2009 BMW X3 Sav

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.

RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER 2017 AND BMW HAS YET TO HAVE A REMEDY/SOLVE FOR THE ISSUE. WE ARE OVER 6 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL AND THIS IS FAR PAST A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ADDRESS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11096943

Incident

May 18, 2018

BMW SENT LETTER 3/2016 ABOUT RECALL AND CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR MY CARS RECALL.I HAVE CHECK SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LAST YEAR LOCALLY AND THEN ANOTHER NEARBY DEALERSHIP CLOSE BY IN ANOTHER TOWN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD PLACE ME ON A CALL LIST AND THAT HAS BEEN 7 MTHS AGO. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE WAITING FOR ME TO GET RID OF THE CAR, BUT IN THE MEANTIME I AM AT RISK IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHAT DO I DO? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ADVICE

NHTSA ID

10986238

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10947615

Incident

Mar 5, 2016

NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS PE07045 AND EA08001 DETERMINED MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE FRONT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT AND DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT. WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 WAS ISSUED HOWEVER ONLY COVERS MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 OF THE BMW X3 SAV. REQUEST NHTSA CONDUCT FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS TO EXPAND THE EXISTING RECALL TO COVER ALL 2004-2009 MODEL YEARS OF THE FIRST GENERATION BMW X3 SAV WHICH MANY OWNERS ONLINE CAN CONCUR EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF THIS SERIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT POSES A SEVERE SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ID

10927446

Incident

Oct 7, 2015

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- COPY OF A LETTER TO PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LUDWIG WEILLISCH REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE SAFETY PARTS NEEDED FOR THE AIRBAGS ON HIS VEHICLES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE AND HIS FAMILY OWN THREE BMW'S THAT ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10915833

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

2009 BMW X3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST 2-3 YEARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10902898

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

TAKATA RECALL BMW NOT OFFERING LOANER PROGRAM AND ALSO NO DATE AVAILABLE FOR DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG PARTS EVEN THOUGH ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE WAS MARCH 2016.

NHTSA ID

10903322

Incident

Sep 2, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. HOWEVER, FIVE MONTHS LATER BMW HAS NOT REPLACED THE AIR BAG. THIS IS A DANGER TO ME AND MY PASSENGERS. WHAT IS NHTSA DOING ABOUT THIS?

NHTSA ID

10881795

Incident

Feb 29, 2016

While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard.

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.

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: 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. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

BMW: SELECTIVE CATALYST REDUCTION MODULE (SCR) HAS A STORED FAULT, PRESSURE BUILD UP IS LOW, CAUSING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *

BMW: EXPERIENCING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP IS ILLUMINATED, A NOISE, LIKE RATTLING, COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *PE UPDATED 10/31/12. *PE MODELS 2010 E70, 71, 82, 88, 90, 92, 93, F07, 10, 12, 13, 25. UPDATED 1/18/13. *PE UPDATED 4/18/2013. *KB UPDATED 05/13/2013 *JS UPDATED 5/19/15. *PE