Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module (BMW)
Vehicle recall 15V-318. NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on May 28, 2015.
- NHTSA: do not drive
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on May 28, 2015. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 27, 2026.
- Do not drive NHTSA’s advice to owners (needs attention)
- 419,235 vehicles potentially involved, by NHTSA’s count
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles.
Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
What should you do?
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
NHTSA’s advice: Do not drive
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 419,235 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- BMW 325XIand 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325Iand 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325CIand 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, before the model years listed here
- BMW 330CIand 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, before the model years listed here
- BMW 330XIand 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, before the model years listed here
- BMW 525Iand 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here
- BMW 330Iand 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, before the model years listed here
- BMW M3and 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, before the model years listed here
- BMW X5and 2003, before the model years listed here
- BMW 530Iand 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here
- BMW M5and 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here
- BMW 540Iand 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by BMW of North America, LLC.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 27, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 27, 2026.