BMW is issuing two separate recalls in the US for its 7-Series model. The larger of the two involves an estimated 45,500 units from the 2005-2008 model years equipped with the Comfort Access option. Affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically shifts the transmission to Park when the driver presses the Start/Stop button to shutdown the engine. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), if the driver presses the engine Start/Stop button two or three times within a short space of time, the system may shift the transmission to Neutral rather than Park. If using the electronic key (Comfort Access mode), there would be no protection from the ignition interlock that prevents key removal if the vehicle is not in Park. As a result, if the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway.
BMW plans to start notifying owners in November 2012, but will not have revised software available to fix the vehicles until March 2013. The problem has been linked to 14 crashes.
Meanwhile, some 7-Series models with the Comfort Access system are also the subject of a separate recall. BMW is recalling 7,485 units of certain 7-Series in the US for a problem with the door latching system. This recall covers 7-Series models equipped with both the Comfort Access system the Soft Close Automatic options, built from 23 August 2004 to 3 September 2007.
The SCA system includes a control cam which is operated via an electric motor and is used to depress the door release lever which unlatches the door. In rare cases, due to the SCA software functionality and the geometric design of the control cam, the cam may stop rotating at a position where the door release lever is depressed. If this were to occur, the door may not latch. Noticing the problem, the driver may hold the door closed in an attempt for it to latch, in which case the cam would rotate for a few seconds and then stop (as part of the SCA software function). When the cam stopped rotating, it could be in a position where the door would appear to be latched closed, but could accidentally open.
In 2007, BMW had recalled the 7-Series for the same problem in Japan, at the prompting of the Japanese Ministry of Land and Infrastructure Transport (MLIT). The following year, BMW included a warning about possible SCA problems linked to open doors in a service bulletin to US dealers.
The recalls are unlikely to cause any serious problems for the OEM, which is weathering the current slowdown in Europe better than many of its rivals. September sales across the entire BMW Group (including BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands) rose 11.6% to set a new record. It managed to boost sales across Europe by 4.8%, and in the US by 3.5%.
