2015 BMW 435I

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.

The risk

An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The remedy

Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 5,761 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe, 428i Convertible, 428xi Convertible, 435i Convertible, 328xi Gran Turismo, 335xi Gran Turismo, and 2015 428i Gran Coupe, 428xi Gran Coupe, and 435i Gran Coupe vehicles. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.

The risk

If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 18,054 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 428i Convertible, 428i xDrive Convertible, 435i Convertible, and 435i xDrive Convertible vehicles manufactured October 22, 2014, to February 27, 2015. Due to a programming error, the driver's front air bag deployment timing may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

The risk

If the driver's front air bag deployment timing is incorrect, there is an increased risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle crash.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the air bag control module with corrected software version, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 2,067 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.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2015 BMW 435xi (N55 engine, ~79,000 miles) that suffered a sudden and complete engine failure due to the oil pump drive chain. While driving at highway speed, the vehicle experienced an instant loss of oil pressure and engine seizure without any warning lights or prior symptoms. I barely managed to steer the car to the shoulder and avoid being struck by surrounding traffic. This was a serious safety hazard, as the loss of power and steering control occurred in active highway conditions. Inspection revealed a catastrophic internal failure of the oil pump drive chain. This is not related to neglect, lack of maintenance, or external damage—the vehicle …

NHTSA complaint 11685069, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I own a 2015 BMW 435i from Checkered Flag (Jaguar) in about 2017. The car is currently experiencing a fuel pump failure of exactly the type that is described here: [XXX] . Your VIN lookup does not show my car is covered by the recall, even though my car is exactly the make and model described in the recall notice. Moreover, the defect my car is experiencing is exactly the defect described in the recall notice. It makes little sense that some cars of this make and model would have a fuel pump problem but not others; it is far more likely the fuel pumps are common to all cares of this make and model and somehow my VIN was left off the recall list. I’d like to ask you to look further into it, …

NHTSA complaint 11614039, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

56,700 miles

DOORS LOCKS HAVE A DOUBLE PULL FEATURE WHERE THE FIRST PULL WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE SECOND PULL WILL ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. THE FIRST PULL WILL OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO UNLOCK THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. THE FAILURE PERMANENTLY PREVENTS THE DOOR FROM OPENING UNLESS THE OPERATOR PRESSES THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON, LOCATED ON THE CENTER DASH, MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint 11311529. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE WHEN PULLING THE HANDLE. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF.

NHTSA complaint 11277684. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

41,000 miles

THE FRONT STRUT MOVES DOWN THE SPINDLE HITTING THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT NO LOOSE BOLT FOUND DEFECTIVE DESIGN THE BOLT SECURE IT TO THE SPINDLE TOO SMALL AND NO NOTCH ON THE STRUT OR BRACKET ON STRUT TO SECURE THEM FROM COMING APART VERY DANGEROUS LOOSE VEHICLE CONTROL I'M A CERTIFIED ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN

NHTSA complaint 11162840. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

20 miles

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, AND THE ENGINE IS NOT OPERATING, THE "DOUBLE-PULL" OPERATION TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MALFUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING OR NOTICE. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY VEHICLES ACROSS MULTIPLE PRODUCT OFFERINGS (BOTH SERIES AND YEAR) WITHIN THE BRAND.

NHTSA complaint 11154394. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.