BMW is recalling 489,000 vehicles around the world over possible faulty bolts in some 6-cylinder engines, expanding a repair program that originated in China. BMW spokesman Bernhard Santer said that no accidents or injuries were reported tied to the defect. The recall covers 156,000 cars in North America and 232,098 units in China that were disclosed for recall in March.
Santer said that a light would alert the driver to have the engine checked, adding that the vehicle can still be driven to the nearest repair garage with lesser engine power. 6-cylinders are usually fitted in 7-series, 5-series, X3 and X5.
BMW research and development chief Herbert Diess remarked at a press conference in March that the carmaker’s data on breakdowns and guarantee services indicates vehicle quality is at “a good level.”
He said that while the number of recalls has “hardly changed” in recent years, the number of affected vehicles per recall surged. BMW chief executive Norbert Reithofer said such recall increases could become a trend in the auto industry trend due a wider standardization of technology and parts used across a range of vehicles.
