The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE NUT THAT SECURES THE MAIN POSITIVE CABLE TO THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY, ALLOWING THE CABLE TO LOOSEN OVER TIME. IF THIS OCCURRED, THE CABLE COULD ULTIMATELY LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY COULD BE INTERRUPTED.
The risk
IF THIS OCCURED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE COULD STOP. ALSO, IF THE VEHICLE WERE BEING OPERATED AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM COULD SHUT OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW Z3 | 1999 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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 Z3 | 1999 | 39 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1998
34 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the electrical system; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 98V240003 22 Dec 1998 | DAMON CORPORATION |
| 98V313000 14 Dec 1998 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 98V300000 8 Dec 1998 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 98V307000 7 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V299000 24 Nov 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V279000 3 Nov 1998 | GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC. |
| 98V278000 19 Oct 1998 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS |
| 98V252000 7 Oct 1998 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998