2006-2015 BMW 1, 3, M3, X Recall 16V071: Air Bag Inflator

Recall 16V071 affects 840,000 2006-2015 BMW vehicles for a driver's frontal air bag inflator that can rupture. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.

What's wrong?

The driver's frontal air bag in these 2006-2015 BMW vehicles is built to inflate in a crash and cushion the driver from the steering wheel and dashboard. Its inflator is a metal device inside the air bag module that burns propellant to create gas quickly enough to fill the bag.

The recalled vehicles use a Takata PSDI-5 driver-side front air bag inflator. Takata reported that propellant tablets in some inflators can change after years of exposure to persistent high humidity, and BMW also identified possible manufacturing variability in the PSDI-5 modules from a limited production period. When the air bag deploys, excessive internal pressure can make the inflator rupture instead of containing the pressure inside the module.

There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag system can look normal until a crash triggers deployment, so the VIN check is what confirms whether this defect applies to a specific BMW.

Who's affected?

Spans BMW car and SUV model lines across 2006-2015, all tied to the same driver front air bag inflator module.

A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

What's the safety risk?

If the driver's frontal air bag deploys in a crash, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before an inflator rupture, so confirm your VIN and arrange the recall repair if included. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.

What should I do?

1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2015 BMW 328, 330, 335, 1 Series M, M3, 135I, 325, X5 Sav, X1 Sav, X3 Sav, X6 Sac, X6 Activehybrid Sac, or 128I is included in this recall.
2. Wait for BMW repair instructions before scheduling service, since the listed remedy status is still under development.
3. Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with questions and reference recall number 16V071.
4. Bring the recall notice if BMW has mailed one, or give the dealer recall number 16V071 when repair scheduling opens.
5. Ask the franchised BMW dealer about the free driver's frontal air bag module or inflator replacement that fixes the rupture risk during air bag deployment.

What happens at the repair

BMW has identified the dealer remedy as replacement of the driver's frontal air bag module or the inflator, depending on the vehicle model. Because this campaign is listed as under development, do not assume the final dealer repair is open for scheduling until BMW confirms availability for your VIN. Once available, a BMW technician will replace the affected air bag part at no charge. If you already paid for this same air bag repair, contact BMW customer service with your repair paperwork under BMW's general reimbursement plan.

Timeline

Frequently asked questions

More information

Source documents

• Download Misc. Document (PDF) · RMISC
• Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) · RCRIT
• Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) · RIONL
• Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) · RCORRD
• Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) · RCONL
• Download Owner Notice (PDF) · RCMN
• Download Recall Report (PDF) · RCLRPT
• Download Quarterly Report (PDF) · RCLQRT
• Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF) · RCAK

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →