A little over 300 BMW 7-Series models need to be sent back to dealers in the United States following the discovery of an issue with the front seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed that the front seats of select 7-Series and i7 vehicles may not have been produced by their supplier, Brose, which is based in the Czech Republic. A recall notice reveals that the seat length adjustment system may not have been welded according to specifications and that in certain crashes, the structural integrity of the seat may not be maintained, potentially increasing the risk of injury.
A total of 318 vehicles are involved in the recall. This includes 289 examples of the 2023 740i and 760i xDrive manufactured between November 30, 2022, and January 18, 2023, as well as 29 units of the 2023 i7 xDrive60 built from December 6, 2022, to December 19, 2022.
BMW became aware of a potential issue in early May when a technical development test “involving a future vehicle type” discovered that the seat moved in an unusual way during the test, prompting an engineering investigation to be launched. After working with Brose to find the issue, the supplier noted that a fluctuation in the production process meant there was an insufficient weld involving the seat length adjustment system.
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The German car manufacturer is not aware of other accidents or injuries related to the issue. Owners of impacted models will be notified from July 31 and will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer where the front seats will be inspected and, if necessary, the seat front structure will be replaced.
