2017 BMW X1 SAV

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 X1 xDrive28i and X1 sDrive28i vehicles. The affected vehicles have an instrument panel that may not allow the front passenger air bag to deploy properly in the event of a crash.

The risk

In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 16,771 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.

The risk

If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 3,506 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.

100 miles

AUTOMATIC TAILGATE MALFUNCTIONS. TOE KICK FUNCTIONS RESPOND ERRATICALLY 50% OF THE TIME. THE TAILGATE HAS CLOSED ON MY HEAD WHILE LOADING/UNLOADING. IT HAS OPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS OPENED ONLY HALFWAY AND STALLED WHILE STATIONARY, AND MORE IMPORTANT IT HAS STALLED HALFWAY WHILE CLOSING. I RECENTLY PRESSED THE CLOSE BUTTON AND DROVE OFF WITH THE TAILGATE HALF CLOSED, AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL SOMEONE BEHIND ME BLEW THE HORN. ITEMS IN THE CARGO AREA COULD TUMBLE TO THE HIGHWAY AND CREATE A POSSIBLE HAZARD. IT HAS BEEN IN THE BMW SERVICE DEPART 6 TO 8 TIMES AND INSPECTED AT LEAST TWICE BY SOMEONE FROM BMW OF N. AMERICA. INASMUCH AS IT IS ERRATIC THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE BEEN …

NHTSA complaint 11231069, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

13,326 miles

MY BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE, HAVE BEEN REPAIRED & REPLACED BY BMW THREE TIMES. THE CALIPERS EASILY AGE AND RUST, AND DO NOT HOLD THE PADS AGAINST THR ROTORS PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint 11152131. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

5,800 miles

THE CAR WAS ON AND IN DRIVE, BUT FULLY STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT ON A CITY STREET. THE REAR DOOR OPENED WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED.

NHTSA complaint 11109769. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

8,000 miles

THE BACK HATCH CLOSES SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT MOTION. THE CAR IS PARKED, THEN I MAY SIT ON THE TRUNK OF THE CAR PUTTING ON MY GOLF SHOES AND THE HATCH CLOSES ON ME UNTIL I PUSH IT BACK. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT THE REGULAR ONE-YEAR SERVICE AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE.

NHTSA complaint 11098797. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

11,000 miles

REAR HATCH UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSES AND WILL HIT YOU IF YOU CAN'T MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH. I SUSPECT IT HAPPENS IF YOUR FEET MOVE UNDER THE BUMPER WHEN LOADING OR UNLOADING THE VEHICLE, TRIGGERING THE AUTOMATIC OPEN/CLOSE SENSORS. CAR PARKED. AN WARNING BEEP OCCURS BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER THE HATCH HAS STARTED TO CLOSE. IT WILL HIT YOU. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 WEEKS AND IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. ONLINE OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS HAPPENING.

NHTSA complaint 11048254. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.