The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ROAD GRIT AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATED WITH WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS CAN PENETRATE THE RUBBER OF THE LOWER FRONT SPRING MOUNTS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE MOUNTS CAUSING NOTCHES OR PITS TO DEVELOP. THESE NOTCHES CAN DEVELOP CRACKS RESULTING IN BREAKAGE OF A BOTTOM COIL OF THE SPRING.
The risk
THE VEHICLE'S RIDE HEIGHT COULD BE AFFECTED CAUSING NOISE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE'S DYNAMIC STABILITY CAN BE AFFECTED REDUCING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND LOWER SPRING MOUNTS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 740i | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 740iL | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW 750iL | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
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 740i | 1995 | 9 | 4 |
| BMW 740i | 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW 740i | 1997 | 3 | 2 |
| BMW 740iL | 1995 | 12 | 3 |
| BMW 740iL | 1996 | 11 | 1 |
| BMW 740iL | 1997 | 19 | 1 |
| BMW 750iL | 1995 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW 750iL | 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW 750iL | 1997 | 2 | 2 |
Other suspension recalls in 1997
30 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the suspension; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 97V196004 31 Dec 1997 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 97V239001 30 Dec 1997 | GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC. |
| 97V196005 29 Dec 1997 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 97V190004 8 Dec 1997 | STARCRAFT RV, INC. |
| 97V214000 1 Dec 1997 | SHOREMASTER, INC. |
| 97V190003 1 Dec 1997 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 97V190005 28 Nov 1997 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY |
| 97V196002 24 Nov 1997 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997