The 2009 BMW 335xi has 3 recalls, the most serious being two separate airbag inflator defects where the driver's frontal airbag can explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, with the potential for serious injury or death.
Both airbag concerns involve the driver's side inflator. One affects vehicles with their original steering wheel, and the other involves vehicles where the original steering wheel was replaced with a sport or M-sport wheel carrying the same type of faulty inflator. Either way, the risk is the same: a violent inflator rupture during a crash that turns the airbag itself into a source of injury. The third recall involves the wiring and electrical connectors that control airflow for the heating and air conditioning system. This wiring can overheat and cause the connectors to melt, which raises the risk of a fire that can start even when the car is parked and unattended.
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.
