90,000 Owners Told Not to Drive Their Older BMWs Due to Takata Airbag Risks
Though it’s been several years since the first problems were reported, we’re still feeling the effects of the massive Takata airbag recall. B MW recently issued a “do not drive” warning to owners of its older vehicles over concerns about their airbags, adding to the list of automakers still recalling vehicles.
The recall affects several models, including the 200-2006 3 Series, the 200-2003 5 Series, and a handful of SUVs. The M3 and iconic E39 M5 are also wrapped into the action, so even rarely-driven sports cars may need an airbag replacement. Owners can check if their vehicle is included on BMW’s recall site, and affected cars get a free airbag replacement.
Takata airbags from the early 2000s are known to explode or deploy improperly if exposed to heat and humidity long-term. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that there had been 25 deaths and hundreds of injuries related to the problem, and the recall was already the largest in history before BMW added 90,000 more vehicles to the list.
Honda and Acura are two others with recent Takata recalls. In February, the pair issued a do not drive warning for several models, including the Accord, Civic, and CR-V from the early 2000s. In that recall, the NHTSA said that the airbags have a 50 percent failure rate, so it’s important not to ignore the problem if you’ve got one of these vehicles.
[Image: wheresmycar101 via Shutterstock]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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I wonder how long the wait is for airbag replacement. I can't imagine that it's a high priority at dealerships. Can the manufacturer force dealers to devote resources to recall work?
That blue is gorgeous. And I'm loving the rims too.
A 200 3-Series? That's really old.
I had both a 2006 Acura RL and a 2008 Acura RDX, both of which needed airbag replacements. My local Acura dealer paid for an Enterprise rental which was a base model BMW X3 - the closest thing they could find that was somewhat comparable to my cars. I drove that thing for 3 months until the parts came in.