BMW recalling certain 5-Series and 7-Series models with hands-off driving mode

BMW is recalling a total of 9,211 vehicles in the United States, including 5-Series and 7-Series models from the 2023 and 2024 model years.

The reason for the recall is an accidental hands-off driving mode. An engineer discovered the issue during a test drive when the hands-off driving feature activated without prompting the driver to keep their hands on the wheel. After investigating the problem, it was determined that a misaligned drilling process during manufacturing caused the borehole for the ground connection to the steering wheel to be out of specification. This caused the connection between the cable and the wheel to loosen, resulting in a false positive reading for the hand detection system. BMW has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this issue but is conducting the recall to address the problem. BMW will inspect the ground connection and reattach it to specifications as needed.

This recall is important not only for safety reasons but also because the advanced driver assistance system is designed to have a human driver supervising it. The unintended activation of hands-off driving could lead to misuse and potentially compromise the system’s safety. Additionally, it could fail to detect if a driver is incapacitated, allowing the vehicle to continue without human control.

The recall campaign is set to begin, with affected owners being contacted on December 8 and asked to bring their vehicles to a dealership for inspection and necessary repairs.