BMW Recalls 720,000+ Vehicles in Canada: Water Pump Fire Risk, Park Outside

NHTSA has issued recall campaign 26V733 for 720,796 BMW vehicles sold in North America, including Canadian registrations. The defect: an improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump can be exposed to water, creating a short-circuit that increases the risk of a fire. BMW has instructed owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is completed. This recall replaces the earlier NHTSA campaign 24V608, meaning vehicles already repaired under the prior recall will need the updated fix.

Which models are affected

The recall covers a wide range of BMW models built between 2012 and 2018:

• 2012–2016 3 Series, 5 Series, and Z4
• 2012–2015 X1, 2013–2017 X3
• 2015–2016 4 Series Gran Coupe, 2 Series Convertible
• 2014–2016 328xi Gran Turismo, 2 Series Coupe
• 2015–2018 X4
• 2016–2018 X5 xDrive40e (the plug-in hybrid variant)

What the fix involves

The corrective action is still under development as of November 2026. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in December 2026. VINs involved in the recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 25, 2026. Owners can also check their VIN through BMW's customer service line at 1-800-525-7417.

What Canadian owners should do now

Until the remedy is available, the interim safety instruction is clear: park outside and away from structures. This is the same guidance NHTSA issues for battery-fire-risk recalls (park outside, not in garages or near buildings). If you own one of the affected models — particularly the X5 xDrive40e plug-in — this is the single most important step you can take tonight. The X5 xDrive40e is a plug-in hybrid, so the water-pump connector issue sits near both the gasoline engine and the high-voltage battery system, making the fire risk particularly relevant for home-garage parking.

Canadian context

BMW Canada sells the full range of affected models through its dealer network. The 2016–2018 X5 xDrive40e is the most relevant plug-in hybrid in the recall for Canadian EV and PHEV owners. If your vehicle was previously repaired under recall 24V608, BMW will require the new remedy to be completed as well — do not assume the earlier fix covered this updated safety issue. Watch for the December 2026 notification letter and check NHTSA.gov with your VIN once the searchable database goes live.

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