Electrical system: ignition: switch; power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm); power train: automatic transmission (BMW)
Vehicle recall 12V-502. NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on Oct 17, 2012.
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The short answer
NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on Oct 17, 2012. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 23, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or enter the vehicle or to other bystanders in the path of the vehicle.
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008.
The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically shifts the transmission to Park when the driver presses the Start/Stop button to shutdown the engine.
If the driver presses the engine Start/Stop button 2 or 3 times within a short time interval, the system may shift the transmission to Neutral rather than Park.
If using the electronic key (Comfort Access mode), there would be no protection from the ignition interlock that prevents key removal if the vehicle is not in Park.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Electrical system: ignition: switch.
- NHTSA’s part: Power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm).
- NHTSA’s part: Power train: automatic transmission.
What should you do?
BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 45,500 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
- BMW 760LIand 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, before the model years listed here
- BMW 745Iand 2005, before the model years listed here
- BMW 750Iand 2006, 2007 and 2008, before the model years listed here
- BMW 750LIand 2006, 2007 and 2008, before the model years listed here
- BMW 760Iand 2005 and 2006, before the model years listed here
- BMW 745LIand 2005, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by BMW of North America, LLC.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 23, 2026.