2008 BMW 5 Series

The 2008 BMW 5 Series has 3 recalls, the most serious being two separate fire risks: a battery cable connector that can overheat and ignite even while the car is parked, and a crankcase ventilation valve heater that can short and catch fire while driving or shortly after.

The battery cable issue stems from a connector on the positive cable that can work loose from the trunk floor, building heat at that connection point until it overheats. Because this can happen with the ignition off, a park-outside advisory was issued for affected vehicles until the repair is made. The crankcase ventilation valve heater issue involves an electrical fault that generates enough heat to start a fire in the engine bay, either on the road or when the car is left after a drive while components are still warm.

The third recall covers the rear lighting system, where one or more rear lamp functions, including the tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, and reverse lights, can fail. Losing any of those lights means other drivers may not know the car is braking, turning, or backing up, which raises the chance of a rear-end or side collision, particularly at night when the car is also harder to see.