BMW recall: 367,000 U.S. cars in company’s largest recall
BMW will recall 1.3 million luxury cars, including 367,000 in the U.S., because of a potential problem with a battery cable connector.
It is BMW’s largest recall ever, company officials said, and it is big by industry standards, rivaling some of the large recalls issued by Toyota Motor Co. as it dealt with quality issues over the past two years.
The recall includes all BMW 5 Series Sedans and Sport Wagons produced between June 1, 2003, and March 31, 2010, and 6 Series Coupes and Convertibles produced between Sept. 1, 2003, and July 31, 2010.
The German automaker said the problem is with the bolt connecting the positive battery cables at the insulated bulkhead connector in the vehicle’s trunk.
“In rare cases, the insulated bulkhead connector may have been incorrectly attached to the trunk floor panel. Over time, this can lead to a loosening of the bolt connection causing various systems in the vehicle to malfunction,” BMW said.
The cable connection could overheat and cause a fire starting in the vehicle, even when it is not being driven, the company said.
BMW will mail letters to owners of the vehicles in April, asking them to take the cars to their dealer. A technician will inspect the connector. In addition, protective grease will be added to the area and the battery cable plastic cover will be replaced with a new version.
This was the second recall of a high-end German car this month.
Porsche said Monday that it will recall 2012 model year 911 Carrera S sports cars because the fuel line might come apart.
The recall involves 1,232 of the cars, which each sell for about $100,000.
The problem results from what Porsche called an “assembly error” that can cause a coolant line to knock into and release a locking mechanism on the fuel line.
“The customer may detect the odor of fuel or notice a fuel leak. This can result in engine misfiring, or cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source also could result in a fire, though no fires have occurred,” Porsche said.
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