South Korean consumers file complaint against BMW over auto blazes
  • 6 years ago
BMW Korea and its official dealer Deutsche Motors are facing a lawsuit here in Korea following a series of engine fires.
Choi Si-young has this report.

BMW Korea has recalled more than 100-thousand vehicles of 42 different models over a faulty component prone to cause a fire.

A group of Korean consumers filed a complaint at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against BMW Korea and its official dealership Deutsche Motors.
They said in a petition that the recall doesn't address the fire risk because
the carmaker promises to replace the faulty part only if they are found to be defective.
They also expressed worries over a potential delay in the process of recalling more than 100-thousand cars.
They are seeking around 45-hundred U.S. dollars each,... and could ask for more in damages in the litigation process.
"Many people are asking me about the lawsuit. I plan to continue filing a complaint week after week. It is likely that a year will pass by until the first ruling comes out."

"Shortly after the complaint was filed against BMW, more than a thousand people joined an online cafe to prepare for a lawsuit against the German carmaker, and that number is still growing."

The fire-prone faulty component called 'Exhaust Gas Recirculation' is also equipped in vehicles sold in other countries. However, according to BMW Korea, Korea registered the highest number of faulty cars, probably due to the abnormal weather conditions these days. But experts differ.

"In automobile manufacturing, hardware like an EGR component goes with software that sends commands. This software is designed differently by region and country. The software may be the error in this case."

When asked for comment on the expert's view, BMW Korea said the software is the same as the European ones, and that there is no software malfunction.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.
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