Having already recalled 1.6 million vehicles in the rest of the world over the course of this year, it was only a matter of time before America's turn came. And it has; 44,368 diesels are set to the recalled next month.

Like we've seen elsewhere, the issue is with the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) module in diesel vehicles. A possible leak in the system means coolant could come into contact with diesel soot in the module. If the coolant is hot enough — as it would be during extended hard driving — it could cause the exhaust particles to smolder, melting the intake manifold and posing a serious fire risk.

Affected vehicles include 3, 5 and 7 Series cars and X3 and X5 SUVs with diesel engines sold since 2013. As ever, you can check any recalls issued for your vehicle on the NHTSA website, but BMW will be writing to all owners of affected vehicles with more information starting from December 17. So that's an early Christmas present to look forward to.