Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Aug 20, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 31 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 BMW 540I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Airbags
Filed Aug 20, 2023
Car had sat for about a week since I had driven it. I opened the driver door, inserted the key, and turned the key to the starting position. It failed to crank after the dash lights lit up and then the driver steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The car was on flat ground and the temperature was not extremely hot or extremely cold. The previous several times I had driven the car there was no indication of an SRS light and the car started perfectly every time.
NHTSA ID
11539678
Incident
Jul 22, 2023
Airbags
Filed Jul 6, 2023
I needed to move the car after it was sitting for about 3 weeks. It would not start due to the battery was run down. As soon as I started charging the battery, the front passenger airbag exploded causing extensive damage to the dashboard and windshield. Thank god my wife was not sitting in the car. I have not contacted anyone about this. It happened a few hours ago. It is about 93 degrees with very high humidity. I am sending this report because someone could have been killed.
NHTSA ID
11530722
Incident
Jul 6, 2023
Airbags
Filed Mar 18, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ROAD DEBRIS CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE IMPACT FROM THE DEBRIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ID
10392144
Incident
Feb 27, 2011
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2011
BOUGHT A BMW WITH THE AIRBAG SIGN ON FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. *TR
NHTSA ID
10383332
Incident
Oct 14, 2010
Mileage
141,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. SHE STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL UNDISCLOSED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NINE TIMES TO CORRECT THE FAULTY BATTERY ISSUE, TO NO AVAIL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE THE FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO SHATTER. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THE BATTERY WAS PURCHASED FROM A THIRD PARTY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 36,206.
NHTSA ID
10302396
Incident
Oct 10, 2000
Mileage
36,206 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2005
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVERS AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
10114929
Incident
Feb 6, 2005
Mileage
43,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2005
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
10114924
Incident
Feb 8, 2005
Mileage
43,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 24, 2001
1 injury reported
NOTE: CAR COULD BE DRIVEN AFTER AIRBAG WENT OFF. ENGINE TURNED OFF WHEN BAG RELEASED.*AK
NHTSA ID
742972
Incident
Mar 22, 2001
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own