BMW is recalling a small number of SUVs in the USA because the driver’s air bag inflators can blow apart in a crash, hurling metal shrapnel and possibly injuring or killing people in the vehicles.
US auto safety regulators say in documents posted on Saturday that the recall covers 486 X3, X4 and X5 SUVs from the 2014 model year that are equipped with air bags made by Takata Corp. of Japan.
The recall raises questions about the safety of about 30 million Takata inflators that are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most have not been recalled.
Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.
At least 26 people have been killed in the USA by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured.
More about BMW’s manufacturing issue
Potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in USA history, with at least 67 million Takata inflators involved. The USA government says many have not been repaired. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding air bags sent Takata into bankruptcy.
Documents say the inflators in the BMWs have a moisture absorbing chemical called a dessicant that were not part of previous recalls.
BMW says in documents that in November, it was told of a complaint to NHTSA that the driver’s air bag in a 2014 X3 had ruptured. The automaker began investigating and hasn’t determined an exact cause. But preliminary information states that there is a manufacturing problem from Feb. 22, 2014 to March 7, 2014, the documents said.
What does National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have to comment about BMW’s latest defect?
NHTSA records show a complaint saying that on October 23, the inflator on a 2014 manufactured X3 exploded in Chicago, sending a large piece of metal into the driver’s lung. The driver also had chest and shoulder cuts that appeared to be caused by shrapnel, the complaint said. A surgeon removed a gold-coloured disc from the driver’s lung, according to the complaint, which did not identify the driver.
The agency decided in May of 2020 not to recall the inflators with the dessicant, but said it would monitor them.
“While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators,” the agency said in a document opening the probe.
A spokeswoman for NHTSA said Saturday she would check into the status of the investigation. A message was left seeking comment from BMW. In the BMW recall, dealers will replace the air bags at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letter starting January 16 of this year.
The BMW recall comes after General Motors recalled nearly 900 vehicles in July with Takata inflators that have the desiccant. GM also blamed the problem on a manufacturing defect at Takata. In a statement about the GM recall last summer, NHTSA said the agency did not have any data suggesting that other desiccated Takata inflators might rupture.
Will BMW recall or rather replace its vehicles in India as well?
As the things stand right now BMW India corporation have not issued any such releases. India has the third biggest demand for the german cars after USA and Japan.
BMW has been a symbol of luxury and elite in the country. People expect zero-to-none mistakes in the imported cars.
However, BMW India has notified that any such cases will be treated with utmost seriousness and the repairing cost or the recall will be done free of cost.
