2009 BMW Z4

The 2009 BMW Z4 has 3 recalls, the most serious being an electrical fault in the crankcase ventilation valve heater that can cause internal components to melt and start a fire, even while the car is parked.

The fire risk applies whether the engine is running or has recently been switched off, so the hazard is not limited to driving situations. The crankcase ventilation system in these vehicles uses a heated valve to manage engine gases, and a short circuit in that heater can generate enough heat to ignite surrounding materials.

The third recall affects only Z4 vehicles built during a narrow window in March 2009. A faulty crimp connector inside the seatbelt tensioner wiring can develop high electrical resistance at that connection point. In a crash, the tensioner relies on that circuit to fire and pull the belt tight against the occupant's body in the first moments of impact. If the connection fails, the tensioner may not deploy at all, leaving the belt with more slack than intended and raising the risk of injury to the driver or passenger.