The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
The risk
IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 318i | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 318iA | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 318iC | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 318iCA | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 318is | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 318isA | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325i | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325iA | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325iC | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325iCA | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325is | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 325isA | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 525i | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 525iA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 525iTA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 530i | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 530iA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 530iTA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 535i | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 535iA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 540i | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 540iA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 735i | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 735iA | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 735iLA | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 740iA | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 740iLA | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 750iLA | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 840CiA | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 850Ci | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 850CiA | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 850Csi | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 850i | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW 850iA | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW M3 | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| BMW M5 | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 |
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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 318i | 1992 | 8 | 3 |
| BMW 318i | 1993 | 11 | 2 |
| BMW 318i | 1994 | 14 | 2 |
| BMW 318i | 1995 | 14 | 2 |
| BMW 318iA | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318iA | 1993 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 318iA | 1994 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 318iA | 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 318iC | 1992 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 318iC | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318iC | 1994 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW 318iC | 1995 | 4 | 3 |
| BMW 318iCA | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318iCA | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318iCA | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318iCA | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW 318is | 1992 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW 318is | 1993 | 13 | 2 |
| BMW 318is | 1994 | 5 | 2 |
| BMW 318is | 1995 | 3 | 2 |
| BMW 318isA | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318isA | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318isA | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 318isA | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 325i | 1992 | 40 | 4 |
| BMW 325i | 1993 | 21 | 3 |
| BMW 325i | 1994 | 17 | 3 |
| BMW 325i | 1995 | 31 | 2 |
| BMW 325iA | 1992 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW 325iA | 1993 | 1 | 1 |
Other engine and engine cooling recalls in 1998
18 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the engine and engine cooling; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 98V295000 13 Nov 1998 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 98V291000 9 Nov 1998 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 98V206002 3 Nov 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V273000 29 Oct 1998 | MOTO AMERICA INC. |
| 98V272000 29 Oct 1998 | MOTO AMERICA INC. |
| 98V254000 14 Oct 1998 | VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC. |
| 98V241000 5 Oct 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V206001 8 Sept 1998 | MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998