2004 BMW 7 Series

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access Option.The Comfort Access option allows the driver to start and stop the engine (by pressing the engine start / stop button) without inserting the key fob into the vehicles key slot in the instrument panel.Subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option require the key fob be inserted the key slot to start the engine.Upon removal of the key from the key slot the vehicle will automatically shift to Park if the driver has not done so using the gearshift lever.Sunject vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access option are designed such that when the vehicle is stopped with the service brakes applied and the transmission in Drive or Reverse, the driver can push the engine start/stop button one time, stopping the engine and automatically shifting the transmission to Park.In its DIR, BMW identified a condition such that if the driver depressed the start-stop button multiple times in rapid succession, the transmission could shift to Neutral instead of Park.With the transmission in neutral, depending on the slope of the road, the vehicle could rollaway if unattended.In review of data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and of reports submitted to BMW, ODI identified 20 reports alleging vehicle rollaway involving vehicles equipped with Comfort Access.The vehicles identified in these reports are all subject to recall 12V-502.Ten of these reports were identified as likely related to the defect described in recall 12V-502.Two of the reports are likely related to other mechanical failures.The remaining 8 allegations of vehicle rollaway could not be associated with a specific cause.There are 32 reports alleging vehicle rollaway in the subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option.A vehicle based safety defect trend was not identified in these reports.Subject vehicles not equipped the Comfort Access option will automatically shift to Park once the key fob is removed from the key slot.In this regard these vehicles behave similarly to those with traditional mechanical keys where the key cannot be removed from the ignition unless the vehicle is shifted to Park.The difference between these vehicles and the subject vehicles with the Comfort Access option is that in the Comfort Access equipped vehicles, the engine can be started and stopped without the key fob in the key slot.ODI reports 10429922 and 10419177 noted in the EA opening resume were determined to be vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option and ODI did not identify a vehicle based safety defect associated with these incidents.This investigation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10185770

In response to the Office of Defects Investigation's (ODI) Information Request (IR) for PE11-025, BMW provided ODI with 1 complaint and 46 field reports relating to either incidents of unattended vehicle rollaway or vehicle movement after the driver expected the vehicle gearshift to automatically shift to park. ODI's analysis of the data provided by BMW identified 14 crashes and 5 alleged injuries. ODI has also identified 3 additional reports in its database alleging vehicle rollaway incidents of which 2 resulted in crashes.The subject vehicles are all equipped with push-buttons (Start/Stop button) to control starting/stopping the engine and Shift-by-Wire gearshift systems controlled by a column mounted selector lever behind the steering wheel. The Start/Stop button also controls switching the ignition and the radio ready state On and Off. Shift-by-wire systems replace the traditional mechanical connection (e.g., cable or linkage) between the gearshift and automatic transmission with an electronic connection controlled by a computer module. When parking the vehicle, the driver has the capability to manually shift the vehicle to park by pressing the Park button on the end of the electronic gearshift lever. However, the instructions for engine shutoff provided in the owner's manual state that pressing the Start/Stop button serves the dual function of switching off the engine and automatically shifting the transmission to Park.In response to ODI's information request for PE11-025, BMW described several circumstances where the subject vehicles may shift to neutral when the driver may expect it to automatically shift to park. First, for Comfort Access System (CAS) vehicles, if the transmission is in neutral when the key fob is in the ignition slot and the Start/Stop button is pressed to shut-off the engine, the transmission will remain in neutral. This is referred to as the Carwash mode and is a normal operating feature of the vehicles that is described in the owner's manual. BMW also described two circumstances that are not normal operating features and are not described in the owners' manual: (1) with the transmission in drive or reverse and the engine running, if the Start/Stop button is pushed 2 or 3 times within a 0.3 second to 0.5 second interval, the engine will stop and the transmission will shift to Neutral; and 2) if the Park button on the gearshift lever is pressed at the same time that the gearshift lever is actuated (i.e., toggled up or down) to select drive, reverse or neutral; the transmission will shift to neutral or remain in neutral.Beginning in model year (MY) 2005, BMW introduced CAS as an optional feature package for the subject vehicles.The key for CAS equipped vehicles is an electronic code that is sent to the engine control module by a remote transmitter (key fob). An optional docking port (key slot) is provided for driver convenience or to put the vehicle into Car Wash mode, which allows for engine shutoff in neutral. BMW sold approximately 45,000 subject vehicles with CAS and approximately 94 percent of the CAS equipped vehicles were produced from MY 2006 through 2008. Non-CAS subject vehicles were produced from MY 2002 through 2008 and require the remote control to be in the ignition slot located next to the Start/Stop button to start the engine.The 50 incidents identified by ODI's analysis of complaints and field reports include 18 involving CAS vehicles (39.6 incidents per 100,000 vehicles) and 32 involving non-CAS vehicles (42.0 incidents per 100,000 vehicles). Because the incidents are considered random events, the failure rates were also adjusted for vehicle exposure, resulting in rat

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN GETTING THIS ERROR IN MY IDRIVE SYSTEM: "FAULT IN PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER."

NHTSA ID

10862673

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

THE REAR SIDE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, A WEEK LATER THE OTHER SIDE DID THE SAME THING THE FOR OPEN THEN IT CLOSED BY ITS SELF. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWSY.

NHTSA ID

10785243

Incident

Sep 25, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY GOT HARD AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES WOULD BE SOFT INITIALLY AND AS PRESSURE WAS CONTINUED WOULD GET HARD AND REQUIRED SUSTAINED INTENSE EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW INVOLVING THE BOOSTER AND THEY CLAIM TO HAVE INSPECTED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2011 AND IT DID NOT REQUIRE BEING FIXED. THIS WAS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. THEY NOW REFUSE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BEEN APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSED BY BMW. SADLY BMW PRIDES ITSELF IN GOOD BRAKES BUT REFUSES TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS A PROBLEM THEY IDENTIFIED. IT WAS LISTED BY BMW AS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE ON THEIR WEBSITE. 10V44660000 THEY SAY IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED. IT HAS NOT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512238

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

114,000 mi

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND I HAVE TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD A RECALL CAMPAIGN NOVEMBER 2010 NO. 10V-446: BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIELDS BMW AND THEY PROVIDED ME WITH DOCUMENTATION STATING; "11/30/2010 0034910100 CK BRAKE BOOSTER LINE N62. B34, 04, 10". I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, AND I COULD PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, AND THE EXPENSES FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A BMW TECH FOR A FULL DIAGNOSTIC, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE ABOVE, AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. YOUR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509186

Incident

Apr 13, 2013

CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACCUM PUMP LEAKING. CHIRPING SOUND DURING IDLE. SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455348

Incident

Apr 12, 2012

HARD TO START, CRANKS FOR A WHILE TILL IT BUILDS UP PRESSURE THEN STARTS. IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SITTING AT STOP LIGHT, AND SPUTTERING POWER AT TIME WHEN TAKING OFF, LEAKS FUEL FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL WHEN FILLING WITH FUEL. ALSO STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR STEERING AND OTHER CONTROLS, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT OCCURS. I'M TOLD IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND I MUST SAY THAT I CANNOT SEE HOW THIS PART CAN BE SO EXPENSIVE ($2,700) AND SURPRISED THAT BMW DID NOT RECALL THESE AND REPLACE IF THIS IN AN ENDEMIC FAULT. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY CAR FAILED 20 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE AS I RETURNED FROM A 200 MILE ROUND TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. I DREAD TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IF THIS HAD STOPPED WHILE I WAS ON THE FAST LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. FOR WHAT IS A FLAGSHIP CAR, IT IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418645

Incident

Aug 7, 2011

Mileage

64,385 mi

IN REFERENCE TO BMW 760LI FUEL PUMP. RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MINE, AFTER CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE THE HIGHWAY. CAR ALSO WAS HARD TO START, HAD TO CRANK ALONG TIME TO BUILD UP ENOUGH PRSSURE TO START. PROBLEM BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. *TT

NHTSA ID

10411761

Incident

Jul 5, 2011

Mileage

82,000 mi

OWNER OF '04 745I AS OF 4/8/11. LAST MONTH RECEIVED NOTICE STATING "DEFAULT IN DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM & AIRBAG ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY & MESSAGE STATING AIRBAG MAY NOT OPERATE." TOOK A TRIP TO MISSOURI LAST WK & RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THERE'S A FAULT IN PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM, RED ILLUMINATED LIGHT, AIRBAG MAY NOT OPERATE." BMW STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOOK IT UP TO A MACHINE ($225) TO READ THE CODE AND THAT IT MAY BE FROM PEOPLE MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT AND THAT AFTER RETRIEVING THE CODE, THE LABOR & PARTS COULD RANGE FROM $250-$3000. *TT

NHTSA ID

10407635

Incident

May 11, 2011

Mileage

76,000 mi

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE

Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicle’s equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.

Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer complaints.

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.