Vehicle recall R/1992/013

BMW 3 Series recall: Possible chafing of the battery cable

DVSA recall R/1992/013 names the BMW 3 Series and a line with no model name. It was launched 28 February 1992. It covers vehicles built 1 January 1991 to 28 February 1992.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/1992/013
Launched: 28 February 1992
Issued by: BMW
Vehicles: DVSA lists 8,700 on each model line

What can go wrong

Chafing may occur where two cables pass through a grommet in the front bulkhead. This could result in a short circuit and fire risk.

The fix

Recall affected vehicles. De-energise the 6 sq.mm. battery positive cable which backs up the engine management system by cutting it at both ends and taping it to the cable. An alternative arrangement is being made to back up the engine management system.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. DVSA lists the same vehicle number on each line: 8,700. It may be a figure per line or for the whole recall.
Model	Built	Vehicles
BMW 3 Series	1 January 1991 to 28 February 1992	8,700
BMW (model not named in the DVSA file)	1 January 1991 to 28 February 1992	8,700

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/1995/030 Possible damage to wheel bearings 7 April 1995, BMW 3 Series
R/1996/037 Security of stub axle mountings 23 February 1996, BMW 3 Series
R/1997/005 Corrosion on lower steering shaft 27 May 1997, BMW 3 Series
R/1999/047 Possible unscheduled deployment of side airbags and activation of battery isolator switch 25 May 1999, BMW 3 Series
R/1999/104 Brake lights may fail to operate remain on or flicker 15 December 1999, BMW 5 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 7 Series
R/2000/135 Lower steering shaft may fail 26 February 2001, BMW 3 Series

Found one you might buy?

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources