BMW recalls 90,000 cars, warns owners to not drive. Here's why

BMW has issued a warning to owners of approximately 90,000 older vehicles in the United States, urging them not to drive their cars due to the escalating risk of their airbags exploding in a crash. Vehicles manufactured between 2000 and 2006, which had already been subject to a recall to replace dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata, are included in the warning.

Takata used a volatile chemical, ammonium nitrate, to inflate the airbags during a collision. However, as time goes on, the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to heat and humidity, causing the metal canister to rupture and hurl shrapnel that could seriously injure or even kill drivers and passengers.

Owners of impacted vehicles have been advised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to park them right away and get in touch with BMW for further details. The agency further explained that the airbags in these vehicles are some of the oldest Takata airbags under recall, with an extremely high probability of failure in the event of an accident.


BMW will provide repairs at no cost to owners, including mobile repair and free towing services. Owners of the affected vehicles can check if their vehicle is part of the recall by visiting BMW's website or contacting BMW customer relations.

The Takata airbags have been responsible for at least 33 deaths globally, with 24 of them occurring in the United States alone since 2009. While the majority of fatalities and roughly 400 injuries took place in the United States, there have also been reported deaths in Australia and Malaysia.

The risk of a dangerous malfunction has led to the largest auto recall in US history. Around 67 million Takata inflators were recalled. However, according to the US government, many of them are still unrepaired. The recall of faulty inflators worldwide has reached around 100 million, and the defective airbags caused Takata Corporation of Japan to declare bankruptcy. NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson has urged owners to take action immediately and schedule their free repair to avoid gambling with their lives or the lives of their loved ones.

FAQs:

1. What does BMW stand for?
   According to BMW(dot)com, it stands for "Bayerische Motoren Werke".
2. Where is BMW HQ?
   Munich, Germany