Recall 12V-502: 2005 BMW 745i, 2005 BMW 745LI and 4 more
BMW of North America, LLC recall for electrical system, reported to NHTSA on Oct 17, 2012, covering about 45,500 vehicles.
The problem
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.
The risk
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.
The fix
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.
Recall details
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
|---|---|
| Component | Electrical System › Ignition › Switch Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) Power Train › Automatic Transmission |
| Recall started by | NHTSA (Office of Defects Investigation) |
| NHTSA campaign number | 12V502000 |
Vehicles in this recall
| Vehicle | Model years | |
|---|---|---|
| BMW 745i | 2005 | All years |
| BMW 745LI | 2005 | All years |
| BMW 750i | 2006, 2007, 2008 | All years |
| BMW 750LI | 2006, 2007, 2008 | All years |
| BMW 760i | 2005, 2006 | All years |
| BMW 760LI | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | All years |
Not every vehicle of these model years is included. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗ or ask a dealer.
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V-502?
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.
How is recall 12V-502 fixed?
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.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check whether your vehicle is included with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.