The defect
ON CERTAIN 4-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD DEPLOY IN CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS WHEN CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEEDS.
The risk
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG AND HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH OR IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAG COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD IS RESTING NEAR THE SIDE AIR BAG.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE CENTRAL AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 25, 2002. 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 ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 323i | 1999, 2000 |
| BMW 328i | 1999, 2000 |
Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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 323i | 1999 | 136 | 7 |
| BMW 323i | 2000 | 401 | 7 |
| BMW 328i | 1999 | 98 | 7 |
| BMW 328i | 2000 | 112 | 7 |
Other air bags recalls in 2002
20 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the air bags; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 02V323000 9 Dec 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V329000 9 Dec 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V308000 14 Nov 2002 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 02V293000 7 Nov 2002 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 02V275000 9 Oct 2002 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 02V222000 9 Aug 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V213001 9 Aug 2002 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 02V213000 9 Aug 2002 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002