Faulty Cables, Oil Leaks Call for Major BMW Recalls

Leaking brake hoses and faulty battery cable connectors have led to a major recall effort from BMW covering more than 600,000 vehicles sold in the United States and Canada. Announced over the weekend and filed through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the two separate recalls cover BMW’s supremely popular 3-Series line, along with some 1-Series and Z4 sports car models, and the X5 SUV.

Included in the battery connector recall are more 570,000 3 series sedans, wagons, convertibles, and coupes from the 2007 to 2011 model years, and also the 1 series coupe and convertible from 2008 and 2012 and the Z4 sports car from 2009 to 2011. The trouble stems from faulty cable connectors and fuse box terminals which can degrade over time, causing a break in the electrical connection between the trunk-mounted battery and the fuse box located at the front. With this break in power, vehicles could lose all electrical power, and engines can also stall unexpectedly. During their investigation, BMW discovered that movement between the two parts led to the increased deterioration.

To date, just one minor accident has been reported as a result, though the potential for serious danger is substantial. If a vehicle’s engine were to stall on the highway or on an inclined mountain road for example, the threat of an accident would be dangerously high. To remedy the issue, BMW will instruct owners of affected vehicle to find a dealership where a technician will replace the battery cable and securely fasten it into place at no cost. Notices will be sent starting in March. With over 100,000 vehicles sold in the US last year, the 3-Series line is one of the most popular small luxury offerings on the market today; correcting potential safety defects is therefore essential for the continued success of the German automaker.

Also recalled are more than 30,000 X5 SUVs over an oil leak that could kill power to the vehicle’s power assisted braking system. Found on models from the 2007 through 2010 model years with the eight cylinder engine option, a small amount of oil was found to have the potential to leak from an improperly installed hose, leading to a failing of the system. Without this system in place, drivers could find themselves in situations without the space needed to come to a safe stop, leading to rear end accidents, or rolling into an intersection or through a stop sign. Again BMW will offer a free fix of the issue to owners of affected vehicles, replacing the faulty brake vacuum line hose with a newer one without the propensity to leak; owners will start to receive notification later this month.

For more information about either recall effort, owners are encouraged to contact BMW’s customer service line, or the NHTSA’s vehicle recall hotline for a more thorough explanation of the recall dangers and potential risks. To save on production costs, many auto makers will use the same components across a number of different vehicle lines, rather than designing them particularly for each vehicle. Out of these standardized components, issues like oil leakages can surface. Many of the largest manufacturers in the industry, including Toyota, General Motors, and Mercedes Benz have been forced to issue recalls as a result of these common parts in recent months, drawing their cost saving benefits into question.