BMW Recalls More Than 32,000 Cars Because of Fire Hazard

Some defects can be extremely dangerous. Recently, we reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that 1.1 million pickup trucks needed to be recalled due to faulty metal straps that secure the trucks' gas tanks. The straps could rust when exposed to salt and chemicals used to remove snow and ice from roads, causing the gas tank to fall off, rupture or even catch fire.

The potential dangers of faults in cars or trucks were graphically and tragically illustrated by a recent accident in which a 2011 Chevy Traverse ignited on I-64 in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), killing a man and injuring his wife and young child.

The last year has been a tough one for the automobile industry. The most high profile recalls have been those of Toyotas; 2.4 million were recalled in March, 2011 alone, and wrongful death cases are proceeding.

DM