The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring.
The risk
The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. The vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle.
The fix
Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 97V-140 (97V140000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Component | Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs |
| Report date | August 22, 1997 |
| Owners notified | October 30, 1997 |
| Vehicles affected | 29,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the suspension
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 97V-140 repair free?
Yes. BMW dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 29,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.