BMW recall due to faulty airbags
BMW has announced a recall of over 5,000 SUVs due to faulty airbags manufactured by Takata. Key points:
Historical context of the problem
Years ago, approximately 67 million Takata airbags were recalled due to the risk of them turning into makeshift fragmentation grenades. This led to numerous injuries and deaths worldwide.
Recent BMW case
Although the dangerous Takata saga is mostly over, BMW is now recalling 5,361 units of the 2000-2021 X5 crossover, which may have a sports steering wheel with the Takata PSDI-4 inflator.
The government reports that the inflator “can explode during activation due to propellant degradation that occurs after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycles.”
Problem identification
While preparing “technical campaigns” for airbags in markets outside the US, BMW reviewed all its records and found that some customers in the US might have replaced the standard steering wheel with a sports one. This could have led to the replacement of the non-ammonium nitrate inflator with a PSDI-4 device that uses this material.
Technical specifics of the defect
The problem is that “propellant tablets can undergo changes over time,” causing “overly aggressive burning during airbag activation.”
Recall scope
It is believed that only 0.1% of the recalled vehicles have the Takata PSDI-4 inflator, but BMW decided to conduct the recall out of an abundance of caution. This is a wise step, as for approximately five people, it could be a matter of life or death.
Recall procedure
Owners will be notified shortly before Christmas and will be instructed to take their crossover to the nearest dealership. There, technicians will inspect and replace the driver’s front airbag if necessary.
This recall demonstrates how long-lasting the consequences of large-scale technical problems in the automotive industry can be. Even many years after the initial recall, manufacturers continue to discover potentially dangerous components in vehicles of various ages. Similar stories highlight the importance of continuous vehicle safety monitoring and transparency between manufacturers and owners.