The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DURING THE TIRE MOUNTING PROCESS ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH STANDARD (NON-SPORT) SUSPENSION AND EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITOURINGCONTACT CH95 ECOPLUS TIRES, SIZE 225/65R16 95H, HAVING DOT CODES 4001, 4101, OR 4201, THE OUTER SIDEWALL SURFACE OF THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN CUT BY A SHARP EDGE. OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME COULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION OF INFLATION PRESSURE.
The risk
CONTINUED DRIVING WITH LOW INFLATION PRESSURE IN THE TIRE COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, AND COULD IN SOME CASES RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FIVE TIRES FOR A POSSIBLE CUT IN THE SIDEWALL, AND IF A CUT IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 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 525i | 2002 |
| BMW 525iA | 2002 |
| BMW 525IA Sport Wagon | 2002 |
| BMW 530i | 2002 |
| BMW 530iA | 2002 |
| BMW 540iA | 2002 |
| BMW 540IA Sport Wagon | 2002 |
Components: TIRES:SIDEWALL
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 525IA Sport Wagon | 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 525i | 2002 | 29 | 4 |
| BMW 525iA | 2002 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW 530i | 2002 | 29 | 4 |
| BMW 530iA | 2002 | 5 | 1 |
| BMW 540IA Sport Wagon | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 540iA | 2002 | 2 | 1 |
Other tires recalls in 2001
15 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the tires; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 01V365000 4 Dec 2001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V323000 10 Oct 2001 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V302000 1 Oct 2001 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS |
| 01V289000 10 Sept 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V203000 15 Jun 2001 | NATIONAL RV, INC. |
| 01V198000 14 Jun 2001 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 01V186000 7 Jun 2001 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS |
| 01V171000 24 May 2001 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001