The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THICKNESS OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CABLE (GENERATOR TO STARTER) INSULATION IS LESS THAN SPECIFIED, MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABRADED OR CUT BY THE CLIP THAT SECURES THE CABLE TO THE GENERATOR.
The risk
THE CABLE INSULATION CAN BE WORN AWAY, EXPOSING THE WIRE. THE WIRE COULD CONTACT THE CLIP OR A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL APPLY A THICKNESS OF INSULATING TAPE TO THE CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE CLIP, AND INSTALL A REVISED CLIP.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 540i | 1999 |
| BMW 540iA | 1999 |
| BMW 540iAT | 1999 |
| BMW 740iA | 1999 |
| BMW 740iLA | 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 540i | 1999 | 22 | 1 |
| BMW 540iA | 1999 | 10 | 2 |
| BMW 540iAT | 1999 | 3 | 2 |
| BMW 740iA | 1999 | 2 | 2 |
| BMW 740iLA | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1999
24 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the electrical system; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 99V333002 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 99V333001 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 99V329000 22 Nov 1999 | OVERLAND MOTOR COACH |
| 99V325000 19 Nov 1999 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 99V289000 26 Oct 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V282000 19 Oct 1999 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 99V234000 23 Aug 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V181002 27 Jul 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999