Westwood, N.J. – Feb. 22, 2017 – BMW has recalled more than 19,000 hybrid-electric models due to a serious fuel tank vent design flaw. The recall affects i3 four-door sedans with range extender engines produced between 2014 and 2017, according to a report from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The Defect

BMW i3 models in this series feature closed engine compartments. Inside, one section of the fuel tank vent line makes contact with the rubber-coated B+ battery cable. In some cases, this friction causes the fuel tank vent line to abrade, leaking flammable vapor into the engine compartment and increasing the likelihood of a fire.

Timeline of Events

In November 2016, a dealer overseas reported the issue and hypothesized that the fuel tank vent line was chafing against the nearby B+ battery cable. Engineers from the German automaker conducted expansive field tests to see if the problem was common among i3 models at other dealerships. On Jan. 17, 2017, BMW personnel reviewed collected diagnostic data and determined that the issue was indeed widespread. Engineers performed further evaluations to better understand how the fuel tank vent line might degrade over time.

Soon after, BMW surveyed manufacturing records to determine which models might be affected. On Feb. 2, the automaker began the voluntary recall process. Dealers received notification Feb. 10. No vent line-related injuries have been reported.

The Solution

BMW has ordered all dealers to inspect the fuel tank vent lines in affected models and offer replacements if necessary. Additionally, all recalled i3s are to be outfitted with clips that keep fuel tank vent lines and B+ battery cables separate and prevent chaffing. Dealers will administer the repairs free of charge. The recall is scheduled to begin April 3.

February 3, 2017 report from WSVN-TV Channel 7 News from Miami

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – Jan. 31, 2017 – BMW has announced that it will recall two motorcycle models due to defects that may result in loose rear suspension bolts. If not addressed, these issues could result in worse handling while on the road.

The Defect

BMW will recall model year 2016-2017 BMW S 1000 RR motorcycles manufactured between June 8, 2016 and Nov. 16, 2016, as well as model year 2017 BMW S 1000 R motorcycles manufactured on Oct. 12, 2016. According to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it appears that one of the bolts connecting the rear suspension deflection levers could become loose during operation. Either the bolts connecting these levers to link struts – or the bolts connecting them to rear wheel swing arms – may have been tightened improperly during the manufacturing process.

Timeline of Events

• Dec. 8, 2016 – An internal quality report from within a motorcycle assembly plant alerted BMW to the possibility that the connector bolts may not have been built properly. BMW then conducted reviews of motorcycle production records and determined the dates on which these bolts may not have been tightened according to their specifications.
• Dec. 20, 2016 – BMW determined that the problem could result in a safety issue if left undressed. Though no accidents and injuries related to the defect have been reported, the company announced a voluntary recall.

Resolution

Owners of affected motorcycles will be notified beginning in February. Loose bolts will be replaced and tightened according to specifications. This work will be done free of charge.

Improperly crimped wiring for the fuel pumps in gas tanks found in numerous BMW models may cause small fuel leaks, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drivers may notice the smell of gasoline inside their vehicles, and might also see their check engine lights turn on. In addition, the fuel pumps could stop working, causing engines to stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

The Defect

BMW is recalling 136,188 vehicles in the U.S. and 18,284 in Canada as a result of loose wiring that could cause connectors to melt, resulting in the fuel leak. The list of affected models includes the 2007-2011 X5, the 2008-2011 X6, the 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, the 2010-2011 5-Series Gran Turismo, the 2011-2012 528I, the 2011-2012 535I, the 2011-2012 550I, the 2012 640I and the 2012 650I.

Timeline

• June 2011 – BMW first learned about customer complaints of a fuel odor. Further analysis found that the evaporative fuel tank leak diagnostic system could detect the issue. BMW began to alert customers.
• September 2014 – The growing number of warranty claims related to this issue caused BMW to issue a worldwide extended warranty program, providing coverage for 10 years and unlimited mileage.
• October 2014 – BMW conducted a part recall in China for the same issue, and submitted a Part 579 report to the NHTSA, referencing the existing warranty program.
• February 2015 – BMW extended its recall to Japan. It amended the Part 579 report and resubmitted it to the NHTSA.
• June 2016 – BMW performed a service action in South Korea in response to a request from the Korean government over this issue.
• October 2016 – BMW found that the issue was still common in vehicles that had not already had their fuel delivery modules replaced. BMW conducted a voluntary recall on all vehicles that had not been repaired.

Resolution

BMW will notify all owners of the issue and offer fuel pump replacements free of charge. This will begin Dec. 5, 2016.

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. — August 02, 2016 — The M-Series represents multiple types of cars under the BMW label. This month, the automaker revealed three new “Competition” models in this line in Australia alone. In the U.S., however, BMW has put a hold on M-series deliveries to address an important rear differential problem.

As of this writing, this is not a recall and the company has yet to disclose the exact nature of the concern. A Service Information Bulletin delivered to Bimmerpost and cited by Autoblog said that 3,800 cars have been affected and the number could continue to change.

The original notice said that just 202 vehicles could be affected. The rear differential will have to be replaced in these autos, and repair instructions were said to come as they’re available. The impacted vehicles includes eight different models: including a total of five different “M” vehicles including coupes, convertibles and sedans. The manufacturing dates range from May 12 to July 6 this year.

Other recent BMW recalls have involved BMW M models. A December 14 acknowledgement addressed both the M3 and M4 models from 2015 and 2016. These vehicles were singled out for containing driveshafts with dry slip-joints that didn’t contain enough grease.

The vehicles involved in this effort were manufactured as far back as May 29, 2015, and as recently as September 11, 2015. The slip-joint issue reportedly left users at risk of a sudden stop, which could have threatened occupants. Just 42 vehicles were included in this effort, and the same action also involved a delivery halt from the manufacturer, perhaps suggesting that this newest action could lead to a recall as well.

Westwood, N.J. — July 18, 2016 — A pair of BMW recalls are addressing two separate issues in several of its models. According to Autoblog, the combined actions involve 210,161 potentially impacted units, with manufacture years spanning from 2010 to the present.

Report receipt dates for both of these recalls occurred this May, and are expected to begin this July. The company announced each recall with a corresponding press release. Neither of these problems are known to have caused any injuries as of June 15.

The first recall: Driveshaft joints

Of the two recalls, the earliest refers to a possibly ineffective driveshaft joint.  As the release stated, the front driveshaft universal joints in affected vehicles could fail if outside debris enters, possibly impacting vehicle traction or other components. As such, there are multiple possible occupant risks attached to this single concern.

Both the press release and the Part 573 Safety Recall Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said this recall will affect 21,493 possibly impacted units from the 2011 model year, with 1 percent of these estimated to have the defect. The report went even further and broke the autos down into four groups. All of these are light SUVs.

The first and largest of these includes about 13,728 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles. The second group consists of around 4,436 BMW X5 xDrive35d autos, the third involves approximately 3,300 BMW X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M units. The final of these concerns approximately 29 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid hybrid electric vehicles. Specific manufacture dates for each group vary, but all range between April and November 2010.

Despite the differences among these models, the hazard described in the report is essentially the same. Drivers should be aware of possible noises or vibrations in the front drivetrain area, since this could indicate corrosion or possible debris under the joint seal. The risk of a crash or accident is even higher in some traffic conditions, the source said.

Initial investigations into this issue started in April 2014. In July, the manufacturer began working with the NHTSA. After a rise in related consumer complaints, the company decided to officially initiate a recall in May. The original report didn’t explain the details of the remedy program, although it did state that it would involve replacing the driveshaft.

The second recall: Child restraint systems

This recall involves 188,668 potentially affected vehicles, most of which (approximately 172,984) are BMW X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i units produced between July 2, 2010 and April 14, 2016.

The other two remaining vehicle groups include about 4,032 2015-2017 BMW X3 xDrive28d vehicles and approximately 11,652 BMW X4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i units. Production dates range between March 10, 2014 and March 31, 2016 for the first of these groups, and March 3, 2014 and April 15, 2016 for the second.

In these SUVs, “excessive stresses” may damage the lower anchor bars needed child restraint systems. Users may notice the damage themselves, according to the report. If it’s present, this kind of damage could possibly lead to injury for any child passengers. To remedy the issue, the NHTSA report calls for welding a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars. Owner notification is planned for July 12.

The report did emphasize a possible difference in vehicles that could impact them in this recall: LATCH-based child restraint systems may be less likely to damage vehicle anchor bars over time as part of this concern.

Since most of the child restraint systems in the U.S. use this flexible connector, the majority of drivers may feel protected. Instead, the source connected the “European-ISOFIX-type rigid-style connector child restraint system” with this risk. This may not be the dominant model in the U.S., but it is still available here.

Westwood,NJ — May 19, 2016 — Due to air bag concerns, BMW has launched a voluntary recall to address issues that may affect deployment. On March 24, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a report of the company’s recall, which includes 6,110 vehicles. These models are all part of the company’s “7 Series,” which encompasses the BMW 740Li, 750 Li and 750 Lxi.

According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report for this case, the affected vehicles could malfunction due to a buildup of “metallic stamping particle residue.” This material could potentially short circuit the air bag modules, leaving occupants unprotected during a collision. Though the air bag would only be temporarily disabled during a short, it could theoretically be enough to cause a safety risk.

If the reset does occur, the report stated, the air bag warning lamp might also turn on, although this is not listed as a possible indicator showing a warning. The manufacturer chose to perform this voluntary recall action more than three months after the supplier warned them about possible problems with the module. The particles in the module housing can detach and hit the circuit board, leading to the possible system reset.

May 24 is the planned owner notification date. The report doesn’t go into details on the remedy program, simply saying that dealers will replace the air bag control module. A spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the effort is indeed purely precautionary and not in response to specific claims, as the company has produced 47,000 vehicles for this particular series.

The recall also has international consequences, the article added, with other vehicles recalled in China and Germany. The affected vehicles were produced between July 1, 2015 and December 11, 2015 and are all classified as “light vehicles.”