BMW has issued a recall for more than 390,000 vehicles due to an issue with the airbag inflators. There is a possibility that the inflators could explode and cause serious injury or death.
According to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration, the recall covers 394,029 vehicles between the 2006-11 model years. These vehicles may have a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode and send sharp metal fragments flying.
Authorized BMW dealers will inspect and replace the steering wheel, if necessary, free of charge. The NHTSA expects the owner notification letters will go in the mail by Aug. 23, 2024.
Owners who already replaced the airbag module at their own expense before the recall may be eligible for reimbursement.
The list of affected vehicles includes:
- 2006-11 BMW 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi)
- 2006-11 BMW 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi)
- 2009-11 BMW 3 Series Sedan 335d
“The Takata PSDI-5 inflator propellant may experience an alteration over time, which could potentially lead to overly aggressive combustion in the event of airbag deployment,” the safety recall report states.
“Depending on the circumstances, this potential could create excessive internal pressure when the airbag is deployed, which could result in the body of the inflator rupturing upon deployment. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, which may result in injury or death to vehicle occupants.”
Takata Corporation conducted an investigation to determine why these ruptures could occur. Potential causes include “several years of exposure to persistent conditions of high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high-temperature cycling.”
BMW states that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries in the United States related to this issue.