BMW Recalls SUVs Due to Takata Air Bag Defects
BMW is recalling a small number of SUVs in the U.S. due to a potential defect in the driver’s air bag inflators manufactured by Takata. This recall raises questions about the safety of approximately 30 million Takata inflators that are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The use of volatile ammonium nitrate in Takata inflators can cause them to deteriorate over time, resulting in a forceful explosion and the ejection of shrapnel. At least 26 deaths in the U.S. and 30 deaths worldwide have been attributed to faulty Takata inflators. The recall involves BMW X3, X4, and X5 SUVs from the 2014 model year equipped with air bags containing a moisture-absorbing chemical called a desiccant. NHTSA is currently investigating Takata inflators with desiccants across various car and truck models from multiple manufacturers. BMW will replace the air bags for affected owners, and notifications will be sent out starting from January 16.
