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NHTSA Campaign 93V015000

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

Issued by BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE · Reported Feb 1, 1993 · 375,000 vehicles affected

What's wrong

THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.

Consequence

VEHICLES OPERATED UNDER THIS INCREASED COOLING SYSTEMPRESSURE CONDITION CAN SUFFER DAMAGE OR FAILURE OF PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEMSUCH AS (1) LEAKAGE FROM A COOLANT HOSE, (2) LEAKAGE OF THE RADIATOR OREXPANSION TANK, (3) DISCONNECTION OF A HOSE FROM A PIPE OR A FITTING, AND (4)CRACKS IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. IN SOME CASES,BOILING COOLANT CAN CONTACT THE LOWER RIGHT LEG OF THE DRIVER RESULTING INBURNS. ALSO, ESCAPING COOLANT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE VAPORFOGGING OF THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
BMW 318 1984 375,000
BMW 318 1985 375,000
BMW 318 1991 375,000
BMW 318 1992 375,000
BMW 325 1984 375,000
BMW 325 1985 375,000
BMW 325 1986 375,000
BMW 325 1987 375,000
BMW 325 1988 375,000
BMW 325 1989 375,000
BMW 325 1990 375,000
BMW 325 1991 375,000
BMW 325 1992 375,000
BMW 325 1993 375,000
BMW M3 1988 375,000
BMW M3 1989 375,000
BMW M3 1990 375,000
BMW M3 1991 375,000

Source: NHTSA Campaign 93V015000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.