BMW Korea, the local importer and distributor of the German luxury carmaker, is voluntarily recalling more than 1,300 vehicles sold here due to defective fuel filter heaters and air bags, the government said Tuesday.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the fuel filter heater in 790 units of the 120d, 520d, X3 20d, X5 30d and X6 30d vehicles, produced in 2009, may experience an electrical overload, which can cause it to become permanently activated even when the ignition is off.

The Korean unit is also recalling another 540 units of the 318i, 320i, 325i, 330i, 325ci, 330ci, 325xi and M3 vehicles, produced in 2002, for defective air bags that may not fully inflate, the ministry said.

(jylee@heraldcorp.com)