Some of BMW's 5-Series are the target of the maker's latest safety recall, involving 1.6 million vehicles around the world.
BMW is recalling 1.6 million vehicles around the world, including 54,700 in the U.S. and Canada, due to a potential fire hazard.
The action is really an expansion of an earlier recall of 480,000 vehicles in Europe and Asia. In the affected vehicles a fluid leak could cause a fire. More than 40 fires were reported in South Korea.
In fact, the South Korean government recommended owners of the affected vehicles stop driving them until they could be repaired. Police raided the automaker’s office in Seoul while investigating the issue, after videos of cars engulfed by fire went viral.
According to BMW, some diesel vehicles experience a coolant leak from the exhaust gas recirculation module, part of the emissions reduction system. The leaks could combine with soot at high temperatures and lead to a fire.
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The Munich-based company said no injuries have been reported, but after further inspection and review, the company elected to expand the action.
The recall covers vehicles with diesels with four- and six-cylinder enginesmade between 2010 and 2017; a company statement said that customers with affected cars would be contacted shortly about what to do.
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Last November, the automaker recalled 1 million 3 Series vehicles due to a fire risk. BMW partially blamed an increase in warranty provisions for a cut in its full-year profit forecasts last month.