BMW 320i Recalls

The BMW 320i has 7 recalls spanning the 2000 through 2015 model years, with the most serious being Takata airbag inflator defects affecting both the 2000-2005 and 2014-2015 model years, where inflators can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, raising the risk of serious injury or death.

The 2014-2015 model years carry three separate airbag inflator concerns. The frontal driver-side inflator on 2014-2015 models can explode and scatter metal fragments toward occupants. Side and window curtain airbag inflators on 2014-2015 models can rupture at the weld, sending fragments either into the cabin or outward through the vehicle body. A head airbag inflator on 2014 models specifically can fail at its weld joint, leaking gas or rupturing outright with the same fragmentation risk.

On the mechanical side, 2014 models have a fuel pump that can fail without warning, cutting engine power and stalling the vehicle in traffic. The 2012-2014 model years have a brake vacuum pump that can fail and reduce braking power, requiring more pedal effort to slow the vehicle. A lighting issue affects 2012-2015 models, where side marker lights can stop illuminating, making the vehicle harder to see at night.

Going back to the earlier production run, 2000-2005 models equipped with non-desiccated Takata passenger-side frontal airbag inflators face the same fragmentation risk as the later recalls: the propellant can degrade over time and cause the inflator to rupture violently, sending metal pieces toward front-seat occupants.