BMW M3: Side/window

Date

Nov. 15, 1999

Filed by

Bayerische Motoren Werke

Vehicles

BMW M3 (1997, 1998, 1999)

Manufacturer of the vehicles

BMW of North America, LLC

Component

Air Bags › Side/Window

Description of the defect

Vehicle description: passenger Vehicles. These Vehicles Are Built with a Side Air bag System consisting of Door-mounted thorax Air bags (Rear Door Air bags Are optional), a Central Electronic sensor And diagnostic System, left And Right satellite impact sensors, And associated wiring. This System is unduly sensitive to certain non-crash impacts, such as contacting large potholes or curbs at substantial Speed.

Potentially affected

16749

What can happen

This could cause The Side Air bag to deploy without an actual Side crash. In addition, The battery Safety terminal (BST) could also activate, disconnecting The starter Cable from The battery. In this case, The Vehicle's electrical System could continue to operate And The Engine would continue to Run, but after stopping, could not be restarted.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram The Central computer Control module that regulates The Performance of All of The Vehicle's occupant Protection Systems.

Recall notes

Owner notification began February 7, 2000. Owners Who take their Vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon Service date And do not receive The Free remedy within a reasonable Time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117. Also contact The National Highway traffic Safety administration's Auto Safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Owner notification date

Feb. 7, 2000

Recall type

V (vehicle)

Influenced by

ODI

Recall number

99V063001

What should I do? Car recall: how to check your car and get it fixed

Source: NHTSA · Vehicle record. View the agency notice. The agency notice governs; check it and the company before acting.