2011 BMW 335

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

The risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 840,000 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

60,000 miles

I PURCHASED NEW PIRELLI PZERO TIRES FROM MY LOCAL BMW DEALER. THE REAR TIRES EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT AIR LOSS AND WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THE DEALER BELIEVED THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION. THE SECOND SET OF REAR TIRES ALSO EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT AIR LOSS. THE DEALER BELIEVED THE WHEELS WERE DAMAGED AND CAUSING THE AIR LOSS. I HAD A WHEEL SPECIALIST INSPECT THE WHEELS, AND THEY FOUND NO DEFECTS TO CAUSE AIR LOSS. THE WHEEL SPECIALIST FOUND THE TIRES TO BE DEFECTIVE AS THEY HAVE EXCESS MATERIAL AT THE BEAD THAT PREVENTS PROPER SEALING ON THE RIM. THE WHEEL SPECIALIST ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE EXCESS MATERIAL FROM ONE TIRE TO DETERMINE IF THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE PROBLEM, WHICH …

NHTSA complaint 11150245, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

76,468 miles

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD TODAY IN MY 2011 335I XDRIVE AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED! NO ROCK HIT ME, IT WAS LIKE A SHOTGUN WENT OFF INSIDE MY CAR, I'M RETIRED MILITARY, A VETERANS OF ALL THE WARS/CONFLICTS FROM 89-2009 HAD MORTARS FLYING OVER MY HEAD AND PATRIOT BATTERYS TAKING OUT SCUDS OVERHEAD. IT'S A GOOD THING I DON'T HAVE PTSD, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE! GLASS PIECES EVERYWHERE, IN MY LAP, MOUTH AND IN THE CAR. THERE ARE TWO PARALLEL LINES OF MISSING GLASS, I HAVE TAPED ALL OF IT SO IT DOESN'T FALL DOWN. I CALLED BMW IF MURRAY UTAH, THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND MY WARRANTY IS PAST THEY SAID NO RECALL IS OUT FOR THIS.

NHTSA complaint 11143072. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

PERTAINING TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V676 THAT WAS ISSUED IN OCTOBER OF 2017, I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DECEMBER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE RECALL BUT WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE CHECKING ITS WEBSITE FOR STATUS AND THE REP COULD NOT PROVIDE A TIMEFRAME AS TO WHEN I CAN BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF JANUARY, MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED AND STILL NO ETA AS TO WHEN A FIX WILL BE AVAILABLE. WHEN THERE'S A SAFETY RISK INVOLVED, I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE WAS NOT AN URGENCY BEING PLACED ON THIS RECALL FROM BMW.

NHTSA complaint 11066007. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED TWO BMW RETAILERS IN MY AREA ASKING TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED AND BOTH RESPONSES WERE "WE DON'T HAVE THE PART BUT WILL ORDER IT AND CALL YOU BACK WHEN READY TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT". I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM EITHER AND I CONTACTED BMW MOUNTAIN VIEW OVER 9 MONTHS AGO AND BMW PETER PAN OVER 4 MONTHS AGO. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY SINCE THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS BUT THE FACT THERE IS A KNOWN THREAT IN MY CAR WHICH COULD BE LIFE THREATENING AT ANY MOMENT AND THERE IS NO URGENCY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FROM BMW OR …

NHTSA complaint 11053642, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BLOWER MOTOR SYSTEM CONNECTORS RECALL. RECALL INCOMPLETE REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 11048176. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TAKATA RECALL WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHATS GOING WITH THIS RECALL. ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND STILL THIS ISSUE HASENT GOT REAOLVE.

NHTSA complaint 11015090. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.