BMW recalls M3 and M4 over potential driveshaft issue
BMW has recalled a total of 42 cars from the M3 and M4 family. this includes M3 sedans manufactured May 30, 2015, to September 2, 2015, M4 Coupes manufactured July 3, 2015, to September 11, 2015, and M4 Convertible vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to August 4, 2015.
A potentially insufficiently lubricated drive shaft could result in a crash
The issue isn't related to a faulty part but a issue with the greasing of the driveshaft at the time of assembly. The issue appears to be isolated to cars manufactured at BMW's North America plant The affected vehicles have a drive shaft with a slip joint that should be filled with grease but may not be. No accidents or deaths have been reported so far but the consequences could be quite serious. Without the lubrication the slip joint could fail which will stop transmission of power to the rear axle, a pretty easy way to crash. The company will recall these cars to inspect the drive shaft and rectify the issue if any.
We have contacted BMW India on whether this affects any cars sold in the country and will update this story as soon as we hear from company officials.
PRESS RELEASE
| RECALL Subject : Driveshaft Slip-Joint may not have been GreasedReport Receipt Date: NOV 23, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V782000 Component(s): POWER TRAIN Potential Number of Units Affected: 42 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) BMW M3 2015-2016 BMW M4 2015-2016 Details Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 M3 Sedan vehicles manufactured May 30, 2015, to September 2, 2015, 2016 M4 Coupe vehicles manufactured July 3, 2015, to September 11, 2015, and 2015-2016 M4 Convertible vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to August 4, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft with a slip-joint that may not have been filled with grease. As a result, the slip-joint may fail over time. CONSEQUENCE: If the slip-joint fails, there would be a loss of power to the rear axle and therefore the vehicle would stop moving, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driveshaft, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. | |
