The defect
THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM, VENTED INTO THE INTAKE TRACT OF THE ENGINE AT THE BELLOWS BOOT AHEAD OF THE THROTTLE HOUSING, ALLOWS WARM WATER VAPOR FROM THE CRANKCASE VENT TO CONDENSE AND FREEZE IN THE COLDER BELLOWS BOOT WHEN THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE IS 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LESS. THE BUILD UP OF ICE CAN DISLODGE AND MOVE INTO THE THROTTLE HOUSING, PREVENTING THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM FULLY CLOSING WHEN THE DRIVER RELEASES THE GAS PEDAL.
The risk
IF THE THROTTLE PLATE IS PREVENTED FROM CLOSING, THEREIS AN INCREASE IN IDLE SPEED AS WELL AS SLOWER THAN NORMAL DECELERATION, WHICHOCCURS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
REPLACE THE THROTTLE HOUSING WITH A VERSION CONTAINING A MODIFIED HEATING SYSTEM ALONG WITH REROUTING OF THE CVS HOSE. THIS WILL PREVENT ICE BUILD-UP IN THE INTAKE TRACT.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 318 | 1991, 1992 |
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 318 | 1991 | 21 | 3 |
| BMW 318 | 1992 | 16 | 4 |
Other vehicle speed control recalls in 1991
6 of the 220 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1991 concerned the vehicle speed control; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 91V177000 15 Oct 1991 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 91V162000 11 Sept 1991 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 91V071000 1 May 1991 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 91V064000 15 Apr 1991 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 91V029000 15 Feb 1991 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1991