2015 BMW 328XI

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11621445

Incident

Oct 23, 2024

ON WAY HOME TODAY 7/12/2019 CAR STALLED OUT. I HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKES, STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN AND CAR SLOWED DOWN QUICK. IT STARTED BACK UP BUT THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW STARTED GOING DOWN ON ITS OWN, AND THE A/C STOPPED WORKING, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP, AND IT KEEPS GETTING A WARNING GOING ON THEN OFF THEN ON SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT BRAKE LAMP CONTROL MALFUNCTION. WHEN I GOT IT HOME I LEFT IN DRIVEWAY FOR A WHILE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP I STARTED GETTING TRANSMISSION FAILURE WARNING AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE ENGINE. THEN LATER THE CAR DID START UP WITHOUT THE WARNINGS BUT STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11231555

Incident

Jul 12, 2019

Mileage

35,000 mi

SIDEWALLS ARE WEAK AND BLOW OUT. HAD 5 TIRES REPLACED; STILL HAVE ONE WITH BUBBLE IN SIDEWALK. BRIDGESTONE REP SAYS FROM HITTING POTHOLES. I HAVE ANOTHER SET OF TIRES(MICHELIN) THAT I DRIVE ON THE SAME ROADS WITH NO ISSUES. BRIDGESTONE DRIVEGUARD

NHTSA ID

11206167

Incident

Apr 12, 2019

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT PACE WITH TRAFFIC, NO SPEEDING AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY HIT THE BREAKS. I WAS 3 TO 4 CAR LENGTHS AWAY. I HIT THE BRAKES BUT WAS NOT CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE AND THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKES. AS I HIT THE BRAKES, IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN EVEN AS I PRESSED HARDER AND THE ABS BRAKES NEVER KICKED IN. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WAS UNABLE TO SWERVE WITHOUT CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO HIT THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR I HIT SUSTAINED A SCRAPED REAR BUMPER NO OTHER DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

11057684

Incident

Dec 30, 2017

Mileage

26,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 BMW 328XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF HOW THE FIRE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID

10985420

Incident

Jun 24, 2016

Mileage

17,000 mi

TRUNK CLOSURE MECHANISM HAS A SENSOR THAT CAN BE ACTIVATED BY PASSING A FOOT UNDER THE BUMPER AREA WHILE TRUNK IS OPENED WHILE STATIONARY. SENSOR CANNOT BE DEACTIVATED AND CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY ACTIVATED BY FOOT-ANIMAL CAUSING THE TRUNK TO CLOSE CAUSING INJURY TO PERSON IN AREA. WIFE BEING TREATED BY A NEUROLOGIST FOR CONCUSSION, AND POTENTIAL NECK INJURIES. DEALER IN EGG HARBOR NEW JERSEY STATES SENSOR CANNOT BE DEACTIVATED. SYSTEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

10926833

Incident

Oct 23, 2016

I'VE GONE THROUGH 3 WINDSHIELDS IN 2 MONTHS ,2 THROUGH MY INSURANCE AND THE 3RD THROUGH BMW ,EARLY MORNING AND LATE AFTERNOON THE WINDSHIELD IS COVERED WITH TINY SPARKLES, THIS WAS NOTICED BY ME THE NEXT DAY ON ALL 3 ,SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROAD DEBRI, ON LINE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO ,IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SUN HITTING IT.

NHTSA ID

10888833

Incident

Jun 20, 2016

SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH. NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT (PER BMW DEALER) AND NO IMPACT BY OBJECT DETECTED BY DRIVER. NO OVER PASSES OR ROAD SIGNS WERE NEAR THE CAR AT THE TIME. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IN MID 80S AND SUNNY. AIR CONDITIONING ON IN CAR. LARGE HOLE IN MIDDLE OF SUNROOF AND MOST OF THE GLASS ENDED UP ON THE HIGHWAY BEHIND THE VEHICLE. SOME GLASS WAS IN THE SUNSHADE AND CAME THROUGH THE VENTILATION SLOTS. BMW AGREED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10872906

Incident

Jun 4, 2016

Mileage

5,500 mi

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

DIESEL FUEL INJECTORS: LTD WTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES