BMW recalls 22,000 luxury cars in China

Germany-based automaker BMW on Wednesday started its recall of 21771 cars in China, which is part of its move globally due to a possible brake problem.

BMW, the world's biggest premium carmaker, recalls 21383 units of the 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series vehicles made between December 14, 2010 and November 23, 2009, according to a statement from  the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) released last Friday. It also recalls 388 Rolls Royce Phantom models made between January 1, 2001 and November 30, 2009.

The brake fluid has leaked into the hydraulics, preventing pressure from building up, BMW told AQSIQ. Users may need to apply more pressure to the brake, but the brakes still work, it said.

Globally, BMW will recall some 345,000 units of the 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series vehicles and almost 6,000 Rolls Royce Phantom models could be affected by the problem, BMW spokesman Frank Strebe said three weeks ago, noting that no accidents or injuries have been reported.

In late August, BMW China recalled 5,308 imported BMW 5 series GT cars because of a defective fuel tank, which could stall the engine without warning and the engine might not restart following this flameout.