The 2010 BMW 330XI has 3 recalls, the most serious being two separate airbag inflator concerns where the driver's airbag can explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, risking serious injury or death.
Both airbag recalls involve the driver-side frontal inflator. One affects vehicles as originally built, while the other involves cases where the original steering wheel was replaced with a sport or M-sport wheel carrying an inflator with the same failure risk. In either case, the danger is the same: a deployment that should protect the driver can instead scatter metal shrapnel through the front of the cabin. There is also a fire risk unrelated to the airbags: wiring and electrical connectors in the climate control system can overheat, causing the connectors to melt. This can lead to a fire even when the car is parked and unattended, so the concern is not limited to driving conditions.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's air bag inflator in certain replacement sport or M-sport steering wheels can explode when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to chemical breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Replace the driver air bag inflator. On X5 and X6 models, only the inflator is replaced. Repair is free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wiring and electrical connectors that control airflow in the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
