The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·15V520000·Announced 2015-08-17

BMW Recalls 3-Series Vehicles Due to Inoperative Side Marker Lights

BMW is recalling certain 2012-2015 3-Series vehicles because software may cause front side marker lights to fail, reducing visibility at night.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where the defect increases the risk of a crash due to reduced visibility, but no injuries or fatalities have been reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles, as well as specific 2014-2015 328d, 328xd, and Sports Wagon models. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative when used with parking lights or headlights. This condition causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108.

If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, which increases the risk of a crash. The recall covers approximately 7,727 vehicles manufactured between October 20, 2011, and June 22, 2015, depending on the specific model.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at [email protected]. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
BMW 328XI, 328XD, 328I, 328D
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Lighting
Hazard
Affected units
7,727

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (9)

  • 328XI
  • 328XD
  • 328I
  • 328D
  • 320XI
  • 320I
  • 335I
  • 335XI
  • ACTIVE HYBRID 3

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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