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Vehicle recall R/2026/054

BMW X3 and others recall: Replace the Engine Starter Motor

DVSA recall R/2026/054 names the BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, BMW 3 Series, BMW 4 Series, BMW Z4 and 3 more BMW models. It was launched 2 March 2026. It covers vehicles built 18 August 2020 to 5 May 2025.

Recall data updated

Recall
R/2026/054
Launched
2 March 2026
Issued by
BMW
Manufacturer reference
0012650600/0012660600/0012670600/0012680600/0012770600/0012790600
Vehicles
51,053 across the lines below

What can go wrong

The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.

The fix

On the affected vehicles the starter motor will be replaced with a variant by another supplier with a different design. Until the repair has been completed it is recommended to not leave the vehicle running unattended after starting the engine.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. Vehicle numbers are DVSA figures for each line.
ModelBuiltVehicles
BMW 2 Series (2 SERIES COUPE)18 December 2020 to 29 April 20247,500
BMW 3 Series (3 SERIES SALOON)18 September 2020 to 29 April 202517,128
BMW 3 Series (3 SERIES TOURING)18 September 2020 to 9 April 20256,876
BMW 4 Series (4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE)23 September 2020 to 25 April 20253,766
BMW 4 Series (4 SERIES COUPE)18 August 2020 to 25 April 20255,987
BMW 4 Series (4 SERIES GRAN COUPE)16 April 2021 to 5 May 20255,743
BMW 5 Series (5 SERIES SALOON)30 October 2020 to 2 June 20239
BMW 6 Series (6 SERIES GT)28 July 2021 to 19 January 20233
BMW X328 September 2020 to 29 May 20241,540
BMW X426 April 2021 to 6 October 20224
BMW X57 May 2021 to 19 June 20212
BMW Z42 September 2020 to 16 April 20252,495
Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

  • R/2026/092 Checking and re-securing the air-conditioning wiring harness 17 March 2026, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW M5
  • R/2025/327 Replace the Driver’s Airbag - Takata PSDI-5 12 January 2026, BMW 1 Series, BMW X3, BMW X1 and others
  • R/2025/349 Takata Driver and/or Passenger Airbag Recall (Global VINs) 18 December 2025, BMW 3 Series, BMW X5, BMW X6 and others
  • R/2025/535 Programming Control Units (Steering Gear) 9 December 2025, BMW X3
  • R/2026/075 Program control units (CoC documents) 28 November 2025, BMW 5 Series
  • R/2026/262 Reworking the PVC Seam in the Rear Light Housing 1 July 2026, BMW 2 Series

More on these models

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources