BMW Tells Owners of 29,000 Hybrids to Park Outside Due to Fire Hazard

, warning owners to stop parking in garages or near structures until a dangerous battery issue is fixed. The problem involves a potential short circuit that could cause the engine compartment to catch fire, even when the car is turned off. The company says the safest move is to keep these cars outdoors and away from buildings until repairs are complete.

The recall affects certain 2020 through 2024 models, including the 330e, 530e, 740e, X3 xDrive30e, and X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrids. BMW says the root cause is debris that can enter the battery pack during manufacturing, which may lead to an internal short. So far, the automaker has received a handful of reports of thermal events, where batteries overheat and ignite, but no injuries have been reported.

Owners will start receiving letters in late October.

For now. BMW dealers are advising customers to park outside and not charge the vehicles until the fix is applied. The repair involves replacing the entire high-voltage battery pack at no cost. If you own one of these models, check your VIN on BMW’s recall site or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s database.

And if you’ve been keeping your hybrid in the garage, it’s time to move it to the driveway.