BMW’s reputation in South Korea goes up in flames

Mysterious fires risk damaging the marque’s prospects for years

Driving a plush BMW is an emblem of status among brand-conscious South Koreans. Lately, it has become a source of angst. After 40 of the German carmaker’s diesel models mysteriously burst into flames, car parks have turned them away, forcing desperate motorists to park illegally in the street. “BMW phobia” is trending on social media. Since it owned up to the defect in July, the company has recalled 106,000 vehicles in the country. In August the government banned several models from the roads. On August 30th the police raided BMW’s offices in Seoul, the capital.

South Korea is not the only country where BMW has had to recall the vehicles, which were built between 2011 and 2016, for having a faulty exhaust. In Europe it is replacing the defective part in more than 300,000 cars. read more »

Nissan Recall - Bad Ignition Switch Could Affect 166,000 Nissan Vehicles

Nissan Motor Co. said today it is is recalling about 166,000 vehicles in North America because a defective ignition switch can affect the safe operation of airbag systems when an engine closes off while driving.

On certain vehicles with a pivital ignition system, a faulty ignition switch could wear and break, permitting the ignition to inadvertently move from the "on" position to "accessory" (ACC) position while driving, if that happens, it could shut off the engine and airbag power, it could change both steering and braking boosting a risk of a crash. Additionally, in a crash, airbags will not function. read more »