MG Rover has recalled 5,809 Mini Classic cars due to potential rear wheel bearing failures.

The cars affected by the recall were built between August 1996 and January 1999. All of the cars are registered in the United Kingdom. Production of the Mini Classic ended in 2000.

A spokesman for MG Rover said there had been "a couple of dozen" situations where water seeped past the seals, contaminated the grease and damaged the rear wheel bearings. The Mini Classic is a front-drive vehicle.

The company said owners would feel significantly increased noise and vibration before the bearings eventually failed, but MG Rover officials decided to make the recall in order to ease customer concerns.

MG Rover dealers will replace the rear wheel bearings and seals.

The Mini Classic is not related to the entirely new Mini being manufactured by BMW AG. When BMW sold the Rover Group, it retained the Mini brand.