The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high 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 passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 320i | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| BMW 323i | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 323iT | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| BMW 325i | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 325iT | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 325xi | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 325xiT | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 328Ci | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| BMW 328i | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 330Ci | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| BMW 330i | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW 330xi | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
| BMW M3 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 320i | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 320i | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 320i | 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 320i | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 320i | 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW 320i | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2000 | 31 | 4 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323i | 2000 | 401 | 7 |
| BMW 323i | 2001 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW 323i | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323i | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323i | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323i | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323iT | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW 323iT | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW 323iT | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323iT | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323iT | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 323iT | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2000 | 6 | 3 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2001 | 49 | 5 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2002 | 30 | 3 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2003 | 27 | 5 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2004 | 68 | 2 |
Other air bags recalls in 2020
45 of the 782 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2020 concerned the air bags; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 20V791000 17 Dec 2020 | Ford Motor Company |
| 20V785000 16 Dec 2020 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 20V749000 2 Dec 2020 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 20V747000 1 Dec 2020 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 20V736000 25 Nov 2020 | General Motors LLC |
| 20V734000 25 Nov 2020 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 20V681000 4 Nov 2020 | Volvo Car USA LLC |
| 20V628000 9 Oct 2020 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2020