The defect
THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.
The risk
VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 318 | 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992 |
| BMW 325 | 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| BMW M3 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
Components: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
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 | 1984 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW 318 | 1985 | 2 | 2 |
| BMW 318 | 1991 | 21 | 3 |
| BMW 318 | 1992 | 16 | 4 |
| BMW 325 | 1984 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW 325 | 1985 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW 325 | 1986 | 9 | 3 |
| BMW 325 | 1987 | 15 | 2 |
| BMW 325 | 1988 | 7 | 2 |
| BMW 325 | 1989 | 11 | 2 |
| BMW 325 | 1990 | 6 | 2 |
| BMW 325 | 1991 | 6 | 3 |
| BMW 325 | 1992 | 23 | 3 |
| BMW 325 | 1993 | 8 | 3 |
| BMW M3 | 1988 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW M3 | 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW M3 | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW M3 | 1991 | 0 | 1 |
Other visibility recalls in 1993
14 of the 223 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1993 concerned the visibility; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 93V217000 14 Dec 1993 | BUS INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA |
| 93V001000 4 Dec 1993 | VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORP |
| 93V191000 19 Nov 1993 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 93V149000 14 Sept 1993 | FREIGHTLINER CORP. |
| 93V148000 14 Sept 1993 | FREIGHTLINER CORP. |
| 93V150000 13 Sept 1993 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 93V113000 7 Jul 1993 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 93V087000 18 May 1993 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1993