BMW Issues SUV Recall Due to Potentially Explosive Takata Airbag

What: The recall affects certain 2014-2014 BMW X3, BMW X4, and BMW X5 models.

Who: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW)

Why: Due to a manufacturing defect, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in severe injury or death.

When: The recall notice was posted on November 24th, 2023.

Where: The recall affects BMW vehicles in North America. 

How I Can Identify the Recalled Vehicle: BMW vehicle owners can identify the recalled vehicle by heading to the NHTSA's website and entering their car's 17-digit vehicle identification number(VIN). Owners may also contact their local BMW dealer to learn if their vehicle is affected by the recall.

On November 24th, 2023, BMW issued a recall of certain 2014-2014 BMW X3, BMW X4, and BMW X5 models. This recall comes after BMW became aware of a customer complaint that was submitted to NHTSA on November 6th, 2023, stating that the driver of a Model Year 2014 BMW X3 ruptured. The report filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) states that "BMW immediately initiated an engineering investigation and proactively contacted the airbag supplier and also the NHTSA."

Although the vehicle manufacturer has initiated the analysis, the investigation is still in the preliminary stages and plans to continue. However, according to the preliminary information from February 22nd, 2014, to March 7th, 2014, there may have been an anomaly during the inflator production at the supplier. Moving forward with the information, on November 16th, 2023, BMW opted to conduct a voluntary safety recall for the vehicles containing the inflators from the production lot in which the field vehicle was equipped.

This is not the first time the vehicles with the Takata airbag inflators have been recalled due to the risk of rupture. Since 2009, reports of deaths and injuries connected to the Takata airbag inflators have made their rounds via motor vehicle companies. Created by the now-bankrupt Takata Corporation, the airbag inflators used volatile ammonium nitrate, a chemical typically used to make bombs, to create a small explosion to inflate airbags in the event of a crash. 

However, over time, when exposed to high temperatures and humidity, the chemical can deteriorate and explode, blowing apart the metal canister containing it and spewing shrapnel into the vehicle's cabin. As of the filing date of the Part 573 report, the BMW X3 vehicle has not been able to be inspected. This recall currently affects 486 vehicles and can be found on the NHTSA's Safety Recall Report under #23V-797. Listed below are the following BMW vehicles are affected by the recall:

BMW/X3/2014

• X3 xDrive28i
• X3 xDrive35i

BMW/X4/2014- 2015

• xDrive35i

BMW/X5/2014

•  X5 sDrive35i
• X5 xDrive35i

If your vehicle does not match those listed on the recalled list, then it is not affected. However, if you are still unsure if your vehicle has been recalled by BMW, you can contact your local BMW dealership for more information. Drivers can also enter their vehicle's 17-digit VIN into the NHTSA's or BMW's website to learn if their vehicles are affected by the recall. You can locate your car's VIN on the lower left of your car's windshield, your car's registration card, and in some cases, it may be shown on your insurance card.

Is BMW Offering Remedies to Affected Vehicle Owners?

As mentioned in the recall notice, BMW vehicle owners will be notified of the recall by First Class mail by January 16th, 2024. In the letter, vehicle owners are offered to have their front airbags replaced, and they will be advised to schedule an appointment with an authorized BMW dealer to have the remedy performed for free. In the event that vehicle owners have already had the airbag replacements installed in their vehicles prior to the recall at their own expense, the manufacturer says under its Group's reimbursement plan in accordance with 49 CFR 573.13 and 49 CFR 577.11, owners may be eligible for reimbursement. For more information about the recall, or if you have had your airbags replaced prior to the recall, contact your local BMW dealership today. 

Connect With a Morgan & Morgan Takata Airbag Attorney

In 2021, the NHTSA launched an investigation into the vehicle manufacturers who installed the Takata airbags into their vehicles. Currently, the investigation covers more than 30 million inflators in over 200 vehicle models from companies including Honda, Stellantis, General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mazda, and more. Since May 2009, at least 26 people have been killed in the United States due to the Takata inflators, and at least 30 have died worldwide, including people in Malaysia and Australia. 

Additionally, there have been roughly 400 injury reports connected to the Takata airbags. For more information on the Takata airbag recalls or the ongoing investigation into the Takata airbags, you can connect with a Morgan & Morgan attorney today. Or, if you have suffered an injury due to a recalled BMW vehicle, contact a Takata airbag attorney today by completing our free, no-obligation case evaluation form.