A 2004 BMW 5-SERIES SEDAN. BMW IS RECALLING MORE THAN 367,000 5- AND 6-SERIES CARS IN THE U.S. FROM THE 2004-10 MODEL YEARS. / BMW

PARK CARS OUTSIDE UNTIL BATTERY CABLE FIXED, BMW

U.S. safety regulators and BMW say owners of some 5- and 6-series cars should park them outside until a battery cable problem can be fixed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that BMW is recalling more than 367,000 of the cars in the U.S. from the 2004-10 model years. A battery cable connector can loosen in the trunk and overheat. In extreme cases, it could lead to a smoldering fire in a trunk floor mat, according to documents posted on NHTSA's website.

The U.S. recall is part of a larger one announced Monday by the German automaker that affects 1.3 million cars worldwide. BMW spokesman David Buchko said the company knows of only one fire in the U.S. related to a loose battery cable. No injuries have been reported from the problem, he said, adding that the recommendation to park the cars outside is merely a precaution.

"We've got one known case of actual fire here in the U.S., having sold 367,000 cars," he said.

The recall affects 5-series sedans and sports wagons, as well as the 6-series coupe and convertible. Most of the cars in the recall are 5-series sedans. In 2010, the last model year affected by the recall, BMW sold almost 39,000 of the cars, according to Autodata.

According to NHTSA documents, BMW found out there was a problem in 2006 when unspecified incidents were reported in Germany and Sweden. The company said in a letter to NHTSA that it investigated but couldn't identify a cause. There were incidents in the U.S. in April and November 2009 and May 2011. Those were investigated and no cause was found.

In April last year, a task force was set up to investigate further. On March 12, tests pointed to a connector in the trunk that links battery cables.