Those in North America who have purchased a BMW i3 in recent years may want to keep a close eye on the mail that you receive over the coming weeks, as BMW will be sending out notifications to some owners informing them of a new voluntary recall concerning airbags.
The issue seems to be solely with the passenger-side front air bags, rather than the driver-side airbags, so those worried while reading this may want to keep that in mind.
To provide some specifics here, the exact issue seems to be that some internal components (of only some i3 units) were not assembled as specified due to supplier error. As a result, it’s not completely clear if a sufficient margin of compliance (with regard to NHTSA safety standards) is met.
The issue is (apparently) that, in the case of a low-speed collision, the passenger-side front airbag deploys “with the first stage only, [and] inappropriate air bag restraint may be provided to the passenger, increasing the risk of injury.”
Here’s more via the BMW i Forum:
What corrective measures will be taken?
The passenger-side front air bag module will be replaced.
Are you aware of any accidents or injuries associated with the recall?
No.
Can I continue to drive my vehicle?
Yes, but when you receive a letter asking you to have this service performed, please do so as soon as possible. If you are not the only driver of this vehicle, please advise all other drivers of this important information.
How will I be informed of the recall?
You will receive an initial letter in November advising you of this issue, and then an additional letter when parts become available, requesting that you bring your vehicle to your authorized BMW i center for service and repair. No action is required on your part when you receive the initial letter. When you receive the second letter via First Class mail, please schedule an appointment with an authorized BMW i center to complete the repair. You can find and contact your preferred dealer at www.bmwusa.com/dealers.
Do I have to wait for my 2nd recall letter in order to have my recall performed?
Yes. We are in the process of implementing the recall campaign to ensure that the necessary parts are at our authorized BMW i centers prior to requesting that you have the repair performed.
How long will the repair take?
This repair may take approximately 3 hours; however, additional time may be required depending upon your BMW center’s schedule. The repair will be performed free of charge by your authorized BMW center.
Those looking for more information can find it via the BMW Recall hotline at 1-800-525-7417