CAPE TOWN, July 10 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's National Consumer Commission (NCC) has announced a recall of more than 10,000 BMW vehicles over a potential defect affecting the starter system that could prevent the engine from starting or cause overheating.
The recall, notified by BMW South Africa, affects a total of 10,961 vehicles, including BMW 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3 and X4 models, sold in South Africa since 2016.
According to a statement issued Thursday by the NCC, the supplier identified a production-related problem affecting vehicles equipped with the Pinion Starter, in which increased wear of the solenoid switch may occur after a high number of start operations.
"As a result, the engine's starting capability deteriorates. Under certain circumstances, the engine may no longer be able to start. In addition, a short circuit in the solenoid switch cannot be ruled out, which may lead to local overheating at the starter," the NCC quoted the supplier as saying.
The NCC urged owners of the affected vehicles not to use the "Remote Engine Start" function via the My BMW App or the remote-control key until the repair has been completed.
The commission also advised consumers to visit their nearest authorized BMW dealership to arrange an inspection and repair, adding that all corrective work related to the recall would be carried out free of charge. ■