BMW Recalls

NHTSA said it is publicizing the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. Under federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Currently, 72 percent of the owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed. NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in January 2001 and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly. The list identifies the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem. Federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall. Consumers can get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns, or information on the recall history of a particular make and model of car, truck, motorcycle, or child safety seat, by calling the agency's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236), or by accessing NHTSA on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Models:

BMW M5 Years: 2000-2001

BMW 740i Year 2001

BMW 740iL Year: 2001

BMW 750iL Year: 2001

Number Involved: 3,167

Dates of Manufacture: June - October 2000

Defect: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 18-inch tires (18-inch tires are standard equipment on the M5 and optional equipment on the 7-Series models), the machine used to mount and inflate the tires on the wheels at the assembly plant may have damaged the sidewall of one or more tires. The damaged area could weaken to the point where a sudden loss of air from the tire could occur. Handling and control would be drastically affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tires, and, if damage from the mounting machine is found, the tire will be replaced.

The manufacturer has reported that owner notification was to begin during February 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

[NHTSA Recall No. 01V-001]