While General Motors and Toyota have always been number one when it comes to vehicle recalls, German automakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW are not far behind. Both of these major manufacturers are recalling a huge number of vehicles for issues which are minor but can lead to major consequences in case of any untoward incident. Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 2,84,00 vehicles in the US and Canada while its chief rival BMW is recalling around 1,56,000 vehicles in the States.
Mercedes is recalling its vehicles after discovering a fault with the bulb connectors in the rear tail light assemblies of its vehicles. The models that are affected by this issue are C300, C350 and C63 AMG produced between 2008 and 2011. The problem is that the connector is prone to corrosion that can lead to failure or dimming of brake, side turn indicator or reverse lights. These failures can lead to decreased visibility at night or bad weather and increase chances of accidents if the driver behind the affected vehicle cannot see it. In the US around 2,53,000 cars are affected while in Canada around 31,000 vehicles are affected. The connectors and bulb holders will be replaced at no cost to customers.
BMW is recalling its vehicles in the US for a mechanical issue causing the engine to lose power or stall. The problem lies in the bolts that hold a camshaft housing. These bolts are prone to breakage or loosening and can lead to the vehicle losing power or stalling completely. Chances of a crash increase if this problem occurs at high speeds on the highway. 128i, 328i, Z4, 135i, 335i, 528i, 535i and 640i cars and X3, X5 and X6 SUVs are affected by this problem and they will be recalled accordingly. These bolts will be replaced at no cost to customers. BMW will also offer extended warranty to customers of some other vehicles produced from 2010 to 2012 with inline 6-cylinder engines.
