Laguna Hills, CA – October 19, 2018 – BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 BMW M3 Sedans, 2016-2017 BMW M4 and M4 GTS Coupes and 2017 BMW M4 Convertible vehicles due to potential driveshaft failure. The potential number of units affected by this recall is 2,661.
The Defect
According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, this safety recall involves an integral flange located in the driveshaft, which has insufficient long-term durability. Due to this defect, the connection between the driveshaft and the flange may loosen over time, to the point of separating completely.
Loss of connection between the driveshaft and the flange means that, then drive torque may no longer be transmitted to the rear wheels. Lack of drive torque results in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver may be alerted by noise and/or vibration from underneath the vehicle, which may increase over time and indicates the need to take the car to a dealership.
Timeline of Events
On July 9, 2018, BMW was informed of field incidents involving the driveshaft of M3 Sedan, M4 Coupe, and M4 Convertible vehicles. Drivers of these vehicles reported hearing noise, noticing vibration, and, in some cases, experiencing a loss of power. BMW subsequently requested the drive shafts in order to carry out comprehensive inspection and analysis, considering factors such as vehicle age and mileage, engine power / torque, and operating and environmental conditions.
By late August, preliminary analyses suggested the integral driveshaft flange was the faulty part, and in September, further in-depth analyses were conducted taking into account vehicle construction, engine type, driveshaft design/build configuration history, and drive train geometry. Once individual case assessments were completed, these engineering analyses concluded that the integral flange may not have been produced with sufficient long-term durability characteristics during a specific production period, and separation from the drive shaft was a risk.
Driveshaft production records and vehicle manufacturing information were utilized to identify the quantity and production date range of potentially affected vehicles, and on October 4, 2018, BMW issued a voluntary safety recall. BMW has not received any reports or been made aware of any accidents or injuries related to this issue.
The Solution
The drive shaft, containing the integral flange, will be replaced. Owners will be notified by First Class mail and instructed to take their vehicle to an authorized BMW center to have the drive shaft replaced at no charge. This process typically takes several hours. Owners who have replaced the drive shaft at their own expense prior to the recall notification may be eligible for reimbursement according to BMW Group’s reimbursement plan. The recall is expected to begin December 3, 2018; owners will be notified and advised whether or not their local dealership has available parts for the repair. If not, a second letter will advise owners when parts become Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-713.