BMW is recalling certain 2011 1-Series Active E an 2012 Z4 vehicle because drivers could experience sudden loss of power steering assist. Variations in electrical currents occurring within the power steering assist system could lead to sudden loss of power steering increasing the effort needed to maneuver the vehicle. Difficulty in steering could increase the chance of the driver getting into an accident. BMW will be notifying owners starting in July and will replace the steering assistance module free of charge. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417.

German automobile manufacturer BMW and Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota have announced that they will be expanding a 2011 agreement between the two companies to share strategic technologies in four different areas. BMW and Toyota emphasized that they have no intentions of building stakes in each others companies. Both say they share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility and feel their alliance will only strengthen both companies competitive position in sustainable future technologies. The agreement includes:

  • The joint development of a fuel cell system.
  • The joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle.
  • Collaboration on power train electrification.
  • Joint research and development on lightweight technologies.

The agreement will also end any further discussions of BMW working with General Motors and will eventually dissolve a joint venture with France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen to share components for hybrid cars.

BMW has announced a recall for certain X5 and X6 crossover vehicles because of a machining error of the steering gear surface. The problem could lead to power steering leaks that could spray onto hot exhaust parts increasing the risk of an engine fire. BMW will begin notifying owners of the recall starting in July, and will inspect and replace the steering gear as necessary. The vehicles included in the recall includes:

Owners wanting more information about the defect can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.

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BMW has announced that they will be recalling certain 2012 3-Series vehicles because the head restraints fail to comply with the Federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to the recall report, when the head rest is in the highest position it exceeds the downward movement limitations of 25mm. The head restraint could move down during a crash, increasing the risk of neck injuries. BMW will be notifying owners in May and will correct the problem by attaching a clamp to the front seat head restraint posts. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.

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An investigation into transmission control problems in some BMW 7-series luxury cars has been upgraded to an engineering analysis after U.S. safety regulators found seventeen crashes, five of which resulted in injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began their investigation last August after receiving almost fifty complaints related to the push button start and electronic transmission controls on these vehicles. The shifter is designed to automatically shift the vehicle to “park” under a variety of conditions, including after the driver has pressed the ignition button to turn off the engine. In several cases, owners thought their vehicles were in park when they were still in neutral, and their vehicles rolled away unexpectedly and crashed. The investigation covers nearly 122,000 BMWs from the 2002 through 2008 model years.

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BMW has announced a recall that will affect certain vehicles equipped with 8 or 12 cylinder turbocharged engines. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the circuit board for the electric auxiliary water pump could overheat and smolder, and could eventually lead to a fire in the engine compartment. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417. The vehicles involved in this recall include:

BMW has announced a recall that will affect certain 2004-2010 model year vehicles. According to the recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the insulated bulkhead connector for the positive battery cable may have not been installed properly to the trunk floor panel. If the connection loosens, the increased electrical resistance could cause the cable connection to overheat, and could cause a fire. BMW is advising owners to park their vehicles outside until the problem has been fixed, because overheating could occur even while the vehicle is not in use. The models involved in the recall include:

Owners can contact BMW Customer Relations and Services at 1-800-525-7417 for more information about the problem.

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BMW has issued a recall for certain 2012 X5 XDrive 35i sports activity vehicles manufactured between December 19-21, 2011. Because of a manufacturing error, the transmission parking lock may not engage even when park is being displayed. The vehicle could unexpectedly roll away increasing the risk of crash or injury. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.

Posted in BMW.