2007 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

AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WARNING STATES FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER THIS WARNING ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE ON 9/30/2018. THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING THE IN PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO COLLISIONS.

NHTSA ID

11133460

Incident

Sep 30, 2018

Mileage

110,600 mi

ON 11-19-2017 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROADWAY. MY PASSENGER CAR DOOR SUDDENLY OPENED AND TO AVOID ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY PASSENGER I ABRUPTLY TURN MY VEHICLE TO A SAFER POSITION. NO SOON AFTER THAT I NOTICE MY VEHICLE LEVELING WARNING SIGN APPEAR ON THE DASH. WITH RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT OPENING DOOR LINKED UP TO RECALL ON THE NHTSA. I PROCEEDED TO CALL BMW FOR THE FIX. NOT KNOWING THE MECHANICS OF THE VEHICLE, I ASSUMED THIS FIX WILL FIX THE DOOR LOCK AND THE LEVELING PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I GOT THE DOOR FIXED BUT THE LEVELING PROBLEM GOT EVEN WORSE AFTER THE LOCK GOT FIXED. I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ON 12-23-2017. TTHE LEVELING IS A HIGH SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE ISSUE EXISTS WITH THESE CARS AND I WOULD LIKE A REMEDY FOR MY SITUATION. I CONTACTED BMW, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE AS A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11058453

Incident

Nov 19, 2017

Mileage

113,000 mi

2007 BMW 7 SERIES. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR LATCH SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DRIVER ALMOST FELL OUT. THE DOOR HAD TO BE HELD WHILE DRIVING, AS TO KEEP IT FROM OPENING AGAIN. UPDATED 10/24/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

11035028

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

RECEIVED THIS FAULT - '"DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT." BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER FAULT.' THE MAT SEAT SENSOR SEEMS TO HAVE PREMATURELY WORN OUT. JUST LIKE THE PASSENGER SIDE MAT THAT WAS RECALLED

NHTSA ID

10811281

Incident

Dec 18, 2015

Mileage

141,000 mi

I WAS COMMUNTING TO WORK WHEN THE DOOR POPPED OPEN. AT FIRST I HEARD THE DASH CHIME AND QUCIKLY NOTICED THE SOUND OF WIND WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS CRACKED OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING 65 MILES AN HOUR. I REACTED QUICKLY BUT WAS IN COMPLETE WAS SHOCK . I ATTEMPTED TO QUICKLY SHUT THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING BUT THE LOCK WOULD NOT CATCH. ALL I COULD DO WAS HOLD THE DOOR CLOSE AS TIGHTLY AS I COULD UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. WHEN I STOPPED I MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THE DOOR COMPLETEY, ON THE FORTH TRY IT CLOSED. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON TO WORK AND ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT I WAS JUST UPTHE STREET FROM MY JOB. I WENT TO WORK AND CALLED MY HUSBAND CRYING AND THE NEAREST BMW SERVICE DEPT. I DID NOT CALL ANYONE WHILE COMMUNTING AFTER THE INCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS IN FEAR OF THE DOOR OPENING AGAIN AND MY HANDS WERE NOT FREE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THE REP RESEARCHED FOR ANY RECALLS IN REGARDS IN WHICH HE COULD NOT LOCATE ANY ON THE DOOR HANDLE. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE DOOR MODULE AND I NEEDED TO UPDATE THE PROGRAMMING FOR THE DOOR. I WAS TOTALLY CONFUSED. BUT IT COST ME $700 FOR ONE DOOR LOCK REPLACEMENT. AFTER THE INCIDENT I RECALLED THAT A COUPLE TIMES PREVOUSLY TO THE INCIDENT THAT THE SOFT CLOSE WOULD SOMETIMES NOT WORK ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND TO THIS DATE I AM UNSURE IF THE TWO PROBLEMS CORRELATED TO MY $700 FIX.

NHTSA ID

10781163

Incident

May 20, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

SYSTEM AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON INSIDE THE CAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND REMAINED ON. MESSAGE STATED THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM BEING THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAT AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM WITH BMW AND CERTAIN MODELS OF THERE CARS AND I SHOULD CHECK INTO A POSSIBLE RECALL IN THIS.

NHTSA ID

10734996

Incident

Jul 14, 2015

Mileage

108,640 mi

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AIRBAG SEAT MAT SENSOR. FAULT FOR DRIVER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE DRIVERS SIDE STILL HAS THE ERROR AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR IS NOT ALSO COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661350

Incident

Aug 15, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE OR LATCH. THE DOOR HAD TO BE 'ZIP TIED' TO REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH HAS COMFORT ACCESS AND SOFT CLOSE DOORS. I FIND THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THE ACTUATOR FAILS THAT THE DOOR CANNOT BE CLOSED AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

10661349

Incident

Oct 31, 2014

Mileage

120,000 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.