The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DIFFERENTIAL PINION SHAFT WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY WAS PRODUCED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE SURFACE HARDENING. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE SHAFT EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR.
The risk
THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND, ULTIMATELY, FAILURE OF THE SHAFT AND LOSS OF DRIVE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 540i | 1998 |
| BMW 540iA | 1998 |
| BMW 740iA | 1998 |
| BMW 740iLA | 1998 |
| BMW 750iLA | 1998 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
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 540i | 1998 | 26 | 1 |
| BMW 540iA | 1998 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW 740iA | 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 740iLA | 1998 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW 750iLA | 1998 | 1 | 1 |
Other power train recalls in 1998
27 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the power train; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 98V325000 14 Dec 1998 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 98V288000 9 Nov 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V290000 9 Nov 1998 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 98V257000 14 Oct 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V225002 6 Oct 1998 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 98V168003 5 Oct 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 98V119003 1 Oct 1998 | ATHEY PRODUCTS CORP. |
| 98V236000 29 Sept 1998 | YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998