The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4.4I SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, ABRASION PARTICLES COULD DEPOSIT ON THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITHIN THE SWITCH, CAUSING A DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT THROUGH THE CONTACTS. IF THE DISRUPTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE NEUTRAL OR PARK POSITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SWITCH AUTOMATICALLY INTO THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM, WHICH IS DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER VIA A WARNING LAMP AND A MESSAGE, "TRANS. FAIL-SAFE PROG." IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN IN LOWER GEARS ONLY WITH LIMITED ENGINE OUTPUT.
The risk
IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN TRAFFIC AND/OR ACCELERATE COULD BE GREATLY DIMINISHED, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW X5 | 2000, 2001 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X5 | 2000 | 29 | 6 |
| BMW X5 | 2001 | 160 | 12 |
Other power train recalls in 2001
20 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the power train; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 01V362000 29 Nov 2001 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 01V339000 2 Nov 2001 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES |
| 01V335000 25 Oct 2001 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 01V334000 17 Oct 2001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V309000 1 Oct 2001 | CHANCE COACH, INC. |
| 01V296001 21 Sept 2001 | INDEPENDENCE MOTORCYCLE CO. |
| 01V283000 5 Sept 2001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V274000 28 Aug 2001 | WARRICK INDUSTRIES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001