The defect
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
The risk
THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 318i | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 318iC | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 318is | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 318Ti | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 325i | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325iC | 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325is | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 525i | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 525iT | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 530i | 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 530iT | 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 540i | 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 740i | 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 840Ci | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW M3 | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW Z3 | 1996, 1997 |
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 318Ti | 1995 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW 318Ti | 1996 | 8 | 1 |
| BMW 318Ti | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 318i | 1992 | 8 | 3 |
| BMW 318i | 1993 | 11 | 2 |
| BMW 318i | 1994 | 14 | 2 |
| BMW 318i | 1995 | 14 | 2 |
| BMW 318i | 1996 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW 318i | 1997 | 5 | 1 |
| BMW 318iC | 1994 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW 318iC | 1995 | 4 | 3 |
| BMW 318iC | 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW 318iC | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 318is | 1992 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW 318is | 1993 | 13 | 2 |
| BMW 318is | 1994 | 5 | 2 |
| BMW 318is | 1995 | 3 | 2 |
| BMW 318is | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318is | 1997 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW 325i | 1992 | 40 | 4 |
| BMW 325i | 1993 | 21 | 3 |
| BMW 325i | 1994 | 17 | 3 |
| BMW 325i | 1995 | 31 | 2 |
| BMW 325iC | 1994 | 5 | 3 |
| BMW 325iC | 1995 | 2 | 2 |
| BMW 325is | 1992 | 8 | 4 |
| BMW 325is | 1993 | 16 | 3 |
| BMW 325is | 1994 | 10 | 3 |
| BMW 325is | 1995 | 5 | 2 |
| BMW 525i | 1989 | 4 | 2 |
Other vehicle speed control recalls in 1997
11 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the vehicle speed control; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 97V221000 8 Dec 1997 | DUCATI NORTH AMERICA |
| 97V225000 8 Dec 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V183000 27 Oct 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V143002 8 Sept 1997 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 97V143001 8 Sept 1997 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 97V124000 4 Aug 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V074000 30 Apr 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V046000 21 Mar 1997 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997