Mini Recall: BMW Recalls Nearly 90,000 Minis Over Fire Risk
BMW announced a worldwide Mini recall, citing a familiar fault that could potentially spark engine fires.
BMW's Mini recall affects more than 235,000 vehicles worldwide, including about 89,000 Mini Coopers in the United States, Motor Trend reports. The recalled Minis are equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine, according to Motor Trend.
BMW blames a computer circuit board that controls the turbocharger cooling system. If the circuit board fails, the water pump can start to smolder, according to CNN. So far, this has happened to 81 Mini vehicles worldwide.
In one case, the circuit board problem somehow sparked an engine fire in a Mini vehicle in the United Kingdom, BBC News reports. No one has been hurt, and no accidents have been reported.
The Mini recall affects the following models:
- 2007-11 Mini Cooper S,
- 2008-11 Clubman,
- 2009-11 Cooper S Convertible,
- 2011 Countryman,
- 2009-11 Mini John Cooper Works (JCW),
- 2009 Clubman JCW, and
- 2010-11 Mini JCW Convertible.
BMW plans to send letters to affected customers, and will offer to replace the vehicles' water pumps for free at a Mini dealership, BBC News reports.
Similar problems with turbocharged engines were also blamed in a recall of BMW and Rolls-Royce cars last year, according to CNN. BMW recalled about 32,000 vehicles in October, and also pledged to replace the vehicles' water pumps for free.
The Mini recall is set to begin in February, Motor Trend reports. Meantime, BMW has set up a toll-free hotline, 1-866-275-6464, to answer Mini owners' questions.
Related Resources:
- BMW Recalls Almost 90,000 MINIs for Fire Risk (MSN)
- Car and Vehicle Defects and Recalls (FindLaw)
- Browse Motor Vehicle Defects Lawyers by Location (FindLaw)
- Can I Sue After a Recall? (FindLaw's Injured)