The defect
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MELTING OF PLASTIC INTERNAL PARTS IN AREA OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS.
The risk
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SWITCH PLUNGER COULD JAM, RENDERING BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER INOPERATIVE OR CONTINUOUSLY ILLIMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.
The remedy
REPLACE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH REVISED SWITCH WITH INCREASED ELECTRICAL LOAD CAPACITY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 325 | 1986, 1987 |
| BMW 524 | 1986, 1987 |
| BMW 528 | 1986, 1987 |
| BMW 535 | 1986, 1987 |
| BMW 635 | 1986, 1987 |
| BMW 735 | 1986, 1987 |
| BMW L7 | 1986, 1987 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS: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 325 | 1986 | 9 | 3 |
| BMW 325 | 1987 | 15 | 2 |
| BMW 524 | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 524 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 528 | 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 528 | 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 535 | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 535 | 1987 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW 635 | 1986 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW 635 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 735 | 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 735 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW L7 | 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW L7 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 1986
11 of the 173 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1986 concerned the exterior lighting; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 86V164000 15 Dec 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 86V155000 20 Nov 1986 | FLEETWOOD ENT., INC. |
| 86V136000 10 Oct 1986 | INTL AUTOMOTIVE PERF.INC |
| 86V131000 19 Sept 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 86V075000 2 Jun 1986 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 86V065000 21 May 1986 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 86V062000 13 May 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 86V056000 28 Apr 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1986