Airbag inflator flaw prompts BMW recall

By Chris Chase

Sep 30, 2016

Summary

Metal shards caused by faulty welds could injure vehicle occupants

BMW and Transport Canada are recalling 395 vehicles fitted with frontal airbag inflators that could propel metal fragments toward vehicle occupants when they deploy in a crash.

In this case, the driver's frontal airbag inflator may have been improperly welded and could separate from the rest of the airbag assembly as it inflates. That could allow pieces of metal to be blown out toward the vehicle's occupants.

Though it sounds similar to the circumstances that can arise in cars manufactured with Takata airbag inflators, this latest is actually an unrelated recall that covers X3 and X4 models sold in 2015, and X5s from the 2014 model year. The Takata recall affected X3 variants from 2007-2010, and versions of the X5 sold between 2003 and 2013.

BMW isn't taking any chances: it is asking its dealer service departments to replace the driver's airbag in all affected vehicles.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.