All Investigations » Investigation DP04001

  Defect Investigation of Delayed Transmission Engagement

Investigation of Delayed Transmission Engagement

Subject: Delayed transmission engagement
Components covered:
  • Automatic transmission
Investigations Summary: This investigation was opened on Feb. 3, 2004. It was closed on May. 27, 2004. Ms. Claire m. Tieder of reston, va, submitted a defect petition to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) by letter dated January 11, 2004, requesting a defect investigation be conducted into delayed transmission engagement on model year 2004 BMW xi vehicles. BMW's response to NHTSA's information request indicated that certain BMW 3-series vehicles equipped with the gm5 transmission may exhibited a forward 'park' to 'drive' engagement delay from2 to 30 seconds. However, the condition can occur only during a vehicle "cold start," after the vehicle has been at rest for more than eight hours. Drivers experiencing the delay have learned to take precautionary and compensatory measures. Bwm will replace affected transmissions exhibiting the delay, after the condition has been verified, with an improved unit. No alleged crashes, injuries, or fatalities have been reported to either BMW or NHTSA relating to this issue. Based on analysis of NHTSA's consumer complaints and BMW's data, the petition is denied. For details, see federal register, vol. 69, no. 91 (may 11, 2004).
Vehicles Affected by this investigation:
  • 2004 BMW 325
  • 2004 BMW 330

    Other investigations related to BMW vehicles

  Defect investigation of air bag inflator rupture

  Defect investigation of loss of power assist braking

  Defect investigation of vehicle rollaway

  Defect investigation of vehicle rollaway

  Defect investigation of loss of power steering assist