BMW recalls over 720,000 vehicles for water pump issue that may cause fire

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a recall notification for over 720,000 BMW vehicles over a water pump malfunction that may cause a fire. 
BMW is recalling 720,796 of its 2012-2018 vehicles. Some of the recalled vehicles include the BMW X1, X3, X4 and X5. In the NHTSA report released on Aug. 19, the luxury vehicle company said, “an improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.” An electrical short increases the risk of a fire, the NHTSA report said. 
To fix the issue, BMW dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary and install a protective shield for free. Recall notification letters are expected to be sent on Oct. 4. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. 
Recalled BMW vehicles:  
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Earlier this month, BMW issued a recall for over 105,588 crossovers and sedans due to increased risk of fire, the NHTSA report said.  
According to the report that was posted on Aug. 7, issues with the starter motor can prevent the car from starting, cause electrical overload and lead to overheating which may catch other engine components on fire. 
Some of the affected vehicles may experience issues starting up due to a failure of the starter motor. Repeated attempts at stating the vehicle can cause the motor to overheat due to an electrical overload, potentially catching combustible materials in the engine compartment and increasing the risk of fire. 
For free, BMW dealers will update the vehicle software. Recall notification letters are expected to be deeliveered by Sept. 23. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. 
Recalled BMW vehicles:  
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge , USA TODAY.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.