BMW to recall 88,911 Mini Coopers over fire defect
16 Jan 2012
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is recalling 88,911 Mini Cooper cars because of a defect that causes fires, the US auto-safety regulator The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said.
The German automaker will recall its 2007-2011 Mini Cooper S, 2008-2011 Mini Cooper S Clubman, 2009-2011 Mini Cooper S Convertible and several other versions built between November 2006 and January 2011.
The circuit board on the electric auxiliary water pumps that cool the cars' turbochargers can malfunction, overheat and cause fires, said BMW. There have been 81 water pump failures and four engine fires globally since 2009.
BMW, based in Munich, has been investigating the problem since July 2009, when first report on the failure of an electric auxiliary water pump was reported, and the NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation into the issue in October last year.
BMW said it is not aware of any injuries or crashes and has offered to replace the defective auxiliary water pumps and notify owners next month.
The recall comes after the automaker last week announced that it will expand capacity at its US plant in Spartanburg by investing $900 million over the next three years.
