2015 BMW X1 SAV

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, and X1 xDrive35i vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the driver frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

The risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 12,880 vehicles across all model years covered

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 · towed · 40 miles

ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2016 AT 3:15 AM, ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN FOREST HILL AND MILITARY, A DRUNK DRIVER TRAVELING WEST BOUND WHILE I WAS HEADING EAST DROVE INTO MY LANE, HITTING ME DIRECTLY. AFTER THIS HEAD-ON COLLISION, THE DRIVER DECIDED TO FLEE THE SCENE, LEAVING ME STUCK INSIDE THE VEHICLE IN PAIN. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ALIVE. THE AIRBAG INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY LEAVING ME WITH EXCRUCIATING PAIN IN MY NECK, CHEST AND KNEE. I COULD NOT BREATHE OR TALK, I WAS RUSH TO THE WELLINGTON REGIONAL HOSPITAL. I WAS APPROACHING THE LIGHT AND I WAS GOING TO TURN LEFT ON MILITARY TRAIL, THE GUY WHO CRASHED ONTO ME WAS COMING FROM THE NORTH ON MILITARY TRAIL TRYING TO …

NHTSA complaint 10845639, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · towed · 8,500 miles

I CRASHED MY CAR ON 11/10/2015 AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DROVE THROUGH A HEAVY RAIL FENCE AND STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE BUMPER. A LARGE SECTION OF THE FENCE PENETRATED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND LODGED IN THE VEHICLE. CAUSE OF ACCIDENT I BECAME UNCONSCIOUS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO HEART PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint 10853361. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

65,500 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X1 SAV. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, IT INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED, A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO UNITED BMW (1501 ALPHARETTA HWY, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009, (678) 430-3775), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500.

NHTSA complaint 11270208. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

350 miles

DRIVING ON HWY AT 75 MPH EASTBOUND TOWARDS WICHITA FALLS TX - CALM EVENING, SUDDENLY THE FRONT PANEL OF THE SUNROOF ON THE BMW X1 EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE REMNANTS, REMAINING GLASS LOOKED LIKE THE EXPLOSION WAS PUSHING THE GLASS OUT FROM THE INSIDE. VERY SCARY ON THE HWY.

NHTSA complaint 11230559. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

42,600 miles

MY TIRES ARE WORN OUT PAST ACCEPTABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION AND YET THE DEALER INSPECTED MY CAR AND PASSED IT AND REGISTERED IT. CHASSIS CORRODED AND WHEELS ROTTING. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE 14TYH AND DEALER DIDN'T DELIVER IT UNTIL THE 21ST BECAUSE OF APPARENT MISSING TITLE. THE CAR NEEDED SERVICE AND AIR FILTER AND DURING THE SERVICE, THE OTHER (BMW) DEALER FOUND THE ISSUES ATTACHED. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION LISTING A 90 LIMITED WARRANTY AND WAS WONDERING IF THE PURCHASE DEALER OWES ME TO FIX SOME OF THOSE ITEMS, PARTICULARLY TIRES THAT ARE BEYOND SAFE. I ALMOST SKID AND HIT ANOTHER CAR TODAY ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE POOR STATE OF THE TIRES....

NHTSA complaint 11228690. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

145,000 miles

ON MARCH 29, 2019 I TOOK MY CAR IN DUE TO A COOLANT INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT. NALLEY BMW INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO A NEED FOR A RADIATOR. THIS IS THE FOURTH RADIATOR NALLEY BMW AND GLOBAL BMW HAVE REPLACED WITH THE LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUR REPLACEMENTS OF A RADIATOR IN UNDER TWO YEARS. THEY WILL REPAIR THE RADIATOR AND ALLOW DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME. I WILL DRIVE ABOUT 500 MORE MILES BEFORE THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES BACK ON INDICATING TROUBLE. EACH TIME, THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON, THE RADIATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. MARCH 29TH WOULD MAKE THE FOURTH TIME THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED IN UNDER TWO YEARS.

NHTSA complaint 11194065. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.