Takata airbags continue to expose drivers to personal injury and death risks. The latest Takata-related recall comes from BMW. The German automaker is recalling thousands of its 1999 through 2001 3 Series sedan and wagon vehicles. The same models that were previously recalled in November 2019.
Takata Inflators Pose Personal Injury Risks, BMW Announced
According to the firm, the impacted units come with Takata driver-side airbag inflators that were manufactured with leaky seals, making them more likely to experience propellant degradation over time and exposure to heat and humidity. In the event of an accident, the airbag inflator will implode and blow metal shrapnel into the vehicle’s cabin. Additionally, the airbag might actually not inflate enough due to the same issue, and the driver won’t be protected from injury in the event of an accident.
Unfortunately, the previous recall failed to address the issue in all impacted vehicles and thousands of units ended up not receiving any replacement inflators.
While the current recall impacts only a portion of the 116,000-plus vehicles impacted by the November, 2019 recall, vehicle owners should not ignore the risks.
BMW: Impacted Vehicles Will be Fitted With New Inflators For Free
If you own a recalled BMW vehicle, expect to receive a notice in the mail starting July 19. The firm will request all car owners affected by the recall to schedule a visit to a dealership where the defective inflators will be replaced for free.
Until then, you should be able to reach out to the automaker if you have any concerns about driving the vehicle.
The Takata airbag problem has impacted millions of cars globally, injuring hundreds of people and killing over a dozen others in America alone. We hope automakers are finally taking the final steps in making sure all vehicles are fitted with safe airbag inflators.
For more details on this recall, follow this link.
