NHTSA Recall 02V223000

NHTSA Campaign ID number : 	02V223000
	
Vehicle Make / Model: 	    	Model Year(s):
     BMW / 323I 	    	1999-2000
     BMW / 328I 	    	1999-2000
Manufacturer: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE 	Mfr's Report Date: AUG 09, 2002
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 02V223000 	
EA02012
NHTSA Action Number: EA02012
Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Potential Number of Units Affected: 20,500
Summary:
ON CERTAIN 4-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD DEPLOY IN CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS WHEN CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEEDS.
Consequence:
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG AND HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH OR IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAG COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD IS RESTING NEAR THE SIDE AIR BAG.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE CENTRAL AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Notes:
ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Associated Investigation

INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
NHTSA ID: EA02012
Dated opened: July 15, 2002

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CONTAINS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC FOR DEPLOYING THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS. BMW REVISED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2002 (IDENTIFIED AS MRS2.CA, MRS2.BB, MRS3, MRS3+ AND MRS4).

ALTHOUGH MODEL YEAR 1999.5 VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB HAD 6.5% OF THE SUBJECT POPULATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR 29% OF THE TOTAL REPORTS RECEIVED. THE MRS2.BB EXPOSURE ADJUSTED REPORT RATE WAS ALMOST 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER 3 SERIES AIR BAG MODULE VERSIONS. IN AUGUST 2002, BMW INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 20,500 MODEL 323I AND 328I VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB (NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000).

IN ADDITION TO EXPERIENCING A LOWER RATE OF NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENTS, MOST OF THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE/CURB IMPACT WITH SOME HAVING ADDITIONAL UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT/SCRAPE OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE.

Documents

Date	Document Name & Details	Documents
9 August 2002	Owner Notification Campaign — Side Airbag System MY 1999 323i, 328i From: Karl-Heinz Ziwica, BMW Group to: Kenneth N. Weinstein, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 175KB - 5 pages
22 August 2002	Recall to Reprogram E46 Side Airbags-Recall Campaign 02V-223 From: Quality & Service Engineer, BMW of North America NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 108KB - 2 pages
September 2002	RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-223 From: BMW of North America, LLC NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 67KB - 2 pages
November 2002	Recall Campaign 02V-223: Recode Airbag Control Unit BMW of North America, LLC NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 283KB - 8 pages
4 November 2002	E46 Recall Campaign 02V-223 (Recode Airbag Control Unit) From: Quality & Service Engineer, BMW of North America NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 35KB - 2 pages
30 April 2003	Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Martin Rapaport, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG) NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 21KB - 1 page
30 July 2003	Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Martin Rapaport, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG) NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 20KB - 1 page
30 October 2003	Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Martin Rapaport, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG) NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 20KB - 1 page
30 January 2004	Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Martin Rapaport, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG) NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 20KB - 1 page
30 April 2004	Safety Recall Quarterly Report Information Martin Rapaport, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW AG) NHTSA Recall 02V223000	PDF - 21KB - 1 page