BMW is recalling almost 570,000 cars in the U.S. and Canada because a battery cable connector could fail and cause the engines to stall, says the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall affects 3 Series sedans, wagons, convertibles, and coupes from 2007 through 2011; 1 Series coupes and convertibles from 2008 through 2012; and the Z4 sports car from 2009 through 2011. The cable connectors and a fuse-box terminal in the cars can degrade over time, which can break the electrical connection between the trunk-mounted battery and the fuse box at the front. The company says in documents sent to the NHTSA that the problem stems from movement between the battery cable and the fuse box. BMW says it knows of one minor collision in Canada due to the problem, but no injuries.
Dealers will replace the battery cable connector and secure it for free. It will start notifying owners in March. The 3-Series is BMW's most popular car in the U.S., and the company sold 99,602here in 2012. The recall affects about 504,000 cars in the U.S. and another 65,000 in Canada.
Owners can call BMW with questions at (800) 525-7417. ––Paul Duchene
