Volkswagen and Audi to p​​ay $42 million Takata airbag settlement

Miami, FL – December 19, 2021 – Volkswagen and Audi (OTCMKTS: VWAGY) have agreed to pay out $42 million dollars in a settlement with current and former car owners whose vehicles were built with potentially deadly Takata airbags. 

The settlement includes  some of the following vehicles:

  • 2009 – 2017 Volkswagen CC
  • 2012 – 2019 Volkswagen Beetle
  • 2006 – 2013 Audi A3
  • 2005 – 2008 Audi A4 Avant
  • 2007 – 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet
  • 2005 – 2008 Audi A4 Sedan
  • 2010 – 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet
  • 2006 – 2011 Audi A6 Avant
  • 2005 – 2011 Audi A6 Sedan
  • 2017 Audi R8 Coupe
  • 2008 Audi RS 4 Cabriolet
  • 2007 – 2008 Audi RS 4 Sedan

Settlement summary  

The $42-million dollar settlement was reached in November and is the result of a 2014 class action lawsuit against Volkswagen and Audi for selling or leasing vehicles built with defective Takata airbags. The lawsuit sought to recover damages for the risks and costs owners and lessees incurred during Audi and Volkswagen airbag recalls. 

The settlement affects current or former owners or lessees of the vehicles that were all subject to the infamous  Takata airbag recall, which has affected about 100 million airbags worldwide.  The current owners must have bought the car by November 10, 2021 while the former owners must have sold or returned their vehicle after February 9, 2016.

All cars must have been bought or leased in the U.S. or a U.S. territory. For a full list of vehicles, please visit this page. To check if your car is subject to a recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

The settlement

To receive settlement funds, you will need to fill out a claim form and send it to a settlement administrator. The form, and more instructions, can be found here.

The settlement is still subject to a final approval by the United States District Court in the Southern District of Florida. The hearing to approve it is expected to be held in early March.

The payment

Those who had to pay for transportation, towing, childcare or lost wages during the Volkswagen and Audi airbag recall may be eligible for reimbursement and potentially two payments of up to $250 later on. Those with no expenses are still eligible to receive up to $500.

Risks

Takata airbags contain an inflator that is at risk of exploding when the airbag is deployed. Exploding inflators pose a serious threat to the safety of car occupants, sending sharp shrapnel flying at drivers’ and passengers’ bodies. Reuters reported that as of September this year, Takata airbags had killed 28 people and injured over 400 worldwide. 

Other Takata airbag recall settlements

Audi and Volkswagen are not the first automakers to settle a suit over the defective airbags. The following car companies have settled class action lawsuits with current and former owners:

  • BMW, $131 million
  • Ford, $299.1 million
  • Honda, $605 million
  • Mazda, $75.8 million
  • Nissan, $97.7 million
  • Subaru, $68.2 million
  • Toyota, $278.5 million

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

According to court documents, 35% of recalled Takata inflators in Volkswagen and Audi vehicles still need repairs. To see if your car is one of them, run a VW recall check with MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolkswagen and Audi to p​​ay $42 million Takata airbag settlement

General Motors under investigation for airbag failures

Washington, D.C. – April 19, 2021 – The U.S. government’s highway safety regulator is investigating General Motors (NYSE:GM) over reports of an airbag malfunction. The investigation cites 15 complaints and covers the following vehicles:

  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac CT4
  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac CT5
  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2020 – 2021 Cadillac XT5
  • 2020 – 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2020 – 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  • 2020 – 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  • 2020-2021 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2020 – 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2020 – 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2020 – 2021 GMC Sierra 2500
  • 2020 – 2021 GMC Sierra 3500
  • 2020 – 2021 GMC Yukon
  • 2020 – 2021 GMC Yukon XL
  • 2020 GMC Sierra Denali
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
  • 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD
  • 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD
  • 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD

Complaints  

Of the 15 complaints, consumers submitted to the regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), six mention serious crashes where the airbags failed to deploy, while eight highlight injuries that occurred in connection with the problem.

One complaint from Dayton, Ohio graphically describes the consequences when one driver’s airbag failed to deploy in an accident, resulting in a serious head injury. During the accident, “something hit [the driver’s] face while the “steering wheel airbag” failed to deploy. The driver remembers crawling out of their overturned Cadillac Escalade and being taken to the hospital. Upon being discharged, the person experienced “loss of taste and smell” except for the “smell of brain matter” from “fluid” dripping down their nasal cavity.

Other complaints describe the airbags failing to deploy despite the driver hitting several trees. 

Cause of the problem

The administration’s investigation points to a bulletin GM posted for dealers and repair shops in March, addressing problems with the airbag warning light. The bulletin blames the problem on “rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver airbag inflator.”

However, according to a statement obtained by the Associated Press (AP), GM said it was unaware of any airbags failing to deploy due to this problem, adding that its own analysis of the issue found that airbags would still deploy in a crash even if the malfunction light was on.

Warning signs

Some of the complaints describe the airbag and “service safety restraint system” warning lights coming on as often as “every two to three minutes when driving.”

Other GM airbag recalls

GM has recently recalled close to 6 million cars because of potentially lethal Takata airbags that may rupture when deployed. Separately, in April NHTSA launched another investigation after multiple car manufacturers – including GM – recalled airbags that were improperly folded during the installation process and could fail to deploy. The airbags were manufactured by Joyson, a successor of Takata.

It is not clear who produced the GM airbags at the center of the current investigation.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 749,000 vehicles could be recalled as a result of NHTSA’s investigation. To do a GM recall check, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and come back to the site when more details become available.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors under investigation for airbag failures

Ford and Mazda begin 2.6 million-vehicle-strong Takata airbag recall

Dearborn, MI and Washington, D.C. March 23, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) and Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) have begun recalls of 2,608,515 vehicles equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags whose inflators could explode, injuring or killing drivers and passengers. This latest Takata airbag recall includes:

  • 2007 – 2011 Ford Ranger pickups
  • 2007 – 2009 Mazda B Series pickups
  • 2006 – 2012 Ford Fusion sedans
  • 2006 – 2012 Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ sedans
  • 2006 – 2011 Mercury Milan sedans
  • 2007 – 2010 Ford Edge SUVs
  • 2007 – 2010 Lincoln MKX luxury SUVs

The vast majority of the recalled vehicles are Fords; the Mazda models in this recall were built by Ford due to a past relationship between the two companies.

Recall summary  

This Takata airbag recall is caused by faulty airbag inflators that can degrade over time and rupture when the airbags are deployed, sending shrapnel flying into vehicle occupants. Worldwide, these explosions have killed 27 people and have injured over 400.

The recall follows on the heels of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rejecting the automakers’ petition not to recall these vehicles.

The inflators explode because of repeated exposure to high humidity and “high temperatures” and despite the addition of a desiccant, or a drying agent, that is meant to minimize the risk.

Risks

The risks involved in this recall are similar to those in a recent Volkswagen Takata airbag recall, which we cover in this previous article.

Other Takata airbag recalls

Over 66 million Takata airbags have been recalled in recent years in what amounts to the largest recall in the automotive history up-to-date. Just this year alone, General Motors recalled 6 million vehicles equipped with these potentially lethal airbags. 

Some of the cars involved in earlier rounds of recalls should NOT be driven at all. See the full list here.

The repair

Ford, Lincoln and Mazda dealers will replace the defective airbags with one that does not contain ammonium nitrate. The dealer will not charge for this service.

It is not clear when the parts will be available.

Ford and Lincoln owners should receive recall notifications with more instructions as early as April 1; Mazda owners can expect theirs to arrive by May 9. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2.6 million vehicles are included in these Ford and Mazda recalls. To do a Mazda or Ford recall check, enter your VIN into MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord and Mazda begin 2.6 million-vehicle-strong Takata airbag recall

General Motors begins government-ordered Takata airbag recall

December 2, 2021 UPDATE – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied 248,214 models including the 2014 Chevy Silverado 2500. No vehicles have been deemed unreachable but 1,373 vehicles have been removed from the recall of the GM Takata Airbag Recall.

Warren, MI – February 15,  2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has begun a series of recalls of nearly 6 million vehicles built with potentially dangerous Takata airbags. This particular recall covers 1,778,128 vehicles, and includes the following models:

  • 2007-2014 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2007-2014 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2007-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  • 2007-2013 Chevrolet Avalanche
  • 2007-2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  • 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  • 2007-2014 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2007-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2007-2013 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2009-2014 GMC Sierra 2500
  • 2009-2014 GMC Sierra 3500
  • 2007-2014 GMC Yukon
  • 2007-2014 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary  

The recalled vehicles were built with Takata airbag inflators that, due to damage from moisture, may explode when the airbags are deployed. If the inflator explodes, its metal casing can fragment into shrapnel that could fly into drivers’ and passengers’ bodies, possibly maiming or killing them. This December article explains in more depth why the U.S. government ordered General Motors to recall these vehicles

Repair

Recalled GM vehicles are divided into five priority groups, labeled priority group 6 through priority group 10. Owners of the vehicles in group 6 – whose cars are older and were sold or registered in the hottest parts of the country –  will be notified by mail when repair is available in early March. Consumers in groups 7-10 – that are considered lower risk – will be advised of the recall in late February, but it is not clear when the repair will be available.

However, consumers in both categories may be able to receive a repair earlier by contacting their dealer.

Use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool to see if your car is affected and to connect with an authorized dealership.

All repairs will be free of charge.

Risks

Exploding inflators pose a significant danger to vehicle occupants. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed that Takata inflators have killed at least 18 people in the U.S. and at least nine more abroad. 

You can find some broad recommendations for owners of affected cars – including a list of cars that should NOT be driven – in this article detailing the background of this GM recall.

Other GM airbag inflator recalls

In December, GM recalled Chevy Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks, as well as GMC Sierra 2500, 1500 and 3500 pickups whose roof airbag inflators could shoot off an end cap, potentially injuring occupants or distracting them.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 1.7 million vehicles were originally included in this Takata / GM airbag recall. As of April 9, 2021, – the last date information was available – 104,212 airbags had been replaced.  To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.

Note: July 17, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the number of cars that have been replaced to reflect the most up-to-date information.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors begins government-ordered Takata airbag recall

Nissan recalls nearly 4,000 Sentras equipped with Takata airbags

November 18, 2021 UPDATE – Nissan (OTCMKTS: NSANY) has remedied Nissan Sentra airbag issues in 691 models including the 2003 Nissan Sentra with no models being deemed unreachable or being removed from the recall.

Franklin, TN – October 28, 2021  – Nissan (OTCMKTS: NSANY) has recalled 3,930 Sentra compact cars built with Takata airbag inflators that could explode and injure or kill the occupants of the vehicle with “sharp metal fragments.” This acted as another installment of recalls following the 2020 Nissan and Infiniti recall of malfunctioning airbags. So far the infamous recall – that has encompassed multiple manufacturers including and is the largest one in history – has seen 27 fatalities and at least 250 injuries.

This latest round includes 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra cars and concerns the front passenger airbag (part #985614Z60A).

Recall summary

This recall serves to correct a prior Nissan recall of Takata airbags conducted in 2015.

During that recall, dealers misidentified the types of airbag inflators on some of the recalled vehicles. As a result, these dangerous airbags were not removed. 

According to recall documents, such an error resulted in an injury in 2018, when a misidentified airbag’s inflator exploded, prompting an investigation by the automaker.

Continuing history of recalls

Automakers have been issuing ever-expanding recalls of Takata airbags for seven years, with 100 million inflators recalled worldwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has overseen the removal of approximately 63 million Takata airbag inflators in the US, including a recently ordered recall of 5.9 million General Motors vehicles equipped with them.

Read more about what’s wrong with Takata airbags here.

Repair

Nissan dealers will inspect and replace the airbag, if necessary, with one manufactured by a different supplier. Owners will be notified by mail starting Jan 5, 2021, but parts are already available. Nissan is recommending that owners do not allow passengers to sit in the front passenger seat until the car has been serviced. 

If you are uncomfortable driving your recalled Sentra, Nissan will pay to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. Customers may request this by calling Consumer Affairs at 1 (888) 737-9511.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 4,000 vehicles are included in this Nissan Takata Airbag recall. As of April 9 – the last date for which information was available – only 357 airbags had been replaced. To see if your airbag still needs to be replaced, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.

Note: June 8, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the completion rate of this recall in the last paragraph to reflect the most up-to-date information.


Rebecca RandNissan recalls nearly 4,000 Sentras equipped with Takata airbags

Volvo recalls luxury sedans for Takata-like airbag problems

Pleasanton, CA – November 29, 2020 – Volvo Car USA (OTC:GELYF)  has recalled 54,124 executive cars with airbags whose inflators may burst and injure or kill the driver and passengers with “metal fragments” when deployed. The recall concerns the FG2 Twin Driver Airbag Inflator Module containing 5AT 148 and includes:

  • 2001-2003 Volvo S60
  • 2001-2003 Volvo S80

Recall summary

Airbag inflators perform exactly what you’d expect them to do – inflate a car’s airbag when needed in the event of a crash. In a scenario that’s eerily similar to the infamous Takata airbag recall, metal fragments that form part of the inflator may shatter during the airbag deployment and strike the occupants of the vehicle.

The defect is a result of the propellant in the airbag being exposed to hot temperatures and “elevated moisture levels” present in the areas with such climate. As such, the recall encompasses 22 Southern U.S. states, as well as five U.S. territories,  such as Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. 

History of airbag troubles

Since 2018, ZF TRW – a U.S. subsidiary of German auto parts maker ZF Group that appears to be behind the recall – has been subject to 68 lawsuits, according to the court records. At least one of the ongoing lawsuits allege that ZF-manufactured airbags fail to deploy during a crash because of a “design defect,” according to a transcript from a hearing.

Risks

In the event of a crash, the airbag deploys at a very high speed, in less than a second.  During the deployment, the metal fragments in the inflator can shoot out and injure the driver or the passengers or cause their death.

As of the date of the recall, one fatality was reported.

Repair

Volvo will be replacing the driver side airbag free of charge. The vehicle owners will be notified of the recall on January 4.  It is not clear, however, when the remedy will be available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 54,000 vehicles are a part of this Volvo Car recall. To check whether your car is one of them, you can use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Aleksandra SnesarevaVolvo recalls luxury sedans for Takata-like airbag problems

BMW Recalls Over 300,000 Vehicles Due to Faulty Airbag Inflators

Laguna Hills, Calif. – March 20, 2022 – BMW of North America has remedied issues with 46,423 models including the 2007-2012 BMW X5, 2000-2006 BMW M3, and others with driver and/or passenger airbag Failures. Besides this, 0 have been declared as unreachable and 606 has been removed from the recall. Four groups of these BMW models were remedied in 2020 and two groups were fixed in 2021 for this un-announced explosion risk on the driver and/or passenger airbags.

Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 17, 2020 – BMW of North America (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling approximately 357,000 vehicles with faulty driver and/or passenger airbags that could explode un-announced, sending dangerous objects and metal at car passengers.

The following models will need their passenger-side airbags replaced:

  • 2000-2005 BMW 320I
  • 2000-2006 BMW 323CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 323I
  • 2000-2005 BMW 323IT
  • 2000-2006 BMW 325CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325I
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325IT
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325XI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325XIT
  • 2000-2006 BMW 328CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 328I
  • 2000-2006 BMW 330CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 330I
  • 2000-2005 BMW 330XI
  • 2000-2006 BMW M3

The following models will need their driver’s-side airbags replaced:

  • 2008-2013 BMW 1 Series M
  • 2008-2013 BMW 128I
  • 2008-2013 BMW 135I
  • 2006-2011 BMW 325I
  • 2006-2012 BMW 325XI
  • 2006-2013 BMW 328I
  • 2006-2012 BMW 328XI
  • 2006-2011 BMW 330I
  • 2006-2011 BMW 330XI
  • 2009-2011 BMW 335D
  • 2006-2013 BMW 335I
  • 2007-2013 BMW 335IS
  • 2006-2011 BMW 335XI
  • 2007-2013 BMW M3
  • 2013-2015 BMW X1
  • 2007-2010 BMW X3
  • 2013 BMW X5
  • 2013-2014 BMW X6

The following models will need to have both driver- and passenger-side airbags replaced:

  • 2006 BMW M3
  • 2007-2012 BMW X5
  • 2008-2012 BMW X6
  • 2010-2011 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid SAC

The defect

Affected vehicles may be installed with faulty airbag inflators which, under the pressure of high heat and humidity, could explode sending dangerous metal fragments and objects toward the driver and other vehicle occupants.

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BMW has released certain years and models that have specific airbag inflator recalls; these include the driver’s-side airbag, driver’s-side airbag inflator, and the passenger side airbag. Below is a released list of the affected vehicles:

The solution

BMW asks all affected vehicles owners to bring the recall into any authorized BMW dealership for instalment of a new airbag inflator. This recall service will be free of charge. All affected vehicle owners should register their vehicles online to ensure fast and reliable recall service.

Affected airbag inflators, supplied by Takata, were installed using ammonium nitrate, which, under the extreme cases of heat and humidity, caused the inflators unannounced explosion. Permanent replacements of the airbag inflators will not use ammonium nitrate.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 357,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 147,233 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 17, 2020 – BMW of North America (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling approximately 357,000 vehicles with faulty driver and/or passenger airbags that could explode un-announced, sending dangerous objects and metal at car passengers.

The following models will need their passenger-side airbags replaced:

  • 2000-2005 BMW 320I
  • 2000-2006 BMW 323CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 323I
  • 2000-2005 BMW 323IT
  • 2000-2006 BMW 325CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325I
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325IT
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325XI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 325XIT
  • 2000-2006 BMW 328CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 328I
  • 2000-2006 BMW 330CI
  • 2000-2005 BMW 330I
  • 2000-2005 BMW 330XI
  • 2000-2006 BMW M3

The following models will need their driver’s-side airbags replaced:

  • 2008-2013 BMW 1 Series M
  • 2008-2013 BMW 128I
  • 2008-2013 BMW 135I
  • 2006-2011 BMW 325I
  • 2006-2012 BMW 325XI
  • 2006-2013 BMW 328I
  • 2006-2012 BMW 328XI
  • 2006-2011 BMW 330I
  • 2006-2011 BMW 330XI
  • 2009-2011 BMW 335D
  • 2006-2013 BMW 335I
  • 2007-2013 BMW 335IS
  • 2006-2011 BMW 335XI
  • 2007-2013 BMW M3
  • 2013-2015 BMW X1
  • 2007-2010 BMW X3
  • 2013 BMW X5
  • 2013-2014 BMW X6

The following models will need to have both driver- and passenger-side airbags replaced:

  • 2006 BMW M3
  • 2007-2012 BMW X5
  • 2008-2012 BMW X6
  • 2010-2011 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid SAC

The defect

Affected vehicles may be installed with faulty airbag inflators which, under the pressure of high heat and humidity, could explode sending dangerous metal fragments and objects toward the driver and other vehicle occupants.

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BMW has released certain years and models that have specific airbag inflator recalls; these include the driver’s-side airbag, driver’s-side airbag inflator, and the passenger side airbag. Below is a released list of the affected vehicles:

The solution

BMW asks all affected vehicles owners to bring the recall into any authorized BMW dealership for instalment of a new airbag inflator. This recall service will be free of charge. All affected vehicle owners should register their vehicles online to ensure fast and reliable recall service.

Affected airbag inflators, supplied by Takata, were installed using ammonium nitrate, which, under the extreme cases of heat and humidity, caused the inflators unannounced explosion. Permanent replacements of the airbag inflators will not use ammonium nitrate.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 357,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 147,233 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyBMW Recalls Over 300,000 Vehicles Due to Faulty Airbag Inflators

BMW Recalls Vehicles Equipped with Faulty Airbag Inflators

re: NHTSA Campaign 20V017000

Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 23, 2020 – BMW of North American, LLC (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling nearly 60,000 vehicles equipped with faulty airbag inflators that could explode, sending sharp metal objects towards the driver and other occupants. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2008-2013 BMW 1 SERIES M
  • 2008-2013 BMW 128I
  • 2008-2013 BMW 135I
  • 2006-2011 BMW 325I
  • 2006-2012 BMW 325XI
  • 2006-2013 BMW 328I
  • 2006-2012 BMW 328XI
  • 2006-2011 BMW 330I
  • 2006-2011 BMW 330XI
  • 2009-2011 BMW 335D
  • 2006-2013 BMW 335I
  • 2007-2013 BMW 335IS
  • 2006-2011 BMW 335XI
  • 2006-2013 BMW M3
  • 2013-2015 BMW X1
  • 2007-2010 BMW X3
  • 2007-2013 BMW X5
  • 2008-2014 BMW X6
  • 2010-2011 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid SAC

The defect

The affected driver-side frontal inflators are non-desiccated and contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as repair parts for all authorized Takata recalls.

Exposed to long periods of humidity and high temperatures, the ammonium nitrate (PSAN) could cause the driver frontal inflator to explode sending sharp metal fragments that could result in severe injury to the vehicle occupants or death.

The solution

BMW will notify affected vehicle owners by March 6, 2020 when the official recall will begin. All official BMW dealerships will perform the necessary repair free of charge. The repair consists of replacing the previous faulty Takata airbags with an inflator that does not contain ammonium nitrate.

X5 and X6 vehicles will only need the inflator and not the whole apparatus replaced.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Nearly 60,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 43,982 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.


—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyBMW Recalls Vehicles Equipped with Faulty Airbag Inflators

BMW recalls 1999-2001 vehicles with deadly Takata airbags

Laguna Hills, CA – November 26, 2019 -– BMW is recalling 74,185 vehicles equipped with deadly Takata-manufactured Non-Azide Driver airbag Inflators (NADI). The recall includes the following cars:

  • 1999 – 2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i
  • 2000 – 2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT 

As of the date of the recall, one person was killed and another injured as a result of this defect. Therefore, it is important that you take your vehicle in for repair immediately. Use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool to see if your car is part of this recall.

The defect

BMW states that these specific units may have received replacement airbags as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator can absorb moisture, causing the airbag to rupture or underinflate.

All listed vehicles may have had these devices installed during repairs. In the event of a crash, a rupture of the inflator can result in dangerous metal fragments hitting drivers and passengers, while an underinflated airbag can fail to shield the occupants properly.

These issues increase the risk of severe injury or death. BMW has not provided any guidance on how to ascertain if a vehicle possesses the defective NADI inflators.

Owners should exercise caution; a solution is not yet available at this time, and BMW recommends that owners should not utilize their vehicles until safe removal processes are available.

Timeline of events

On November 26, 2019, manufacturer Takata (TK Global LLC) disclosed that some of their NADI inflators produced from 1995 – 2000 were defective and issued a recall for all known extant units and vehicles that may contain said units.

Later that day, BMW issued a recall for several different classes of vehicle, gradually adding more to the list by the end of the day. BMW North America is currently the only automobile manufacturer to have issued a recall relating to these defective Takata NADI inflators.

Recommending that owners do not currently drive their vehicles, BMW is sending interim notices about the risk to owners until January 17, and again when the remedy becomes available.

The solution

Dealers will inspect the cars and replace the defective airbags free of charge. Owners were last notified on November 20, 2020.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 74,000 cars were originally part of this recall. As of April 30, 2021, only 4,162 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be serviced, please use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the article to reflect the latest editorial standards; provided the most-up-to-date information in the “Solution” section and added the last section where drivers can check if their vehicle is part of this recall. To the best of our knowledge, the cars in this recall are not on the “Do not drive” list. However, out of the abundance of caution, we are keeping the original author’s recommendation NOT to drive these vehicles before they are repaired. Please contact support@motorsafety.org with any questions.

Sean ReyesBMW recalls 1999-2001 vehicles with deadly Takata airbags

Volkswagen Recalls More Than 100,000 Vehicles Equipped With Defective Takata Air Bags

Herndon, VA – February 28, 2019 – Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling over 100,000 vehicles equipped with Takata airbags that could explode and injure vehicle occupants. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2017 Audi R8
  • 2016-2017 Audi TT
  • 2015-2017 Volkswagen CC
  • 2015-2016 Volkswagen Eos
  • 2015 Volkswagen Passat

This is part of a vast and ongoing scheduled recall of vehicles with Takata air bags. The estimated number of units affected is 119,394.

The defect

According to the NHTSA Safety Report filed January 11, the non-desiccated ammonium nitrate used as a propellant in the air bag inflators in the passenger side airbags of these vehicles poses a risk at some point in the future for all vehicles thus equipped.

If the driver’s frontal air bag deploys, the defective inflator could potentially rupture. The degrading ammonium nitrate present in the propellant wafers may explode under excessive internal pressure in the event of a crash which causes deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag.

In very rare cases, the explosion might mean that metal fragments could pass through the air bag cushion material and go flying into the interior of the vehicle from the passenger front side, potentially striking the vehicle occupants and conceivably resulting in serious injury or death.

This recall is part of a massive worldwide recall of vehicles with Takata airbags that is being conducted in waves starting with the vehicles that are at highest risk of propellant degradation (older vehicles and vehicles in Zones 1, 2, and 3.) 

All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from regions subject to high absolute humidity.

Timeline of events

The filing was made as required per the NHTSA Coordinated Remedy Order. The date of determination for Audi was January 2, and the date of determination for Volkswagen was January 9, 2019.

Volkswagen will cooperate with NHTSA to prioritize and stagger vehicle repairs by joining NHTSA’s coordinated remedy program. The remedy components for this defect are not ammonium-nitrate based accelerant air bag inflators.

According to Consumer Reports, the investigation began in 2008, after reports of exploding air bags and flying metal shrapnel surfaced.

The cause turned out to be degraded propellant wafers in the air bag inflators manufactured by Takata, which were installed in millions of cars between 2002 and 2015. 

Vehicles made by 19 different automakers have been recalled in what may turn out to be the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.

The solution

The recall is expected to begin in March 2019. Volkswagen will notify owners by mail, and be instructed to take their vehicle to an authorized Audi dealer.

Dealers will replace the driver’s frontal air bag inflator with an alternative part, free of charge. Audi and Volkswagen are excluding reimbursement for costs associated with replacement of air bag inflators. 

The Audi recalled component description is 4S0.880.201, and the Volkswagen’s part numbers are 3C8.880.201 and 561.880.201

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 100,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 99,216 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesVolkswagen Recalls More Than 100,000 Vehicles Equipped With Defective Takata Air Bags