BMW 2 Series, 3 Series, 3 Series Touring And 8 More Recall R/2026/054: Replace The Engine Starter Motor, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 2 Mar 2026
- Launched
- 51,053
- vehicles in the UK
- 0012650600/0012660600/0012670600/0012680600/0012770600/0012790600
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
BMW recalled 2 Series, 3 Series, 3 Series Touring and 8 more vehicles built between 18 August 2020 and 5 May 2025. The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The dealer will replace the starter motor with a variant by another supplier with a different design. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: Replace the Engine Starter Motor Defect: The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits. Remedy: On the affected vehicles the starter motor will be replaced with a variant by another supplier with a different design. Until the repair has been completed it is recommended to not leave the vehicle running unattended after starting the engine.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
If the fault occurs, the recall notice says it could cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior.
The Fix
The dealer will replace the starter motor with a variant by another supplier with a different design.
Are You Affected?
2 Series, 3 Series, 3 Series Touring and 8 more built between 18 August 2020 and 5 May 2025 may be included. BMW estimates 51,053 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with BMW, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with BMW.
- Book with any franchised BMW dealer, quoting the campaign code 0012650600/0012660600/0012670600/0012680600/0012770600/0012790600 or the DVSA reference R/2026/054. See how to get a BMW recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 SeriesReworking the PVC seam in the rear light housing | Urgent | R/2026/262 | |
| 5 Series, 5 Series Touring, 7 Series, 7 Series - High Security and 2 moreChecking and re-securing the air-conditioning wiring harness | Urgent | R/2026/092 | |
| 1 Series, 1 Series 3 Door Hatch, 1 Series 5 Door Hatch, 3 Series and 3 moreReplace the driver’s airbag: takata PSDI-5 | Urgent | R/2025/327 | |
| 1 Series, 1 Series 3 Door Hatch, 1 Series 5 Door Hatch, 2 Series and 22 moreTakata driver and/or passenger airbag recall (Global VINs) | Urgent | R/2025/349 | |
| X3Programming control units (Steering gear) | Urgent | R/2025/535 |
This is one of 275 BMW recalls in DVSA’s data. The BMW recall launched before it was R/2025/327 on 12 Jan 2026, for replace the driver’s airbag: takata PSDI-5. The one launched after it was R/2026/092 on 17 Mar 2026, for checking and re-securing the air-conditioning wiring harness. You can also see every BMW recall, all recalls launched in 2026 and fire risk recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2026/054, launched 2 March 2026. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.