Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module (BMW)
Vehicle recall 20V-017. NHTSA received BMW of North America, LLC’s report on Jan 15, 2020.
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 Jan 15, 2020. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 25, 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 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls.
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.
What should you do?
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 25, 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 59,965 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
Each model year opens its own page: every recall naming it, its owner complaints and its crash ratings.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
- BMW 330Iand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
- BMW 330XIand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
- BMW 128Iand 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW 1 Series Mand 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW X3and 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, before the model years listed here
- BMW 135Iand 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW X12015and 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
- BMW 328Iand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW M3and 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW 335Iand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW 328XIand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, before the model years listed here
- BMW 335XIand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
- BMW X6 Activehybrid SACand 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325XIand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, before the model years listed here
- BMW 335ISand 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW X5and 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- BMW X6and 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here
- BMW 325Iand 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
- BMW 335Dand 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by BMW of North America, LLC.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt. Owners’ complaints are counted on each vehicle’s page.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 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 25, 2026.