BMW car owners advised to refrain from driving cars pending safety checks

By Lim Chang-won Posted : August 3, 2018, 17:44 Updated : August 3, 2018, 17:44

[Courtesy of Gangwon Provincial Police Agency]


SEOUL -- In a rare recommendation prompted by a series of fires on the road, the South Korean government urged the owners of BMW cars to refrain from driving before they get safety checkups.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation said Friday that it would conduct a thorough investigation, urging the Germany carmaker to take a more responsible attitude and provide "all the relevant parts and technical data" necessary for the investigation.

"The government will thoroughly and transparently investigate the cause of the accidents in BMW vehicles. We will take strict action according to legal process for any issues found in this process," Minister Kim Hyun-mee said in a statement.

"Those who own related vehicles are requested to take quick safety checks and refrain from operating as much as possible until safety is secured," she said.

BMW Korea promised to provide broad rental services not only for car owners who have already sent cars to service centers but others who will follow the government's recommendation.

The company is recalling a total of 106,317 vehicles for emergency safety diagnosis and the exchange of faulty parts in EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) modules. BMW Korea officials said that due to an EGR defect, the high-temperature exhaust gas is suspected of inflowing into the intake manifold without being cooled, leading to the creation of a hole and a fire on the engine cover.

About 20 BMW car owners have filed legal suits against the German company, and many more promised to follow suit.

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