NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA09-019: Rear Lamp Illumination
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA09-019 on December 18, 2009 and closed it on September 28, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists 10 BMW models for it and links recall 11V-438 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA09-019 (also written EA09019)
- 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 September 28, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- BMW of North America, LLC
- Components
- Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights; Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights; Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 11V-438: REAR LAMPS IN BODY PANEL, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 10 BMW models, including the 325I and 330I
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA09-019.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.
The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.
Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.
This can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.
The recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary ground connection.
An 8-pin connector that attaches the primary ground wiring to the rear lamp assembly will also be inspected and replaced if necessary.
BMW will complete dealer notification in September 2011 and will begin owner notification in October 2011.
All 3 series sedans (except for the M3 sedan which utilized a different rear lamp assembly) that were built between September 1, 2001 and March 1, 2005 are included in this recall, totalling approximately 241,000 vehicles.
The action taken by BMW is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.
Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA09-019. 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.
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 EA09-019
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.