NHTSA Campaign 03V421000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Issued by BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE · Reported Oct 24, 2003 · 23,000 vehicles affected

What's wrong

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE FRONT AIR BAGS, THE SIDE AIR BAGS, THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONERS, AND THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL, MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE COMPONENTS.

Consequence

UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG(S) COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF AN OCCUPANT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DEPLOYING AIR BAG(S). IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL MAY ALSO BE ACTIVATED. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE STARTER CABLE WOULD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BATTERY, AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER10, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
BMW 525I 2001 23,000
BMW 525IA 2001 23,000
BMW 525IT 2001 23,000
BMW 525ITA 2001 23,000
BMW 530I 2001 23,000
BMW 530IA 2001 23,000
BMW 540I 2001 23,000
BMW 540IA 2001 23,000
BMW 540IAT 2001 23,000
BMW M5 2001 23,000

Source: NHTSA Campaign 03V421000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.