BMW has issued a recall notice for over 14,000 electric vehicles due to a software malfunction that could result in a loss of power and an increased risk of a crash. The recall affects certain iX SUVs, i4 and i7 sedans that were produced between October 14th, 2021, and October 28th, 2022. The problem lies with the high-voltage battery electronic control unit and the automaker is urging affected customers to bring in their vehicles for a software update as soon as possible.
BMW detected the issue via its own internal quality control procedure, and no accidents, collisions, or injuries have been reported as a consequence of the recall.
BMW owners may continue to drive their cars while a software update is being developed to address the issue, according to the company. Dealerships will deliver the update free of charge, and letters will be sent to affected owners’ cars next month advising them to bring their vehicles in for a repair.
This is the second recall for BMW’s new electric vehicle series in less than a year. The carmaker recalled a “limited number” of 2022 i4 cars and iX SUVs last summer owing to the potential of battery fires.
Recall notifications have increased in tandem with EV sales. Ford recalled 49,000 Mustang Mach-E SUVs last summer due to worries that a safety flaw may make the car immobile. When it was found that loose hub nuts might cause the wheels to become detached while driving, the Toyota bZ4X was recalled. Tens of thousands of Tesla cars have been recalled, most recently due to malfunctioning backlights. Other electric vehicles have also been recalled due to software problems and other minor difficulties.
