BMW is recalling more than 3,400 of its all-electric i4 and iX models in the United States because of a problem with the pedestrian warning system.
A recall notice reveals that during vehicle start-up, the external artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault. As such, the control unit software may not generate the required external artificial sound and subsequently not fully conform to FMVSS 141 Section 5.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that a malfunctioning system could increase the risk of injury to pedestrians who may need the sound to know if a vehicle is close.
Read: BMW i4, i7, And iX Could Get Bricked On The Road Because Of A Software Glitch
The recall involves a total of 1,988 2022-2023 BMW i4 eDrive40 models that were built between November 11, 2021 and December 22, 2022. Meanwhile, 1,443 BMW iX xDrive50 models manufactured from January 13, 2022 to December 21, 2022 are also involved.
BMW became aware of a potential issue on December 14, 2022 when, during a sound quality check at a vehicle assembly plant, engineers discovered a 2023 iX that did not generate an external artificial sound. The automaker launched an investigation to determine how widespread the fault was and decided to issue a recall on January 18, 2023.
There are no reports of accidents or injuries related to the faulty system.
Owners of impacted models will be notified from March 17, 2023 and instructed to take their vehicle to an authorized BMW dealer where updated external artificial sound generator software will be installed free of charge.
