| NHTSA Campaign Number: |
99V063001 |
| Vehicle/Equipment Make: |
BMW |
| Vehicle/Equipment Model: |
M3 |
| Model Year: |
1998 |
| Manufacturer Campaign Number: |
|
| Manufacturer Component Description: |
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW |
| Manufacturers Involved in Recall: |
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| Manufacturered: |
19970301 - 19990831 |
| Type of Report: |
V (Vehicle, Equipment or Tire) |
| Potential Number of Units Affected: |
16749 |
| Date Owner Notified By Manufacturer: |
20000207 |
| Recall Initiated By: |
20000207 |
| Manufacturer Responsible For Recall: |
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| Report Received Date: |
19991115 |
| Record Creation Date: |
19991118 |
| Regulation Part Number: |
|
| Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number: |
|
| Defect Summary: |
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. |
| Consequence Summary: |
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. |
| Corrective Summary: |
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE CENTRAL COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT REGULATES THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OF THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS. |
