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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation DP04001

Defect Petition · BMW of North America, LLC · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ClosedDefect Petition

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.

NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.

Model years namedModel years in our database that NHTSA associated with this inquiry. Being named in an investigation says nothing about whether an individual vehicle has any problem.
4
4 models
Opened
Feb 3, 2004
Defect Petition
Closed
May 27, 2004
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published

DELAYED TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT

MS. CLAIRE M. TIEDER OF RESTON, VA, SUBMITTED A DEFECT PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED JANUARY 11, 2004, REQUESTING A DEFECT INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED INTO DELAYED TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT ON MODEL YEAR 2004 BMW XI VEHICLES.BMW'S RESPONSE TO NHTSA'S INFORMATION REQUEST INDICATED THAT CERTAIN BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE GM5 TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBITED A FORWARD 'PARK' TO 'DRIVE' ENGAGEMENT DELAY FROM2 TO 30 SECONDS.HOWEVER, THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR ONLY DURING A VEHICLE COLD START, AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT REST FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS.DRIVERS EXPERIENCING THE DELAY HAVE LEARNED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY AND COMPENSATORY MEASURES.BWM WILL REPLACE AFFECTED TRANSMISSIONS EXHIBITING THE DELAY, AFTER THE CONDITION HAS BEEN VERIFIED, WITH AN IMPROVED UNIT.NO ALLEGED CRASHES, INJURIES, OR FATALITIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO EITHER BMW OR NHTSA RELATING TO THIS ISSUE.BASED ON ANALYSIS OF NHTSA'S CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND BMW'S DATA, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 69, NO. 91 (MAY 11, 2004).

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.

Investigation details

Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA

Action number
DP04001
Investigation type
Defect Petition (DP)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Opened
Feb 3, 2004
Closed
May 27, 2004
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

4 model years across 4 models

Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.