The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says the model year 2009 vehicles were made between Oct. 1, 2008 and June 12, 2009 and are equipped with a diesel engine.
NHTSA says on its website that the vehicle's fuel-filter heater, used for heating up diesel fuel in cold temperatures, could electrically overload and become permanently activated even when the car is turned off. That could lead to a dead battery, or possibly a vehicle fire.
BMW told NHTSA that it will inform owners. Dealers will replace the fuel filter heater free of charge.
The recall is expected to begin in October.
