BMW recalls 235,000 fire-prone Minis

by Steven Mostyn - Jan 17 2012, 07:30

Disproving the old adage that all good things come in small packages, German vehicle manufacturer BMW has this week issued a sizable product recall affecting some 235,535 units of its compact Mini.

The recall has been announced, according to BMW, because of a possible fault within the water pump that could potentially lead to the outbreak of fire within the engine compartment.

A spokeswoman for BMW said the problem was “a pretty serious issue” and that the company is already in the process of notifying its customer base to the possible danger.

With almost 89,000 units earmarked in the United States alone, affected models include standard Minis and Mini Coopers produced between 2007 and 2011.

Completion of the aforementioned notification is expected before the close of February, and all vehicles subject to the recall will receive a corrected water pump without owners incurring any charge.

In an official letter to the NHTSA, BMW explained that the water pump, which is meant to reduce heat produced by the engine’s turbocharger, could malfunction due to a fault within its electronic circuitry.

If left untreated, this fault could then lead to instances of overheating, smoldering, and potentially an actual engine fire.

Around the Web