BMW Recalls Over 1 Million Cars Over Fire Risk
German automaker BMW has issued a recall for over one million of its vehicles in North America due to issues that could increase the risk of fire.
BMW filed two different recalls with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The first recall affects the 2006–2011 BMW 3-Series vehicles, about 670,000 of which will need to be examined for a wiring issue within the heating and air-conditioning systems that may overheat.
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The consequence of this issue is that when the wiring overheats, it could cause electrical connectors to melt.
The second recall, on the other hand, covers 740,000 vehicles from the 2008 to 2011 model years. The affected vehicles include 128i, 3-Series, 5-Series, X3, X5 and Z4 models. The issue involves a rusty valve heater in the engine that could short circuit and melt.
In both issues, there is an increase in the risk of a fire, even when an affected vehicle is unmanned.
According to a BMW spokesperson, the first case involving the wiring issue involved a 2006 3-Series sedan. There have been four other cases with allegations of injuries. As for the valve heater issue, the automaker said the first reported incident was in 2009 and involved a 2007 X5. There were other incidents that followed, but no injuries or crashes were reported.
It was noted that the risk of fire due to these two issues is low, but owners of these vehicles should tread with caution.
At this time, the BMW recalls affect about a million vehicles in the United States and about 15,000 vehicles in Canada. The automaker is still monitoring the issue to determine if a recall will be expanded to other countries.
Owners can bring affected vehicles to BMW dealerships starting Dec. 18. The automaker will replace the faulty wiring and valve heater as well as other parts if necessary, free of charge.
