BMW has recalled 394,029 3 Series vehicles from model years 2006 through 2011 because they may contain dangerous airbag inflators built by the now-defunct Takata company. This recall adds to the ongoing Takata airbag recall that has affected millions of cars sold by at least 34 automakers on five continents.
Exploding Inflators
An airbag inflator is a small metal capsule containing chemicals that combine to create a rapidly expanding gas. In an accident, a properly-made inflator squirts that gas out of a nozzle, quickly inflating a folded airbag so that it can cushion occupants from hitting collapsing car parts.
Some Takata inflators, however, can explode instead. Their capsule sometimes bursts under the sudden pressure of the chemical reaction. That can send hot metal fragments flying into the cabin like shrapnel.
These Aren’t Supposed to Be There
In this case, BMW says, the dangerous inflators may have been added to cars later.
“Approximately 378,263 vehicles may contain a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with a Takata driver’s front airbag module that contains a PSDI-5 inflator that could have been installed by an owner, even though it was not officially offered/approved by BMW as a replacement part,” the company says.
Dealer technicians outside the U.S. flagged the problem, BMW says, when they found cars arriving for service with Takata inflators in them that weren’t original equipment.
The company says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries in these specific cars. But Takata inflators have killed at least 32 people worldwide.
Several manufacturers have stepped up their efforts to get them off the road in recent years.
Honda, Acura, Chrysler, Dodge, BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Infiniti, and General Motors have all issued do-not-drive orders telling owners of older cars to park their cars and not start them again until dealers have replaced their inflators.
Dealers will inspect for suspect inflators and replace them for free.
Take this one seriously if you own an affected car. We’ve seen reports of drivers killed by Takata airbags after being notified of the danger dozens of times. The repair costs nothing, and Toyota will come to you to do it.
Check whether your car has any outstanding recalls with the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
