Recall from BMW: The airbag can explode in some models. There is a risk to life. Owners have to shut down cars for the time being.
- Recall from BMW for models in the 3 and 5 series from 1997 to 2003
- The built-in airbag could explode in an accident
- Spare parts will only be available in the third quarter of 2020
- Owners have to leave their car at the workshop
Kassel - recall at BMW: In several BMW models , the airbag can explode when triggered due to excessive air pressure . In the worst case, this can cause fatal injuries. The VW group therefore calls the affected cars to the workshop.
BMW with recall: spare parts not available - cars will be shut down for so long
The problem: There are no spare parts available for the affected models, which is why the urgently required repair can probably only be made up in the third quarter of 2020.
BMW reports this in its letter to the affected car owners. That is why BMW advises its customers "to stop moving the vehicle until the replacement solution is provided".
BMW with recall: breakdown airbag from the scandal manufacturer
The cooperation with the Japanese airbag manufacturer Takata seems to be an endless story of suffering for BMW and many other car manufacturers such as Audi, Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi. For years, Takata airbags have been causing huge recall campaigns.
In this specific case, BMW 3- series models from the E46 series and 5- series models from the E39 series are affected, which run from 21.11.1997 to 10.12. Were manufactured in 2003. This applies to the versions as sedans, touring and coupes. The Alpina Model B3 is also affected. The M3, however, is not. At BMW, the callback number is 0032960200, 0032970200 and 032980200. The information portal Autofahrer.eu reports this.
BMW with recall: gas generators in the airbags cause life-threatening problems
The reason for the new recall are defective NADI gas generators. This type has not played a role in previous recall campaigns. Apparently, NADI gas generators can leak over time. BMW reported that the propellant could change due to temperature differences and moisture penetration.
If the airbag deploys in an accident, there is a risk that too much pressure will be created and the airbag will explode. In this case, flying metal parts could develop a shrapnel-like effect. Customers have been contacted since the end of 2019.
BMW with recall: Airbags in 750,000 cars affected worldwide
Due to its old age, BMW assumes that only about 20 percent of the 757,145 cars worldwide are still in operation. In Germany, around 56,000 cars are said to be affected by the recall. Of these, 25,000 are said to have installed a defective airbag , BMW confirmed to the picture .
The replacement of the defective parts in the workshop should not take longer than half an hour, reports the car service portal ASP. However, since the BMW models affected by the recall are older than 20 years, there are currently no spare parts available. The BMW Group normally has spare parts in stock for around 15 years.
For the owners, this means that they have to leave their BMW standing by July 2020 at the earliest. Otherwise they run the risk of losing their lives in an accident if an airbag explodes .
BMW with recall: Existing airbag recall extended for younger models
Since the scandal became known in 2014, around 24 people have been killed in accidents, reports the service portal Kfz-rueckprechen.de.
Owners of an old 3 and 5 series BMW are not the only ones who have problems with their airbag . As early as 2014, the Takata scandal triggered the largest recall in the history of the USA with 1.4 million cars from various manufacturers. The Japanese company paid a fine of $ 940 million to the U.S. authorities and went bankrupt in 2017.
BMW with recall: problematic airbags - first recall in 2016
In March 2020 BMW extended a recall from 2016 in connection with the Takata airbag under the promotion code "0032260200". Accordingly, 78,700 5-series models and 7,800 3-series models from the years of construction 2002 (E39) and 2006 (E45) have to be returned to the workshop.
With these cars, a Takata airbag was installed during a later conversion to a sports steering wheel, as reported by the Vogel car company, which relies on BMW . In this case, however, it is about a different type of gas generator in the airbag . In this case, there are apparently no reports from BMW about problems with the supply of spare parts.
BMW: Two big recalls only in 2019
There was only a major recall at BMW in November 2019: More than 100,000 cars had to be returned to the workshops * due to the risk of fire. That was not the first big recall in 2019: In May, the German premium manufacturer BMW had to go into German due to problems with the power supply to diesel vehicles of the previous generations of the 1, 3 and X1 series that rolled off the line between December 2009 and October 2011 Get authorized workshops. The carmaker had to order back almost 150,000 cars *.
By Philipp Zettler
* hna.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.
Rubric list picture: © dpa