BMW 745I 2005: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

General Information

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 12V502000

Make Model Year
BMW 745I 2005
Date Owners Notified Date Received by ODI Date Added to Database
2013-03-20 2012-10-17 2012-10-18

Production Dates: 2004-08-23 - 2008-07-24

Manufacturers Involved: BMW of North America, LLC

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 45500

Report Initiator: ODI ODI Report

Summary

BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The 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. If the driver presses the engine Start/Stop button 2 or 3 times within a short time interval, 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.

Consequence

If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or enter the vehicle or to other bystanders in the path of the vehicle.

Remedy

BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations"bmwusa.com.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 'TTY: 1-800-424-9153', or go to www.safercar.gov.