BMW has issued a recall for almost half a million vehicles worldwide due to engine problems, including around 156,000 sports sedans and SUVs sold in the U.S.

The recall comprises the 2010-12 1 Series, 2010-12 3 Series, 2010-12 5 Series, 2010-12 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2012 6 Series, 2010-12 X3, 2010-12 X5, 2010-12 X6 and 2010-12 Z4, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Owners have said that bolts in the vehicles' engine-control system have become loose and sometimes break, causing the "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" alert to light up on the dashboard. The issue can hurt the engine and cause the car to lose power and stall.

The carmaker said that owners can keep driving the cars unless the "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon" light comes on, in which case they should call their dealer. BMW warned that drivers shouldn't try to re-start vehicles if they stall.

The problem affects vehicles built between September 2009 and November 2011, a BMW spokesman told The Wall Street Journal. No accidents have been reported in connection with the problem.

BMW's announcement comes in the wake of Toyota's 6.4-million vehicle recall for five safety defects and the disastrous General Motors recall that has been related to more than 30 accidents and at least 13 deaths.

Automakers may be exhibiting more caution in light of the GM debacle. The carmaker has been under federal investigation to discover why ignition switch failures in millions of small cars have been overlooked for nearly a decade.

The BMW recall brings the total number of recalled vehicles issued in the U.S. this year to nearly 13 million, according to the L.A. Times. The industry as a whole could surpass 2004's record number of recalls, which came to 30.8 million. 

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