[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Announces Do Not Drive Order for Older Vehicles with Takata Airbags

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May 4, 2023

-- Affects approximately 90,000 vehicles built between 2000 and 2006 already under recall.
-- The vehicles remain unrepaired despite intense customer outreach efforts since 2016.
-- Owners of these vehicles should park them immediately and contact BMW for more information.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 4, 2023… In the interest of customer safety, BMW of North America has pro-actively issued an immediate Do Not Drive warning for approximately 90,000 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. These vehicles have already been included in several Takata-related recalls; however, despite intense customer outreach efforts by BMW since 2016, they remain unrepaired and, as the airbag inflators age further, the risk of serious injury or death increases. Therefore, to reemphasize the seriousness of the situation, the decision was made to escalate the recall to a Do Not Drive order. Owners of affected BMWs that have not had their vehicles inspected and repaired should not consider them safe to drive.

Notification emails will be sent to owners of these vehicles starting in May with letters to follow in June.

These vehicles were manufactured with airbag inflators that contain a propellant that breaks down after long-term exposure to temperature fluctuations and humidity. If the vehicle is involved in a crash and the driver’s airbag deploys, the metal airbag inflator can rupture, sending razor-sharp shrapnel towards the occupants. As these unrepaired vehicles continue to age, the chemicals will continue to degrade, increasing the odds of a disastrous rupture.

“We cannot state strongly enough just how urgent it is for our customers to take this warning seriously. We know these airbags only become more dangerous over time, which is why we are taking yet another step to get these parts out of our vehicles. Customers must park these vehicles immediately and take a few moments to check if their vehicle is safe for them and their family members to drive”, said Claus Eberhart, Vice President of Aftersales BMW NA, “Repairing these vehicles is quick, easy to arrange, and is completely free of charge.”

Since the recall was first announced, BMW has aggressively and continuously engaged in a wide variety of customer outreach campaigns to compel owners of these vehicles to have this critical safety repair completed – at absolutely no charge – as soon as possible. These have included contacts by phone, text, email, letters and postcards, and social media. BMW has coordinated with its dealer network, collision centers, and independent retailers and repair facilities to identify affected vehicles and facilitate repairs. These efforts and many others have resulted in the repair of hundreds of thousands of vehicles – addressing about 87% of all of BMW’s recalled airbag inflators.

There are no restrictions whatsoever preventing customers from having the airbag in their vehicle replaced immediately. The parts are available, and the repair costs them nothing. In many cases, the replacement can be done remotely – technicians can be sent wherever the vehicle is located and complete the repair on site. If remote repair cannot be done, the vehicle can be picked up at the customer’s home or office free of charge, repaired, and returned when the service is complete. Typically, the airbag replacement takes less than an hour.

To learn if their vehicle requires repair right now, owners may:
Visit www.bmwusa.com/recall
Visit www.nhsta.gov/recalls
Call BMW Customer Relations Recall Services at 1-866-835-8615
Contact their preferred BMW service center by means other than driving their BMW to the facility

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by Jason

May 4, 2023

— Affects approximately 90,000 vehicles built between 2000 and 2006 already under recall.
— The vehicles remain unrepaired despite intense customer outreach efforts since 2016.
— Owners of these vehicles should park them immediately and contact BMW for more information.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 4, 2023… In the interest of customer safety, BMW of North America has pro-actively issued an immediate Do Not Drive warning for approximately 90,000 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. These vehicles have already been included in several Takata-related recalls; however, despite intense customer outreach efforts by BMW since 2016, they remain unrepaired and, as the airbag inflators age further, the risk of serious injury or death increases. Therefore, to reemphasize the seriousness of the situation, the decision was made to escalate the recall to a Do Not Drive order. Owners of affected BMWs that have not had their vehicles inspected and repaired should not consider them safe to drive.

Notification emails will be sent to owners of these vehicles starting in May with letters to follow in June.

These vehicles were manufactured with airbag inflators that contain a propellant that breaks down after long-term exposure to temperature fluctuations and humidity. If the vehicle is involved in a crash and the driver’s airbag deploys, the metal airbag inflator can rupture, sending razor-sharp shrapnel towards the [...]

I feel like bmw dropped the ball on this. Warnings for Toyota, Honda, and just about anyone else using Takata airbags issued recalls about 5 years ago, might have even been longer. Why did it take them so long to recognize the issue when everyone else already did. Did they not believe the stories of shrapnel killing people when the airbag deployed?

Article from 2014:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...cted-vehicles/

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by BLKD_OUT_BMR

I feel like bmw dropped the ball on this. Warnings for Toyota, Honda, and just about anyone else using Takata airbags issued recalls about 5 years ago, might have even been longer. Why did it take them so long to recognize the issue when everyone else already did. Did they not believe the stories of shrapnel killing people when the airbag deployed?

They have already been under recall for years….

https://www.bmwusa.com/safety-and-em...ta-airbag.html

[Danyal.N55]

I’m surprised BMW is doing this so late, The whole Airbag Scandal was a couple of years back. But now BMW Decides to say “Oh hey we forgot about our Owners who own 2000’s BMW’s” I’m also noticing how BMW Takes Action but not Anyone else in they’re older vehicles? Come on Automakers..

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by Danyal.N55

I’m surprised BMW is doing this so late, The whole Airbag Scandal was a couple of years back. But now BMW Decides to say “Oh hey we forgot about our Owners who own 2000’s BMW’s” I’m also noticing how BMW Takes Action but not Anyone else in they’re older vehicles? Come on Automakers..

Reread the first bullet point. This have already been under recall for years.

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

They have already been under recall for years….

https://www.bmwusa.com/safety-and-em...ta-airbag.html

I'll humor you and click the attachments. So the rate sheet and Faq are dated 2020 and 2019 respectively. The car and driver Lin I posted predates that by 5 years. Sure, bmw was the first to identified which models were affected, but if you scroll down the article it says they are also the LAST automaker to hold out from a nationwide recall. Now granted they gotten better over the years, but only after mass recalls from other manufacturers were happening.

[ajacks8]

Originally Posted by BLKD_OUT_BMR

I feel like bmw dropped the ball on this. Warnings for Toyota, Honda, and just about anyone else using Takata airbags issued recalls about 5 years ago, might have even been longer. Why did it take them so long to recognize the issue when everyone else already did. Did they not believe the stories of shrapnel killing people when the airbag deployed?

Because reading the whole piece is obviously not as easy as writing a retort to the title...

[tastevens]

Originally Posted by Jason

May 4, 2023

— Affects approximately 90,000 vehicles built between 2000 and 2006 already under recall.
— The vehicles remain unrepaired despite intense customer outreach efforts since 2016.
— Owners of these vehicles should park them immediately and contact BMW for more information.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 4, 2023… In the interest of customer safety, BMW of North America has pro-actively issued an immediate Do Not Drive warning for approximately 90,000 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. These vehicles have already been included in several Takata-related recalls; however, despite intense customer outreach efforts by BMW since 2016, they remain unrepaired and, as the airbag inflators age further, the risk of serious injury or death increases. Therefore, to reemphasize the seriousness of the situation, the decision was made to escalate the recall to a Do Not Drive order. Owners of affected BMWs that have not had their vehicles inspected and repaired should not consider them safe to drive.

Notification emails will be sent to owners of these vehicles starting in May with letters to follow in June.

These vehicles were manufactured with airbag inflators that contain a propellant that breaks down after long-term exposure to temperature fluctuations and humidity. If the vehicle is involved in a crash and the driver’s airbag deploys, the metal airbag inflator can rupture, sending razor-sharp shrapnel towards the [...]

Some LAZY stupid BMW OWNERS continue to ignore this safely warning. ITS FREE AND MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!

BMW is trying to protect car owners and themselves from expensive litigation.

Hello?

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by ajacks8

Because reading the whole piece is obviously not as easy as writing a retort to the title...

Still 2 years late to the game bud. Recalls were being issued from other car manufacturers as early as 2014. 🤣

[vj123]

Originally Posted by BLKD_OUT_BMR

I feel like bmw dropped the ball on this. Warnings for Toyota, Honda, and just about anyone else using Takata airbags issued recalls about 5 years ago, might have even been longer. Why did it take them so long to recognize the issue when everyone else already did. Did they not believe the stories of shrapnel killing people when the airbag deployed?

BMW can repair the vehicle only if the owners respond to the notifications. Answer to your questions is right in the second bullet of the initial post.

The vehicles remain unrepaired despite intense customer outreach efforts since 2016.

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by tastevens

Some LAZY stupid BMW OWNERS continue to ignore this safely warning. ITS FREE AND MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!

BMW is trying to protect car owners and themselves from expensive litigation.

Hello?

Totally agree with you. I wouldn't feel safe driving any car with those airbags. Literally a grenade in front of your face

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by vj123

BMW can repair the vehicle only if the owners respond to the notifications. Answer to your questions is right in the second bullet of the initial post.

The vehicles remain unrepaired despite intense customer outreach efforts since 2016.

Yeah, since 2016. Recalls have been happening since 2014...but you are right. They can only repair the vehicles that are brought in for repair.

[tastevens]

Originally Posted by BLKD_OUT_BMR

Totally agree with you. I wouldn't feel safe driving any car with those airbags. Literally a grenade in front of your face

Thanks. The "I'm going to sue you because you didn't protect me from harming myself" mentality seems to be increasing in this country.
I'm sick of it.

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by tastevens

Thanks. The "I'm going to sue you because you didn't protect me from harming myself" mentality seems to be increasing in this country.
I'm sick of it.

Lol. "I'm owed something even though you were trying to protect me!!! Waaaaah!!!" 😭

[ErikJ1]

I went thru this with my Infiniti Q50 Sport Hybrid like 5yrs ago...wtf bmw?

[BLKD_OUT_BMR]

Originally Posted by ErikJ1

I went thru this with my Infiniti Q50 Sport Hybrid like 5yrs ago...wtf bmw?

I'm not knocking bmw, just think they could have been more proactive about it.

[MParallel]

Not sure if I am more amazed about the "Do not drive" order, or the lack of reading comprehension...

[DangerousTacos]

Originally Posted by BLKD_OUT_BMR

Still 2 years late to the game bud. Recalls were being issued from other car manufacturers as early as 2014. 🤣

The recall was recognized in 2014 but the parts did not start becoming available until 2016. That is when the recall was finalized because a remedy was then available.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by DangerousTacos

The recall was recognized in 2014 but the parts did not start becoming available until 2016. That is when the recall was finalized because a remedy was then available.

This because that was right about the time I started with BMW so the time line is pretty much accurate, at least when it comes to North America.

And to add, just because everyone else initiated a recall, you don’t just follow suit - you still have to do your due diligence and see how/when your own product is affected. BMW can only act based on their information and the information given to them. It’s easy to say “BMW could have been more proactive” now that we know of this whole airbag debacle that affected the entire auto industry but who knew all of this back then?

[TheUltimateDrivingManiac]

Originally Posted by MParallel

Not sure if I am more amazed about the "Do not drive" order, or the lack of reading comprehension...

I guess it's all the same people who never read a manual...

[VirtualGuitars]

They should change the name of the bulletin to:

“Do not get into an accident.”

[tastevens]

A mature responsible adult might even take 3 minutes to enter VIN(s) on NHTSA website to confirm NO RECALLS on all family owned cars & trucks


Just a suggestion.