BMW recalls charging cables over shock risk

The cable can also catch fire.

BMW has issued a recall that applies to 3,501 hybrid and electric cars registered in the United States. There is nothing wrong with the cars themselves, but the charging cable they were delivered with could shock owners -- literally.

The Munich-based firm told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it received a batch of faulty TurboCord cables from a supplier named Webasto. These cables are built with an incompatible capacitator, an issue which could cause what's described in the recall notice as a thermal event.

In other words: the cable can catch fire. It can also shock owners. The company notes it's not aware of injuries or deaths linked to the defect, however.

Faulty TurboCord cables were supplied with 3,501 cars. The list of potentially affected models includes the 2018 330e, the 2018-2019 530e, the 2018-2019 740Le, the 2018 i3, the 2019 i8, the 2018 X5 xDrive40e, and the 2018 Mini Countryman SE.

BMW will contact owners of affected cars by mail starting on November 12. They will be asked to bring the cable to the nearest dealer in order to receive a replacement free of charge. Those who have already ordered a replacement will be reimbursed.

Photo by Ronan Glon.