2014 BMW 428XI

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.

CAR WAS STATIONARY THE CAR DOORS GET STUCK IN LOCKED STATE AND WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED AFTER A DRIVE OR WHEN YOU START UP THE VEHICLE AND IT IS IN PARKED POSITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER CAN GET LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS DUE TO FAILED LOCK ACTUATOR AND POSSIBLE MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD YET THERE IS NO RECALL FROM BMW ON THIS ISSUE. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2018.

NHTSA ID

11231762

Incident

Jul 9, 2019

Mileage

44,000 mi

DIVING DOWN A STREET THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP MODULE TO BURN UP . THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE COMPLETE POWER AND TURN OFF I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT AT THE TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CAR HAD TO COAST ACROSS SEVERAL LANES TO A PARKING LOT THEN BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. AS I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR JOLTED FORWARD THEN THE MOTOR TURNED OFF AND MIL CAME ON

NHTSA ID

11190455

Incident

Mar 18, 2019

Mileage

56,000 mi

ERRATIC AND INCREASINGLY INTERMITTENT FAILURE IN ITS REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT - IDENTICAL TO ISSUE FOR WHICH TWO PRIOR RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. BWM APPEARS NOT TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. I SUBMITTED THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE TO BMW WITH A REQUEST THAT THEY REIMBURSE THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR, AND THEY HAVE DECLINED BASED ON (I) THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND (II) I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A BMW DEALER. THE CLOSEST BMW DEALER TO ME IS 135 MILES AWAY, AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REAR LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11154799

Incident

Nov 27, 2018

Mileage

30,000 mi

PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN LOCK TO DOOR UPON FIRST PULL OF HANDLE. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS DESIGNED TO OPEN BOTH THE LOCK AND THE DOOR LATCH BUT THE HANDLE FAILED TO START OPENING THE LOCK AT 41K MILES AND NOW REQUIRES THE USE OF THE ELECTRIC KEY FOB OR BUTTON IN THE CENTER CONSOLE. IF THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11131870

Incident

Aug 23, 2018

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY (I-15, SOUTH OF SLC), TRAVELING AT 60 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AIR TEMPERATURE OF AIR CONDITIONING SET TO "MAX AC" STARTED TO BLOW HOT AIR, APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES LATER ENGINE OVERHEATING ALERT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. TOP VEHICLE SPEED WAS IMMEDIATELY LIMITED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND I HAD TO CROSS 3 LANES OF 60+ MPH TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC HAZARD TO BOTH OTHER VEHICLES AND MYSELF. THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME IN MY 2007 328I IN 2008 - I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY IN SEATTLE WHEN THE CAR OVERHEATED, DISPLAYED A WARNING THAT WENT FROM ORANGE TO RED IN APPROXIMATELY A ONE MINUTE PERIOD, AND THEN DECELERATED. I WAS ALSO IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE FIRST INCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS IN COMMUTER TRAFFIC AND FORCED A SEMI BEHIND ME TO BRAKE HEAVILY BARELY AVOIDING ME. THIS IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SAID THEY'VE SEEN THIS ISSUE REPEATEDLY, AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ONLINE - ESPECIALLY RELATED TO THE 2007 328I. THE BMW DEALER SHARED THAT THIS IS FREQUENTLY RELATED TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP BUT HAS NOT CONFIRMED YET THAT THIS IS THE ISSUE WITH MY 428I XDRIVE. I SEARCHED THE BMW DATABASE AND THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT, MY VEHICLE ALSO HAD LESS THAN 20,000 MILES OF USE.

NHTSA ID

10985512

Incident

May 12, 2017

Mileage

19,000 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.

The paint finish on the door jamb (above the door striker) is scratched due to the inner door cavity window seal.

BMW:SOME BMW MODELS MAY OR MAY NOT DISPLAY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. *TA

BMW: SOME VEHICLES, WITH 552 OPTION, ARE EXPERIENCING A MALFUNCTION OF LED HEADLIGHT ON ONE WHERE IT FLICKERS ON AN DOFF DURING DRIVING AND THE CONTROL CHECK MESSAGE IS INDICATING DEFECTIVE DRIVING LIGHT OR PARKING LIGHT. *PE

BMW: SOME BMW MODELS CENTRAL INFORMATION DISPLAY (CID) ARE BLANK AND DISPLAY "NO SIGNAL". *TA