Ridgewood NJ, German carmaker BMW is warning drivers not to drive about 90,000 older vehicles in the U.S. due to an increasing threat that the airbags might explode in a crash.
The company issued a “Do Not Drive” warning to owners who drive BMW models from 2000 through 2006.These models have previously been recalled to replace faulty and dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), “These vehicles are 17 to 22 years old, and the risk to vehicle occupants is dire. These are some of the oldest Takata airbags under recall and have an extremely high probability of failure during a crash.”
If the inflators rupture, the metal fragments ejected toward the driver’s face could kill or leave them with devastating, life-altering injuries.
“If you have the model year 2000-2006 BMW with a recalled Takata airbag, get it repaired immediately – for free. These inflators are two decades old now and, with every day that passes, they become even more dangerous as they can rupture even in a minor crash,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said.
Replacement parts are available now for free for this recall. NHTSA urges vehicle owners to immediately check to see if their vehicle has an open Takata airbag recall. Owners of these vehicles should park them immediately and contact BMW for more information.
Models involved in this recall include 2000-2006 BMW 3 Series (E46) including M3, 2000-2003 5 Series (E39) including M5, and 2000-2004 X5s (E53) equipped with certain driver’s front airbag inflators manufactured by Takata.
BMW recalls (108,581 vehicles)
NHTSA recall numbers 19V852 and 19V853
1999-2001: 323i, 325i, 328i, 330i
2000-2001: 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, 325iT
BMW Do Not Drive recall (7,910 vehicles)
NHTSA recall number 19V851
1999: Certain 323i and 328i vehicles
BMW has decided a subset of its recalled vehicles, approximately 8,000, are at high-risk and has recommended that owners do not drive the vehicle until it is repaired.
