The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE FRONT AIR BAGS, THE SIDE AIR BAGS, THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONERS, AND THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL, MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE COMPONENTS.
The risk
UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG(S) COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF AN OCCUPANT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DEPLOYING AIR BAG(S). IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL MAY ALSO BE ACTIVATED. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE STARTER CABLE WOULD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY, AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 525i | 2001 |
| BMW 525iA | 2001 |
| BMW 525iT | 2001 |
| BMW 525iTA | 2001 |
| BMW 530i | 2001 |
| BMW 530iA | 2001 |
| BMW 540i | 2001 |
| BMW 540iA | 2001 |
| BMW 540iAT | 2001 |
| BMW M5 | 2001 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 525i | 2001 | 22 | 4 |
| BMW 525iA | 2001 | 1 | 3 |
| BMW 525iT | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW 525iTA | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW 530i | 2001 | 25 | 4 |
| BMW 530iA | 2001 | 11 | 3 |
| BMW 540i | 2001 | 15 | 4 |
| BMW 540iA | 2001 | 7 | 3 |
| BMW 540iAT | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW M5 | 2001 | 4 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2003
10 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the air bags; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 03V426000 29 Oct 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V356000 29 Sept 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V322000 26 Aug 2003 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V321000 26 Aug 2003 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V150000 25 Apr 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V144000 9 Apr 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V082000 6 Mar 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTUR INTERNATIONAL |
| 03V061000 27 Feb 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003