The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
The risk
Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 1 Series | 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| BMW 3 Series | 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| BMW 5 Series | 2010, 2011 |
| BMW X3 | 2010, 2011 |
| BMW X5 | 2010, 2011 |
| BMW Z4 | 2010, 2011 |
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 1 Series | 2010 | 8 | 2 |
| BMW 1 Series | 2011 | 33 | 2 |
| BMW 1 Series | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 3 Series | 2010 | 30 | 2 |
| BMW 3 Series | 2011 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW 3 Series | 2012 | 7 | 3 |
| BMW 5 Series | 2010 | 6 | 5 |
| BMW 5 Series | 2011 | 81 | 4 |
| BMW X3 | 2010 | 32 | 4 |
| BMW X3 | 2011 | 113 | 4 |
| BMW X5 | 2010 | 124 | 14 |
| BMW X5 | 2011 | 263 | 14 |
| BMW Z4 | 2010 | 10 | 5 |
| BMW Z4 | 2011 | 46 | 6 |
Other engine and engine cooling recalls in 2023
23 of the 894 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2023 concerned the engine and engine cooling; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 23V905000 22 Dec 2023 | Ford Motor Company |
| 23V878000 21 Dec 2023 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| 23V836000 8 Dec 2023 | Harley-Davidson Motor Company |
| 23V829000 7 Dec 2023 | Indian Motorcycle Company |
| 23V790000 22 Nov 2023 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 23V751000 13 Nov 2023 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 23V723000 26 Oct 2023 | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| 23V698000 17 Oct 2023 | Ferrari North America, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2023