More than 70,000 electric vehicles recalled due to software error causing the vehicle to suddenly turn off the power
BMW has issued a recall for more than 70,000 electric vehicles due to a software error that can cause the vehicles to lose power while driving, posing a potential safety risk.
BMW has just announced a recall of 70,852 electric vehicles in the US due to the risk that the high voltage system can automatically shut off while the vehicle is in operation, causing the vehicle to lose power, decelerate suddenly, and increase the risk of an accident.
The affected models include: BMW i4 manufactured from 2022-2025, iX manufactured from 2022-2024, i7 manufactured from 2023-2024 and 4,674 i5s from the 2024 model year are also subject to recall.
According to a report from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the cause of this situation comes from a software error on the electric motor. Specifically, the software can "mistakenly detect a double insulation condition", which leads to the entire high-voltage system being shut down about 15-20 seconds after the warning appears. Although the steering and brakes are still working, the car will fall into a state of free-floating, posing a danger to the driver.
BMW said it began investigating the issue in 2021, initially suspecting debris getting into the electric motor. However, after extensive analysis, it determined that the software was unable to accurately distinguish between a true double insulation fault (which requires power to be cut off to prevent the risk of electric shock or fire) and a single insulation fault.
The German automaker has confirmed it has received approximately 43 warranty claims in which the vehicle lost power while traveling at speeds above 20 mph (32 km/h). However, so far there have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the defect.
To fix the problem, BMW will update the new electric motor control software via OTA (over-the-air update). Owners can also bring their vehicles to the dealer for inspection and update. Official notices will be sent to customers from August 5.
