The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·19V698000·Announced 2019-10-02

BMW Recalls 2000-2002 Models for Driver Air Bag Inflator Defect

BMW is recalling 2000-2002 323, 325, and 330 models because the driver-side air bag inflator may explode, posing a risk of serious injury or death.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defect may result in 'serious injury or death,' which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe (4) rating involving significant injury reports or high-risk structural defects.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2000-2002 325i and 325xi Sedan, and 323Ci, 325Ci, and 330Ci Convertible vehicles. This recall affects 3,924 vehicles that may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment after a crash or as a remedy part for a prior recall.

The frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
BMW 330, 325, 323
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
3,924

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • 330
  • 325
  • 323

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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