BMW recalls nearly 400,000 vehicles in the US due to faulty Takata airbags – 3 Series from 2006-2012

Like a ghost from the past that cannot disappear, Takata is back in the press, even though the company is now defunct. Japanese airbag maker declared bankruptcy in 2017 after its airbag inflators were the cause of the largest recall in automotive history.

Speaking of that specter, BMW recalled 394,000 vehicles in the United States this week because of defective Takata airbags that could cause serious injury or death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says a defective airbag could explode, shooting metal fragments at the driver or other occupants of the vehicle. Needless to say, these projectiles can be deadly.

The German automaker explained that the current issue involves previously recalled airbag inflators, but that vehicles may have been fitted with replacement steering wheels that contain defective airbags. That’s right, a defective airbag inflator was replaced with a different airbag inflator.

This latest recall covers BMW 3 Series Sedans and Sportswagons from the 2006 through 2012 model years (including the E90 and F30 generations), and affected vehicles will be inspected for potentially defective airbag inflators. BMW says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this new recall.

Based on ReutersNHTSA said in 2020 that it had identified one death in the United States linked to a Takata airbag rupture in a BMW crash in Arizona. The Takata airbag scandal has been linked to more than 30 deaths worldwide — including at least 26 in the United States — and hundreds of injuries since 2009. The victims were in vehicles made by a variety of automakers.

Closer to home, in March, Audi distributor PHS Automotive Malaysia (PHSAM) Audi car owners reminded to check if their vehicle is involved in the Takata airbag recall. Affected models include the Q5, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, TT and R8, and the response rate is a dismal 25% – if you own any of these models, To act.

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