DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT A BMW. SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ON 4-26-05 SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT STARTED SMOKING. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. SOMEONE GOT IT STARTED. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME SHE TURNED IT OFF. WHEN SHE TURNED IT BACK ON VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AGAIN. SHE CALLED THE DEAL…
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DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT A BMW. SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ON 4-26-05 SHE GOT INTO THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT STARTED SMOKING. SHE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. SOMEONE GOT IT STARTED. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME SHE TURNED IT OFF. WHEN SHE TURNED IT BACK ON VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AGAIN. SHE CALLED THE DEALER, AND HE PROMISED FIX I, BUT IT NEVER WAS FIXED. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW. IT TOOK BMW 4 WEEKS TO CHECK THE CAR. SHE WAS TOLD BY BMW THE CAR WAS ONLY WORTH $1,500 AND THERE WAS $8,000 IN MINOR DAMAGES , AND OVER $10,000 IN MAJOR DAMAGES. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO GIVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. SHE CLAIMED THE DEALER WAS TRYING TO SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10133043
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 1999
Electrical System
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, THE FUSE WOULD BLOW. NO INTERIOR LIGHTING OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS, IF RAINING. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD BE OUT. TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING WRONG THE FIRST 2 TIMES. FINALLY, THE 3RD TIME, THE PROBLEM (ELECTRICAL) WAS FOUND & REPAIRED. *AK
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 ↗
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