2013 BMW 335XI

The defect

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

The risk

If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 7,727 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.

25,000 miles

DOOR SOMETIMES DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. NORMALLY A DOUBLE PULL ON THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR. BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT UNLOCK (THE HANDLE FEELS STUCK AND CAN'T BE FULLY PULLED) AND REQUIRES PRESSING THE ELECTRONIC CENTRAL LOCKING SWITCH. NOT SAFE IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I HAVE A VIDEO BUT CANT UPLOAD IT.

NHTSA complaint 11066551. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 335XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10949142. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

5 miles

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, NEW OFF THE LOT, THE BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. THE NOISE IS SUCH A HIGH PITCH THAT OTHER CARS LOOK AT ME LIKE NAILS ON A CHALK BOARD. I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION TO BMW SERVICE CENTER AT LEAST 6X WHILE THE CAR IS BEING SERVICED AND CONTACTED BMW USA, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR TO MAKE THIS NOISE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AT 22,000 MILES IT IS BEYOND ACCEPTABLE. ONE SERVICE CENTER CLEANED THE BRAKES, BUT ALL WILL NOT REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS, SUCH AS ROTORS OR BRAKE PADS. I GUARANTEE THAT IF THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WOULD GET THEM REPAIRED FOR A SIZABLE COST. ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER, SAID THAT …

NHTSA complaint 10763354, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

15,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 335XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVE SLOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD STRUCK SOMETHING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA complaint 10586583. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.