The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V-851, 19V852, or 19V-853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
The risk
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW 3 Series | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 323i | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 328Ci | 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 328i | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 330Ci | 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 330i | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| BMW 330xi | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER 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 3 Series | 1999 | 6 | 1 |
| BMW 3 Series | 2000 | 88 | 1 |
| BMW 3 Series | 2001 | 36 | 1 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2000 | 31 | 4 |
| BMW 323Ci | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW 323i | 1999 | 136 | 7 |
| BMW 323i | 2000 | 401 | 7 |
| BMW 323i | 2001 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2000 | 6 | 3 |
| BMW 325Ci | 2001 | 49 | 5 |
| BMW 328Ci | 2000 | 15 | 4 |
| BMW 328Ci | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW 328i | 1999 | 98 | 7 |
| BMW 328i | 2000 | 112 | 7 |
| BMW 328i | 2001 | 4 | 3 |
| BMW 330Ci | 2000 | 1 | 3 |
| BMW 330Ci | 2001 | 82 | 5 |
| BMW 330i | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW 330i | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW 330i | 2001 | 116 | 7 |
| BMW 330xi | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW 330xi | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW 330xi | 2001 | 11 | 5 |
Other air bags recalls in 2021
65 of the 988 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2021 concerned the air bags; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 21V980000 16 Dec 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V925000 24 Nov 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 21V923000 24 Nov 2021 | Ford Motor Company |
| 21V892000 17 Nov 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 21V874000 10 Nov 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 21V873000 10 Nov 2021 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 21V868000 9 Nov 2021 | Tesla, Inc. |
| 21V860000 5 Nov 2021 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2021