2001 BMW 320

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

WHILE DOING 55 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY VEHICLE ENGAGED THE BRAKES ON IT'S OWN BRINGING US TO A SCREACHING, SKIDDING STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE YAW RATE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE MERCEDES IS NOT RECALLING THIS VEHICLES TO BE FIXED WITH SUCH A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THIS CAR. *TR

COOLING FAN FAILURE CAUSED RAPID OVERHEATING AND COOLANT LOSS, DISABLING VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

I COMPLAINED TO BMW NA OF REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FAN. THEY AGREED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SIEMENS MANUFACTURED FANS. THEY LEFT A PHONE MESSAGE (I HAVE A COPY) AGREEING TO PAY FOR A VEHICLE INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF THE FAN IS THE TYPE PRONE TO FAILURE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS I HAVE FOR MY SON WHO WILL BE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY WILL CHARGE ME TO REPLACE THE FAN BECAUSE IT HAS NOT YET FAILED. *AK

THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, YET THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AT 1828 MILES. A LOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD AND HINDERED VISIBILITY. THE OVERHEATING HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND ALLOWED ME VERY LITTLE TIME TO REALIZE AND TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, THERE APPEARED TO BE MAJOR LEAKAGE OF COOLANT/ANTI-FREEZE UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. THE SHORT TIME IT TOOK THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT CAN POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS AS IT ALLOWS THE DRIVER VERY LITTLE TIME TO STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE ANY FIRE IS IGNITED. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATS: 9 DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF MY BRAND NEW CAR, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGINS REGISTERING ABNORMALLY HIGH UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE A/C, TURN ON THE HEAT TO THE MAXIMUM SETTING, AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE TEMPERATURE, AND THE RED TEMP INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. I PROMPTLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND, WHILE DOING SO, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. BMWSF SERVICES MY VEHICLE BY INSTALLING AN UPGRADED AUX FAN UNIT ON 5/15/01. PROBLEM 1: BMWNAS LACK OF QUALITY ASSURANCE IN DETECTING A DEFECTIVE PART IN MY VEHICLE AND WILLFUL NEGLECT TO INFORM SERVICE/SALES PERSONNEL ABOUT THE KNOWN PROBLEM. EXPLANATION 1: I AM APPALLED THAT BMWNA WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS BY NEGLECTING TO OFFER PRELIMINARY INFORMATION TO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT A KNOWN PROBLEM. BMWNA HAS DEMONSTRATED A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF IGNORING, OBFUSCATING, OR DENYING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUXILIARY FAN WHEN MOST BMW MESSAGE BOARD SITES ARE LITTERED WITH THESE COMPLAINTS. BMWNAS RECKLESS NEGLIGENCE IN OFFERING SUCH INFORMATION CAUSED THE DEALERSHIPS TO ALLOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLES BACK ON THE ROAD. PROBLEM 2: BMWSF INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT PART ON MY CAR THAT THEY KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. EXPLANATION 2: IN RESPONSE TO MY LETTER TO BMWNA REGARDING THIS MATTER, A BMWNA CUSTOMER RELATIONS REP NOTIFIES ME THAT I AM TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO HAVE A NEWLY DESIGNED AND UPGRADED AUX FAN UNIT INSTALLED

THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDEGED PROBLEM FROM BMW. THE MANUFACTURER HAS CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US ARE BEING LEFT STRANDED WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACES. EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS ACKNOWLEDGED BMW DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE BMW NEEDS TO BE CONTACTED AND FORCED TO OFFICIALLY ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 3.0 LITER ENGINES. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

VEHICLE COOLING FAN FAILED, MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FAN, MADE BY SIEMENS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY ALL VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THIS DEFECT. WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO BE STRANDED DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING.

IMAGE DISTORTION THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *AK