The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH A SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONSISTING OF DOOR-MOUNTED THORAX AIR BAGS (REAR DOOR AIR BAGS ARE OPTIONAL), A CENTRAL ELECTRONIC SENSOR AND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, LEFT AND RIGHT SATELLITE IMPACT SENSORS, AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS SYSTEM IS UNDULY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEED.
The risk
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL (BST) COULD ALSO ACTIVATE, DISCONNECTING THE STARTER CABLE FROM THE BATTERY. IN THIS CASE, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN, BUT AFTER STOPPING, COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW M3 | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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 M3 | 1997 | 19 | 2 |
| BMW M3 | 1998 | 14 | 1 |
| BMW M3 | 1999 | 11 | 1 |
Other air bags recalls in 1999
15 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the air bags; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 99V343000 2 Dec 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V334000 24 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 99V327000 22 Nov 1999 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. |
| 99V283000 21 Oct 1999 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 99V243000 8 Sept 1999 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V236000 30 Aug 1999 | VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC. |
| 99V090002 1 Jun 1999 | DAEWOO MOTOR GUAM |
| 99V090001 10 May 1999 | DAEWOO MOTOR DE PUERTO RICO |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999