BMW recalls 235,500 mini vehicles

German auto maker BMW has launched a global recall of 235,500 mini vehicles, a precautionary measure over electronic circuit boards which could reportedly overheat and cause a vehicle fire.

According to the BBC, BMW is recalling nearly 30,000 its vehicles in the UK while Reuters reported the move affected 22,000 vehicles in Germany and around 89,000 others in the U.S, without a figure on cost of the recall. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHSTA reportedly began investigating BMW's MINI Cooper S in October 2011, following reports of 12 fires from MINI owners. "The electric auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat," the NHTSA's website said, according to Reuters "The circuit board may smoulder, which could result in a vehicle fire." A spokesman for the company said BMW was unaware of accidents and injuries caused by the possible defect. According to BMW, notified owners will have their water pumps replaced free of charge, following the safety recall which begins February 2012. Last year, fuel pump problems caused BMW to recall 130,000 of its 2007-2010 vehicles and about 20,800 of its 2008 X5 crossovers.