Campaign 91V-054

During testing, incorrectly installed driver-side knee bolster prevented steering column from moving forward as designed to absorb impact energy…

Defect summary

DURING TESTING, INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DRIVER-SIDE KNEE BOLSTER PREVENTED STEERING COLUMN FROM MOVING FORWARD AS DESIGNED TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY FROM DRIVER DUMMY.

Consequence

CHEST DECELERATION EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LIMIT WHICHRESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy

REPAIR THE KNEE BOLSTER TO ALLOW CLEARANCE AND AVOID IMPEDANCE OF STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT DURING FRONTAL IMPACT.

Notes

SYSTEM: OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION; FMVSS 208.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file, campaign 91V054000. Text as published by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered

2 product lines are covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about airbags on these vehicles: 1, of which 1 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 91V-054
Make	Model	Model years	Complaints on this component
BMW	318I	1991	1
BMW	318IS	1991	0

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.

Investigation

No NHTSA investigation is linked to this recall

Most recalls are started by the manufacturer. This one lists "NHTSA compliance test" as its origin.

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On certain passenger vehicles, a microprocessor in the air bag control module, which activates the front air bags, the side air bags, the front…
02V-223 Aug 9, 2002
On certain 4-door passenger vehicles, the side air bag system could deploy in certain non-crash impacts, such as when contacting large potholes or…
99V-063-001 Nov 15, 1999
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
99V-063 Mar 26, 1999
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles
96V-110 Jul 1, 1996
Air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning