BMW owners urged to act as nearly 11 000 vehicles recalled
The NCC announced the safety recall, saying 10 961 BMW vehicles sold in South Africa from 2016 onwards are affected.
BMW South Africa has recalled nearly 11,000 vehicles after a defect affecting the starter motor was found to pose a potential overheating and fire risk.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) announced the safety recall, saying 10 961 BMW vehicles sold in South Africa from 2016 onwards are affected.
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The recall applies to selected BMW 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3 and X4 models fitted with a Pinion Starter.
According to the NCC, BMW identified a production-related defect that could cause increased wear of the starter’s solenoid switch after repeated engine starts.
“This may result in deterioration of the engine’s starting capability. Under certain circumstances, the engine may no longer be able to start,” the commission said.
More seriously, BMW warned that a short circuit in the solenoid switch cannot be ruled out.
In such a case, local overheating at the starter may occur. Smoke may be visible or noticeable while driving or after leaving the vehicle.
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As a precaution, BMW recommends that affected vehicles should not be left unattended immediately after the engine has been started.
Remote start should not be used
Owners of affected vehicles have also been urged to avoid using the “Remote Engine Start” function through the My BMW App or the vehicle’s remote-control key until repairs have been completed.
Consumers should instead contact their nearest authorised BMW dealership to arrange an inspection.
BMW said all corrective work will be carried out free of charge.
Motorists can also check whether their vehicle is included in the recall through BMW South Africa’s online recall checker.
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List of recalls continues
The BMW announcement is the latest in a series of vehicle safety recalls issued by the NCC in recent weeks.
Just days ago, the commission announced two separate recalls involving Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.
The latest involved selected Jaguar F-PACE, Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar models over a faulty engine component that could cause an oil leak, creating a hazard for other road users, particularly motorcyclists.
That followed another Jaguar Land Rover recall relating to a potential defect in the driver’s airbag connector, which could prevent the airbag from deploying in a crash.
Other recent recalls have included Ford Transit and Tourneo Custom vehicles due to faulty windscreen wipers, several Jeep Grand Cherokee models for suspension and seat belt defects, Hino trucks for fuel system and instrument cluster faults, and Hyundai Tucson SUVs for a software issue that could trigger unintended emergency braking.
ALSO READ | NCC issues recall for Hino trucks over fuel leak risk
The NCC has urged motorists to respond promptly to safety recalls to ensure their vehicles are inspected and repaired before defects lead to accidents or injuries.
Consumers can check if their vehicle is affected by the safety recall by visiting the BMW safety portal.
