BMW is the latest automaker to issue a recall for some of its electric vehicles. It has identified a problem with the battery-management software for the traction batteries in some i4 and i7 sedans, as well as some iX SUVs, that could result in a car temporarily losing power. Consequently, it wants to update the software in those cars’ battery-electronic control units.
The problem was first brought to BMW’s attention last June with a report from a Chinese BMW that experienced a drivetrain warning light in one of its EVs. This was traced to the high-voltage battery ECU, at which point BMW started investigating the problem. By late November, it had identified 10 warranty cases in the US involving a temporary loss of power.
By this time, BMW’s engineers decided that the problem had the potential to occur in other vehicles, and in mid-December BMW decided to issue a recall.
BMW is recalling 14,086 EVs, though it believes that only 1 percent of those cars would be affected by the problem. Specifically, it’s recalling 5,389 iXs built between February 4, 2021, and October 28, 2022; 8,659 i4s built between March 17, 2021, and October 26, 2022; and 38 i7s built between February 22, 2022, and October 27, 2022.
The fix involves updating the battery ECU software, but there’s no over-the-air update; BMW is having this work performed by dealers and will be contacting owners in early February.
Credit: Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica. Jonathan is the automotive editor at Ars Technica, covering all things car-related. Jonathan lives and works in Washington, D.C.