BMW of North America LLC is recalling model year 2006, 2007 and 2013 over airbag issues.
The company is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, anticipated to be in March 2014, BMW will send a second letter and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
The company is also recalling certain model year 2013 X3 xDrive 28i/35i vehicles manufactured Feb. 11, 2013, through Feb. 27, 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Due to a production process error, the tear seam on the instrument panel was not manufactured correctly.
In the event of a crash, the air bag could improperly deploy, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the air bag's protection and increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger. In addition, parts or fragments from the air bag system could strike and injure the front passenger or other vehicle occupants.
BMW has notified owners and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
