2013 BMW 328

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.

crash · 46,000 miles

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CAR REVED TO 6 OR 7000 RPM AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHEI DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AS I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint 10994243. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

50,000 miles

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS OCCASIONALLY DO NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, TRAPPING ME INSIDE. PRESSING THE UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE DASHBOARD WORKS, BUT PULLING THE PHYSICAL HANDLES DOES NOT.

NHTSA complaint 11150233. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OIL LEAK STARTED AROUND 75K. NOTICED IT IN MY GARAGE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint 11142361. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

86,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING CAME ON THAT SAYS DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT WILL BARELY GO.

NHTSA complaint 11139279. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

106,000 miles

3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR INTO BMW IN ORDER TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WAS NON OPERABLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TEN THOUSAND TO CHANGE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE, AND THAT THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN BUT IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY A BAD OIL FILTER. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO RECALLS CONCERNING OIL AND I AM …

NHTSA complaint 11133501, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE REGISTERED THIS VEHICLE WITH BMW BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD BE FIXING THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint 11035408. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.