THE WELDS ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP FITTING (WELDED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BODY) BROKE AWAY ALLOWING THE SUPPORT STRAP TO FALL, CONTACT, BEND BACKWARD AND SCRAPE ALONG THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING SPARKS. THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TANK CAUSED IT TO SAG DOWNWARD TOWARD THE ROAD SUR…
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THE WELDS ON THE FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP FITTING (WELDED TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BODY) BROKE AWAY ALLOWING THE SUPPORT STRAP TO FALL, CONTACT, BEND BACKWARD AND SCRAPE ALONG THE ROAD SURFACE CAUSING SPARKS. THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TANK CAUSED IT TO SAG DOWNWARD TOWARD THE ROAD SURFACE. FORTUNATELY IT DID NOT BREAK OR CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SEEK ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF NOT CORRECTED. I AM REPORTING IT BECAUSE AFTER THIS EVENT I LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE IN THIS MODEL BMW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505140
120,000 miles · Feb 16, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System
1) CAR WOULD NOT START, FUSE BLOWN ON FUEL PUMP. (NO. 1 ORIGINAL) TOWED TO MECHANIC. 2) MECHANIC REPLACES FUEL PUMP. (NO.2) 3) RETURN CAR TO DRIVEWAY WHERE IT SITS OVER NIGHT. CAR WON'T START. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, AND HE ALLOWS IT TO SIT IN HIS GARAGE OVER NIGHT. (NO.3) 4) CAR WON'T START. HE THORO…
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1) CAR WOULD NOT START, FUSE BLOWN ON FUEL PUMP. (NO. 1 ORIGINAL) TOWED TO MECHANIC. 2) MECHANIC REPLACES FUEL PUMP. (NO.2) 3) RETURN CAR TO DRIVEWAY WHERE IT SITS OVER NIGHT. CAR WON'T START. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, AND HE ALLOWS IT TO SIT IN HIS GARAGE OVER NIGHT. (NO.3) 4) CAR WON'T START. HE THOROUGHLY CHECKS THE CAR FOR PROBLEMS, REPLACES THE FUEL PUMP, EMPTYING FUEL TANK, REPLACING WITH NEW GASOLINE. (NO.4) MECHANIC CUT OPENED THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP AND FOUND THAT THE IMPELLER HAD SWOLLEN. THIS SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT THE HIGH ETHANOL CONTENT FUEL WAS SWELLING THE IMPELLER. HE TRIED USING BOTH BMW PARTS AND AFTER MARKET PARTS. THIS ISN'T NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE AGE OF THE CAR. HE SAVED THE FUEL PUMP AND A GASOLINE SAMPLE. *TR
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
EA02012 · Inadvertent SIDE-IMPACT Air Bag Deployme
Opened Jul 15, 2002 · Closed Jun 24, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CONTAINS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC FOR DEPLOYING THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS.BMW REVISED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2002 (IDENTIFIED AS MRS2.CA, MRS2.BB, MRS3, MRS3+ AND MRS4).ALTHOUGH MODEL YEAR 1999.5 VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB HAD 6.5% OF THE SUBJECT POPULATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR 29% OF THE TOTAL REPORTS RECEIVED.THE MRS2.BB EXPOSURE ADJUSTED REPORT RATE WAS ALMOST 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER 3 SERIES AIR BAG MODULE VERSIONS.IN AUGUST 2002, BMW INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 20,500 MODEL 323I AND 328I VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB (NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000).IN ADDITION TO EXPERIENCING A LOWER RATE OF NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENTS, MOST OF THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE/CURB IMPACT WITH SOME HAVING ADDITIONAL UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT/SCRAPE OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PE02011 · Inadvertent SIDE-IMPACT Air Bag
Opened Jan 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
No summary supplied.
2001 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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