NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA02-012: INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA02-012 on July 15, 2002 and closed it on June 24, 2003. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999–2002 BMW 3 Series for it and links recall 02V-223 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA02-012 (also written EA02012)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed June 24, 2003
Opened: July 15, 2002
Closed: June 24, 2003
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Component: Air Bags — Side/Window
Recall linked by NHTSA: 02V-223: BMW/SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM, reported August 9, 2002
Vehicles and equipment: 1999–2002 BMW 3 Series

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA02-012.

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

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA02-012. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

BMW

BMW 3 Series
- 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

All BMW recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

BMW VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA02-012

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.