Hearth Record

Air bags: knee bolster (BMW)

Vehicle recall 91V-054. NHTSA received BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE’s report on Apr 10, 1991.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE’s report on Apr 10, 1991. 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?

CHEST DECELERATION EXCEEDS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE LIMIT WHICHRESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

DURING TESTING, INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DRIVER-SIDE KNEE BOLSTER PREVENTED STEERING COLUMN FROM MOVING FORWARD AS DESIGNED TO ABSORB IMPACT ENERGY FROM DRIVER DUMMY.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: knee bolster.

What should you do?

REPAIR THE KNEE BOLSTER TO ALLOW CLEARANCE AND AVOID IMPEDANCE OF STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT DURING FRONTAL IMPACT.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION; FMVSS 208.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 13,500 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • BMW 318ISand 1991, before the model years listed here
  • BMW 318Iand 1991, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 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

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 25, 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.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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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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