The positive battery cable on the engine starter may loosen, risking sparking; dealers will inspect and replace the starter if needed.
A loose positive battery cable on the engine starter has prompted BMW to recall 45 plug-in hybrids in the US: the 2018 740Le xDrive and the 2018-2020 530e and 530e xDrive (NHTSA campaign 26V695). The cable can spark, raising the risk of fire. Dealers will inspect each car and replace the starter if necessary, free of charge.
Forty-five BMW plug-in hybrids are being called back in the United States over a starter fault. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists the recall as campaign 26V695, covering the 2018 740Le xDrive and the 2018-2020 530e iPerformance and 530e xDrive.
BMW said the positive battery cable on the engine starter may loosen. According to the recall filing, a loose cable can create sparking, which increases the risk of a fire.
The fix
Dealers will check each car and, where needed, fit a new engine starter at no cost. The filing says the remedy is not an over-the-air update, and there is no park-it-outside advisory and no do-not-drive advisory.
The vehicles in this recall were previously repaired under recall 26V441.
- Owner letters are due in the post from December 11, 2026.
- Owners may contact BMW customer service on 1-800-525-7417.
- Owners will be able to look up affected VINs on NHTSA.gov from December 11, 2026.
What we know so far
- Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
- Models: 740Le xDrive (2018) and 530e in both rear- and all-wheel drive (2018-2020)
- Potential number of units affected: 45
- Component: electrical system, starter assembly
