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BMW of North America will recall almost 50,000 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce vehicles suffering from faulty water pumps that can potentially cause fires.
The Westwood, New Jersey-based manufacturer sent a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stating they will recall 47,806 2011-2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 BMW 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid, 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 2012 BMW 650i xDrive Coupe, 2012 BMW 650i Convertible, 2012 BMW 650i xDrive Convertible, 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S Convertible, 2011-2012 Mini JCW Convertible, 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman, 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4, 2011-2012 BMW 750i, 2011-2012 BMW 750Li, 2011-2012 BMW 750i xDrive, 2011-2012 BMW 750Li xDrive, 2011-2012 BMW 760Li, 2011-2012 BMW X5 xDrive50i, 2011-2012 BMW X6 xDrive50i, 2011-2012 BMW ActiveHybrid7, 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S, 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman, 2011-2012 Mini JCW Clubman, 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S Roadster, 2011-2012 Mini JCW Roadster, 2011-2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost and 2011-2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe vehicles built between Aug. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2011.
The affected vehicles contain electric auxiliary water pumps controlled by an engine control unit. The water pump conducts heat away from the turbocharger after the engine switches off. However, that heat can cause the water pump’s circuit board to malfunction, overheating the board and making it smolder. This can catastrophically damage the water pump and increase crash risk.
BMW inspected a 2011 Mini Cooper S in October 2017 exhibiting water pump problems similar to previous recalls issued in 2011 and 2012. The affected vehicle was not included in those recalls. Throughout November and December 2017 the company reviewed field data, while receiving an additional report of a 2011 BMW 550i xDrive vehicle suffering water pump problems.
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BMW’s engineers concluded despite changes made following the previous recalls, the pumps still experienced “electro-migration” leading to problems. They decided on April 11, 2018 to conduct a safety recall.
Until repairs are complete, BMW recommends owners park their vehicles outdoors.
BMW will notify owners and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available. Not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. BMW owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.