Recall 19V352 affects 5,079 2019-2020 BMW 2, 3, 4, M2, and M4 Series vehicles for improperly folded knee airbags. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.
BMW is recalling 5,079 2019-2020 230i, M240i, M2, 330i, 430i, 440i, and M4 vehicles under recall 19V352 because the driver and passenger knee airbags were improperly folded and assembled. An airbag that does not deploy as intended raises the risk of injury in a crash, and BMW dealers will inspect and replace the affected airbags free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The knee airbag on these BMWs is a cushion that sits in a housing below the steering column for the driver and below the glove box for the front passenger. In a frontal crash, it inflates downward to keep the knees and lower legs from slamming into the hard plastic and metal under the dash. The fabric has to be folded a specific way inside the housing so that when the inflator fires, the bag opens cleanly and in the right direction.
On the recalled vehicles, the supplier folded and packed the driver and front passenger knee airbags incorrectly at its plant in Romania. When the inflator fires on an improperly folded bag, the fabric can tear during deployment instead of opening as designed. A torn knee airbag does not protect the lower body the way it is supposed to in a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The fault is inside a sealed airbag module, so nothing on the dash or in the way the car drives will tell you the airbag was packed wrong.
Who's affected?
Spans seven BMW models (2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, and M variants) across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all built in a narrow February-to-May 2019 production window.
| 2020 BMW M2 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2019 BMW M2 | air bag system |
| 2019 BMW 330I | air bag system |
| 2019 BMW 430I | air bag system |
| 2019 BMW 440I | air bag system |
| 2019 BMW 230I | air bag system |
| 2019 BMW M240I | air bag system |
| 2019 BMW M4 | air bag system |
| 2020 BMW 230I | air bag system |
| 2020 BMW M240I | air bag system |
| 2020 BMW 430I | air bag system |
| 2020 BMW 440I | air bag system |
| 2020 BMW M4 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 5,079 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
A knee air bag that was not folded and assembled correctly fails to deploy as intended in a crash, which raises the risk of injury to the driver or front passenger. There is no warning sign before a deployment event, so treat the recall notice itself as the trigger to act and schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 BMW is included in this knee air bag recall.
- Contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the free knee air bag module replacement that fixes the improperly folded assemblies.
- Reference recall number 19V352 when you call so the service desk pulls the correct repair order.
- Bring the recall notice from BMW to your appointment if it has arrived in the mail.
- Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with questions about parts availability or scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a BMW technician replaces the driver and passenger knee air bag modules with correctly folded and assembled units. Parts and labor are free under the recall. BMW is using its standard reimbursement plan for owners who already paid out of pocket for related repairs before the recall notice. Bring your receipts and any repair paperwork to the service desk when you arrive, and BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417 can confirm what documentation the program needs.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 9, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 9, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| May 9, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 2, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 2, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| July 8, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V352?
Recall 19V352 covers 5,079 2019-2020 BMW vehicles, including the 230i, M240i, M2 Competition, 330i xDrive Sportswagon, 430i, 440i, and M4. The driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies were improperly folded and assembled, so the bags risk failing to deploy as intended in a crash. BMW dealers replace the knee air bag modules for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 BMW is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V352. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the knee air bag module replacement. Reference recall number 19V352 when you call, or call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to fix safety defects at no cost to the owner. BMW dealers will replace the driver and passenger knee air bag modules free of charge, regardless of where you bought the vehicle or whether you are the original owner.
What is the safety risk?
The driver and passenger knee air bags were improperly folded during assembly, so in a crash the bags risk failing to deploy as designed. That increases the chance of leg and lower-body injury for the front occupants. The defect does not affect day-to-day driving, but the replacement should be scheduled promptly.
What if I bought my BMW used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If BMW never mailed you a notice, check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V352, then reference that number when you call a franchised BMW dealer or BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V352000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V352 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V352000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →