- Owners may have installed an M Sport steering wheel without knowing it has a recalled Takata airbag inflator.
- The recall involves hundreds of thousands of 3-Series sedan and Wagon models.
- Dealerships have been instructed to inspect the steering wheels and replace the airbag inflators if necessary.
M-branded accessories are supposed to add some extra pizzazz and sporty prowess to BMW’s models. However, in the case of almost 400,000 3-Series models in the U.S., one M accessory could injure or even kill the driver.
BMW has revealed that 2009-2011 BMW 335d, 2006-2012 3-Series Wagon, and 2006-2011 3-Series models, fitted with a sport or M Sport steering wheel, may have been equipped with one of Takata’s dreaded airbag inflators. The manufacturer notes that it didn’t offer the subject airbag inflator as an official replacement part, but many vehicles may have been installed with them.
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The airbag inflator is known as the PSDI-5 and features a propellant that can degrade over years of exposure to high humidity, high temperatures, and high-temperature cycling. If the propellant is altered over time, it can lead to overly aggressive combustion if the airbag is deployed. This could rupture the body of the inflator, sending metal fragments through the airbag material and into the cabin. Occupants could be injured or killed if struck by flying debris.
The recall impacts a total of 394,029 vehicles. These include 378,263 BMW 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, and 335xi models manufactured between February 1, 2005, and December 16, 2011. Also impacted are 5,677 BMW 335d models built from July 25, 2008, to August 11, 2011, and 10,089 BMW 325xi, 328i, and 328xi Wagon models manufactured from August 23, 2005, to May 29, 2012. BMW believes approximately 1% of recalled vehicles may have dangerous Takata airbag inflators.
The carmaker became aware of a potential issue when models started appearing at dealerships that may have had Takata airbag inflators. BMW says this is because some owners in the U.S. have installed a Sport or M-Sport steering wheel, not knowing it’s equipped with the PSDI-5 inflators that were recalled a decade ago.
BMW will notify owners of the recall on August 23, asking them to take their vehicles to a dealership for inspection. If a Takata airbag is found, it will be replaced.
