BMW Recalls 1.3 Million Cars: What's the Problem?

BMW has recalled 1.3 million cars worldwide due to a battery cable cover problem, which could potentially cause a fire, according to the premium car manufacturer.

The recall includes cars from the 5 and 6 series built between 2003- 2010. Some 367,000 cars have been recalled in the U.S and 290,000 cars have been recalled in Germany, according to Reuters.

In a statement, BMW warned that some battery cable covers in the boot (trunk) could have been mounted incorrectly. This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, to charring or fire.

There have been no reports of injuries due to the problem, but BMW is taking all the appropriate precautions in the situation after 9 cases of the problem were reported to the company.

Owners of the cars are being notified by BMW and should the car need repair, it will undergo a procedure that only takes 30 minutes, according to the company.

The recall comes after BMW was issued a $3 million fine from U.S safety regulators for not reporting safety defects in 16 BMW recalls in 2010, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company denied violating the law, but has since made its recall process more timely and efficient.

Many car companies have recalled cars in the past year. Toyota was hit the hardest, recalling 9 million worldwide as a result of electronic defects.