[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Recalling X3 (2011-2017) and X4 (2015-2017) Over Child Restraint Anchor Bars

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BMW has issued a recall affecting 2011-2017 BMW X3 and 2015-2017 BMW X4 models. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the X3/X4 recall involves a problem with the lower anchor bars that are used to secure child safety seats. According to NHTSA's defect bulletin, "when using the European-ISOFIX-type rigid-style connector child restraint system, the anchorage bars may become damaged during vehicle operation due to of excessive stresses." That can prevent the restraint from working as intended during a collision, increasing the risk of injury to children.

However, the agency also notes that "systems using LATCH-type flexible-style connectors, which reflect the vast majority of child restraint systems used in the USA, do not cause this issue".

UNITS AFFECTED: 188,668

2011-2017 BMW X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, and X3 xDrive35i vehicles built between July 2, 2010 and April 14, 2016

2015-2017 BMW X3 xDrive28d vehicles built between March 10, 2014 and March 31, 2016

2015-2017 BMW x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i, and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles built between March3, 2014 and April 15, 2016

BMW will be mailing recall notices to owners of these affected cars on or before July 12. Owners will be able to take their vehicles to dealerships, where a reinforcing bracket will be welded to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body.

For questions or concerns, contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Or, call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #16V333000.

Link to NHTSA announcement: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/...od_ids=2009714

[bradleyland]

Not sure if I care about my kids enough to risk the dealer service department screwing up my seats while attempting to fix this.

[desertfox73]

Kind of surprised to just now see this hit the forum...it was on the nightly news a couple days ago.

[ORIGIN M.]

Your kids must be monster to say such a thing.

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Not sure if I care about my kids enough to risk the dealer service department screwing up my seats while attempting to fix this.

[MDIVISION]

This is 2 weeks old

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by MDIVISION

This is 2 weeks old

Even older than that… we've been discussing it here since May 20:

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1264523

[shivaswrath]

Let's hope it stays with X3s...my kid uses it in the F30

[Eagle1oh7]

Seems like BMW can't build SUVs for shit.

[Tjalle]

Shit happens to each and everybody.

My impression is that BMW is better off than most manufacturers.

I will gladly take the time to have problem fixed.

[kevink1]

i've seen titles, but didn't look closely enough at it. I was thinking it was some BMW car seat. Not a car issue. No kids, so didn't look closely.

Pretty low need for me. Maybe schedule it some time when I have normal service done and I'm not so pressed with time like I will be on the 2nd.

[MichiganMike]

Due to my personal circumstances, I also am unlikely to use these child restraint anchor bars. However, I applaud BMW in this recall for being more proactive than many automobile manufacturers.

In this case, BMW identified a potential problem through its own quality control and remedied it in its manufacturing. It then publicly acknowledged the issue and initiated without government prompting a recall of vehicles previously manufactured to remedy it before there were any serious injuries. Unlike some manufacturers, the repairs for the recall are to begin promptly without months of delay and denial.

Compare the response of Chrysler to transmission issues reported by customers or GM to defective ignition switches or VW and Audi to faulty by design diesel emission control systems.

In another example, Toyota recently sent me a pair of stickers to put on the rear hatch of my wife's Venza to alert me not to have my fingers where they may be crushed when the rear hatch automatically closes. Now that is a solution fashioned by lawyers rather than engineers.

[Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by kevink1

i've seen titles, but didn't look closely enough at it. I was thinking it was some BMW car seat. Not a car issue. No kids, so didn't look closely.

Pretty low need for me. Maybe schedule it some time when I have normal service done and I'm not so pressed with time like I will be on the 2nd.

It inst even an issue for you because we do not use ISO-FIX in this country. It sucks because there is a stop sale on these. The whole interior has to come out at a body shop and have new parts welded in. Asinine that this is mandatory.

[ba ba boosh]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Not sure if I care about my kids enough to risk the dealer service department screwing up my seats while attempting to fix this.

Originally Posted by Tomahawk

It inst even an issue for you because we do not use ISO-FIX in this country. It sucks because there is a stop sale on these. The whole interior has to come out at a body shop and have new parts welded in. Asinine that this is mandatory.

Well I did not know this, I fully agree with Bradleyland, even though I don't have any kids. I'm not taking my car to the dealership so that they can rip out the whole interior to fix some minor problem.

[mge92]

The ISO-Fix issue is a pita in terms of correcting but if you don't have children there is no point. I however have creaking and squeaking from the rear so while they are at it I might as well get them to tighten everything up and worse case if something fails because they did the recall, you can always claim them to fix it.

[Silver_Hulk]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Not sure if I care about my kids enough to risk the dealer service department screwing up my seats while attempting to fix this.

You shouldn't have kids then.

[Shu3y]

Is this just for the models offered in USA? As I don't see the x20i covered.

[Barbera335]

Originally Posted by bullen

You shouldn't have kids then.

+1000

Who cares about a car that can easily be replaced. If they damage the car I will make them fix it. My kids safety is far more important than any car will ever be to me.

[Eaglesview]

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

Seems like BMW can't build SUVs for shit.

Whoa. Must have been into the wine or have unrealistic expectations for that comment.

[Eagle1oh7]

Originally Posted by Eaglesview

Whoa. Must have been into the wine or have unrealistic expectations for that comment.

With all the previous recalls on the X5 and now something like this on the X3, well it seems a bit ridiculous, although as others stated, at least BMW is taking care of this before anything bad happens.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by Tomahawk

The whole interior has to come out at a body shop and have new parts welded in. Asinine that this is mandatory.

This is not true, or even close to the truth. Just the rear seats have to be removed to have the support brackets welded in place. The repairs can be done in the service department as well. The entire job is less than 2 hours start to finish. The only thing asinine is your assumption of the repair requirements without any facts.

[Pinewood]

Has anyone in the UK had this recall. I realise the NA market gets petrol engines and over here we gwt the diesels, but surely the child seat supports would be the same in either derivative?

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by bullen

You shouldn't have kids then.

Originally Posted by Barbera335

+1000

Who cares about a car that can easily be replaced. If they damage the car I will make them fix it. My kids safety is far more important than any car will ever be to me.

When you're at the dealer to have this recall work performed, have them check your sarcasm detector as well