The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·12E029000·Announced 2012-08-10

Valeo Recalls Engine Cooling Fans for Certain BMW Models

Valeo is recalling aftermarket engine cooling fans for specific BMW models because a component may overheat and cause a fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states the defect could lead to a fire in the engine compartment, which meets the rubric criteria for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or high-risk vehicle defects.

Plain-English summary

Valeo is recalling certain aftermarket engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts. These parts were installed in model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. The recall involves 585 units.

The defect involves a metal-oxide semiconductor that may overheat due to insufficient screwing on the aluminum heat sink. This failure can cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment or an inoperative fan motor.

Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. Owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
BMW 3 SERIES, 5 SERIES, 6 SERIES, 7 SERIES
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
Valeo
Category
Vehicle — Aftermarket Parts
Hazard
Affected units
585

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (5)

  • 3 SERIES
  • 5 SERIES
  • 6 SERIES
  • 7 SERIES
  • 1 SERIES

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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