2008 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

GETTING ERROR "FAULT IN PASS.-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER." IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FIXED ON 06 07 BMW 750LI BY RECALL WHAT MAKES 08 DIFFERENT?

NHTSA ID

11155824

Incident

Dec 2, 2018

Mileage

185,500 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A UPWARD INCLINE THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I WOULD STOP THE VEHICLE AND RESTART THE ENGINE. IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN AND I STARTED TO DRIVE ON A UPWARD INCLINE. NOW THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION DEFAULT LIGHT REMAINS ON.

NHTSA ID

11113625

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

THE VERY SAME ISSUE THAT BMW HAS RECALLED THEIR 2006 - 2007 7 SERIES IS AFFECTING MY 2008 7 SERIES AND BMW IS REFUSING THE FIX THE ISSUE. HTTP://BRANDILAWBLOG.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM/2013/12/BMW-RECALL.PDF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT THAT DETERMINES IF AND HOW THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG SHOULD DEPLOY IN A CRASH MAY FATIGUE AND DEVELOP CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE: SHOULD THE SYSTEM FAIL, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WOULD BE DEACTIVATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V-564 COMPONENTS: AIR BAGS AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604607

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

I PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AGO TO REPORT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ON MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED LATCHING CLOSED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED BMW CENTER IN PRINCETON NJ TO HAVE THIS ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND RESOLVED. THEY REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND THE DOOR LATCHED CLOSED AS IT SHOULD FOR ABOUT A WEEK. 1 WEEK LATER (TODAY) THE SAME DOOR LATCH EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM, ONLY THIS TIME IT BECAME UNLATCHED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED PRIOR TO THE DRIVER SIDE OPEN SWINGING OPEN AND PROCEEDING TO UNLOCK. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR WAS NOT THE PROBLEM, AND THERE IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM HERE, OR THAT PRINCETON BMW DID NOT REPLACE THE PART AS THEY CLAIMED (AND BILLED ME FOR). *JS

NHTSA ID

10585592

Incident

Apr 29, 2014

Mileage

82,000 mi

DOOR OPEN LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AFTER HITTING BUMPS EVEN WHILE LOCKED .DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH AFTER STOPPING TO FUEL OR OTHER STOPS. HAVE TO HOLD CLOSED BY HAND TO GET HOME. THE CAR WAS JUST PURCHASED THE DAY THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED . SINCE THEN 3 TIMES IT HAS FAILED TO LATCH . IT DOES HAVE COMFORT ACCESS AND SOFT CLOSE DOORS . THE COMFORT ACCESS HAS NOT WORKED SINCE I GOT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515922

Incident

May 25, 2013

Mileage

65,470 mi

MICHELIN 245/35 21 TIRES, SIDEWALL BUBBLES AFTER LESS THEN 2500 MILES WEAKENING TIRE POTENTIAL CRASH CAUS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10417844

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 750 (NA) EQUIPPED WITH HID CONVERSION KIT 8000K. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND AS HE EXITED, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E034000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ID

10380149

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

THE DOORS OF THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WITH NO PROMPTING AFTER SECURING MY 2 BABIES IN THE CAR WITH MY PURSE, KEYS, AND EVERYTHING LOCKED INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359312

Incident

Oct 2, 2010

This bulletin outlines the Customer Care Package program that has been designed exclusively for BMWvehicles with the N63 engine. Vehicles with the N63 high performance engine are engineered with EfficientDynamics that provides fueleconomy without compromising on its “class leading” power and performance. To ensure these engines keep delivering the ultimate performance, we have designed this Care Package thatincludes a 6 point check, and if necessary, the replacement of one or more of the following powertraincomponents: Hot-Film Air Mass Sensors PIEZO High Pressure Fuel Injectors Engine Vacuum Pump Fuel System Low Pressure Sensor/Feed Line Fresh Air Intake Turbo Seals Crankcase Ventilation Lines (Hoses)

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.