I AM A MEMBER OF THE BMWCCA AND A BMW AUTOMTIVE ENTHUSIAST. I HAVE NOTICE FOR MANY YEARS THE OCCURANNCE OF A COMMON FAILURE IN E36 AND E46 BODY STYLES - FOR ALL YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THE REAR SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED AT FOUR MOUNTING LOCATIONS TO THE UNIBODY. THE UNIBODY IS NOT REINFORCED AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS. FAILURES HAVE O…
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I AM A MEMBER OF THE BMWCCA AND A BMW AUTOMTIVE ENTHUSIAST. I HAVE NOTICE FOR MANY YEARS THE OCCURANNCE OF A COMMON FAILURE IN E36 AND E46 BODY STYLES - FOR ALL YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THE REAR SUBFRAME IS ATTACHED AT FOUR MOUNTING LOCATIONS TO THE UNIBODY. THE UNIBODY IS NOT REINFORCED AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS. FAILURES HAVE OCCURED WHERE THE UNIBODY SHEET METAL CRACKS AND IN MANY CASES THE REAR SUBFRAME IS RIPPED FROM THE CAR. IN GERMANY, BMW HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO REINFORCE THE SUBFRAME ATTACHMENT POINTS. I FEEL IT IS TIME THAT BMW TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM IN THE USA. PLEASE HELP. THIS PROBLEM WILL WORSEN AS THESE CARS AGE AND WILL EVENTAULLY CAUSE FATALITIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS - I CAN PROVIDE NUMEROUS PHOTOS FORM CLUB MEMBERS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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