BMW Asks 30,000 Plug-In Hybrid Owners to Park Outside - Engine Issue, Not Battery, Sparks Concern

BMW is recalling roughly 30,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and advising owners to park them outdoors until repairs are made. The reason isn't the battery pack, as some might suspect, but a problem with a conventional engine component that could lead to a fire.

0-liter four-cylinder engine. S. safety regulators, the issue stems from an engine starter motor that can overheat if the car is repeatedly started in quick succession. In rare cases, this thermal buildup can melt nearby parts and ignite a fire, even when the vehicle is parked and turned off.

BMW says it has received no reports of crashes or injuries linked to the defect, but it has documented a small number of thermal incidents. The company is working on a software fix that will limit the starter motor's operation to prevent overheating. Until the update is available, owners are urged to park away from structures and other vehicles.

Dealers will install the software free of charge, and notification letters are expected to go out in late January.