The German automotive group BMW is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles from several model series worldwide, reports Handelsblatt citing the dpa agency.
The industry publication "kfz-Betrieb" claimed that the recall involves 575,000 cars, but the automaker did not confirm this information.
Checks revealed that the magnetic switch may wear significantly after numerous engine starts, which poses risks for starting the vehicle, or could lead to a short circuit and localized overheating of the starter.
"In the worst case, this could lead to the vehicle catching fire while it is in operation. In this case, smoke may be visible or detectable by smell while driving or when exiting the vehicle," BMW stated.
They advised not to leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
