German carmaker BMW has announced the recall of several tens of thousands of vehicles after identifying a malfunction that could affect steering systems, according to regulatory authorities.

In total, BMW will recall 36,922 vehicles in the United States following a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The issue involves a potential steering defect that could cause the steering wheel to move involuntarily when the vehicle is stationary.

According to the US road safety agency, although the malfunction occurs while the vehicle is at a standstill, it nonetheless poses a safety risk to drivers and passengers. The NHTSA notes that any abnormal behaviour of the steering system—even outside active driving conditions—can become an aggravating factor in certain situations, particularly during parking manoeuvres or when restarting the vehicle.

At this stage, authorities have not released exhaustive details regarding the specific models affected or the precise technical origin of the defect. It has, however, been confirmed that BMW will carry out the necessary repairs in line with standard recall procedures in order to address the identified issue.

This latest episode comes at a time when automakers are grappling with the growing complexity of steering and driver-assistance systems, which increasingly rely on electronics and automated components. Even premium brands are not immune to recalls, which US authorities routinely initiate as soon as a potential risk is detected.

For owners of the vehicles concerned, repairs will be covered by the manufacturer under the terms set out in the recall campaign.