MINI has recalled 235,000 cars because of the possibility they could burst into flames.
The BMW-owned company has issued a worldwide recall notice on turbocharged petrol models produced between March 2006 and January 2011. Around 30,000 cars in the UK are affected.
The problem relates to a water pump for the turbocharger in Cooper S and JCW models. The unit's faulty electric circuit board can overheat, causing smoldering and the potential for fire.
And although it's highly unlikely that any MINI will spontaneously combust, there have been four cases of cars bursting into flames as a result of the issue – one in the UK. Nobody has been injured as a result of the problem.
VOSA is now involved, making this an official recall, and is investgating two of a total of seven reported incidents in the UK.
MINI says it is in the process of sending letters to all affected owners, but that anyone concerned can take their car to a dealership now to have the offending circuit board replaced free of charge.
This is not the first time that MINI has suffered an unwanted pyrotechnic adventure: some first-generation BMW-era MINIs were blighted by power steering pumps with the same circuitry problem, leading to smoldering parts, but no fires.
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