Hearth Record

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module (BMW)

Vehicle recall 19V-015. NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on Jan 14, 2019.

  • NHTSA: do not drive
NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on Jan 14, 2019. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 24, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles.

This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel.

The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 24, 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 inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA’s advice: Do not drive

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 24, 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 157,549 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • BMW 540Iand 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 525Iand 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here
  • BMW X5 SAVand 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 530Iand 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by BMW of North America, LLC.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 24, 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.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 24, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

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 24, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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