in early August. In addition, car owners can also take the initiative to log in to the NHTSA official website to check whether their vehicle is on the list of recalls.
The models involved in this recall reflect BMW’s current strategy, namelyElectric vehicleShare the platform architecture with fuel vehicles, but this strategy is about to change. Soon, BMW will use the Neue Klasse electric vehicle platform, which BMW claims will improve the charging speed and range of the vehicle, respectively.
