– A BMW water pump recall is reportedly related to a lawsuit filed over a fire in the engine compartment of a 2016 BMW X3 xDrive28i in Georgia.
The BMW lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Jennifer Lea Higdon, who was married to Timothy Sean Higdon, owner of a 2016 BMW X3.
The lawsuit over the recall of the BMW water pump
On January 22, 2025, at approximately 9 a.m., the plaintiff was getting ready to leave and went outside to start the BMW to warm it up as the weather was cold. She went back inside to grab her bag and went outside to see fire coming from the engine compartment of the 2016 BMW X3.
She screamed for her husband to call 911 and within minutes a fireball erupted from the car and spread to the house. Firefighters arrived and were told the couple was in the home to help the man down the stairs and retrieve their pets. The couple left their home with burns to their hands and faces.
“The Higdons were so severely burned that they had to be life-flighted to the Grady Burn Center in Atlanta, 100 miles away. As a result of the fire, Jennifer Higdon suffered extensive full-thickness burns covering 16% of her total body surface area, including her hands, wrists, face, eyelids, ears, neck, upper back and shoulders. She also suffered corneal abrasions and inhalation burns that required immediate intubation.” — BMW water pump recall lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, she has scars on her upper body and donor scars on her thigh as a result of skin grafting.
Her husband was also severely burned and never recovered from his wounds. He died in June 2025, with the medical examiner noting “A HOUSE FIRE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO” was among the “significant circumstances contributing to the death.”
In addition, the family lost their three dogs and two cats who died in the house fire.
According to the lawsuit, the state fire marshal concluded the fire started in the engine compartment of the BMW parked outside the Higdon’s home.
While the lawsuit does not specifically state that officials determined the engine compartment fire was caused by the water pump, the lawsuit alleges that the recalled X3 water pump was the cause.
BMW water pump recall
BMW had recalled about 720,000 vehicles in August 2024 due to water pump problems after reports of “thermal events,” including fires, which BMW called “rare.” However, dealers were unwilling to repair 720,000 vehicles BMW has issued interim recall notices (Remedy not available). to customers in October 2024 to inform them of the issues.
At that time, out of 720,000 vehicles, BMW was aware of “18 complaints, concerns and/or practices in the U.S. market that were related or potentially related to the issue identified in this report.”
Owners were told they could continue driving the vehicles and that second recall letters would be sent out once dealers were ready.
According to the lawsuit, the second (Remedy is Available) recall letters weren’t sent out until October 2025, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says definitively Recall letters for the water pump were sent in March 2025.
Regardless, the lawsuit blames BMW for not immediately repairing or replacing the recalled 2016 BMW X3 xDrive28i water pump that allegedly caused the fire.
The BMW water pump recall lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta Division): Jennifer Lea Higdon, et al., v. BMW of North America, LLC.
The plaintiffs are represented by Barnes Law Group, LLC, Fried Bonder White LLC and Amborella Law PLLC.
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