Car had sat for about a week since I had driven it. I opened the driver door, inserted the key, and turned the key to the starting position. It failed to crank after the dash lights lit up and then the driver steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The car was on flat ground and the temperature was not extremely hot or extrem…
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Car had sat for about a week since I had driven it. I opened the driver door, inserted the key, and turned the key to the starting position. It failed to crank after the dash lights lit up and then the driver steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The car was on flat ground and the temperature was not extremely hot or extremely cold. The previous several times I had driven the car there was no indication of an SRS light and the car started perfectly every time.
NHTSA ODI #11539678
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2023
Air Bags
I needed to move the car after it was sitting for about 3 weeks. It would not start due to the battery was run down. As soon as I started charging the battery, the front passenger airbag exploded causing extensive damage to the dashboard and windshield. Thank god my wife was not sitting in the car. I have not contacted anyone ab…
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I needed to move the car after it was sitting for about 3 weeks. It would not start due to the battery was run down. As soon as I started charging the battery, the front passenger airbag exploded causing extensive damage to the dashboard and windshield. Thank god my wife was not sitting in the car. I have not contacted anyone about this. It happened a few hours ago. It is about 93 degrees with very high humidity. I am sending this report because someone could have been killed.
NHTSA ODI #11530722
120,000 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ROAD DEBRIS CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN ROAD DEBRIS CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE IMPACT FROM THE DEBRIS WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10392144
141,000 miles · Feb 19, 2011
Air Bags
BOUGHT A BMW WITH THE AIRBAG SIGN ON FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10383332
36,206 miles · Jan 26, 2010
Air BagsElectrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. SHE STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL UNDISCLOSED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NINE TIMES TO CORRECT THE FAULTY BATTERY ISSUE, TO NO AVAIL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE THE FRONTAL DRIVER'S A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 540I. SHE STATED THAT THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL ON THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERAL UNDISCLOSED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NINE TIMES TO CORRECT THE FAULTY BATTERY ISSUE, TO NO AVAIL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE THE FRONTAL DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE WINDOWS TO SHATTER. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THE BATTERY WAS PURCHASED FROM A THIRD PARTY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 36,206.
NHTSA ODI #10302396
43,000 miles · Mar 10, 2005
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVERS AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10114929
43,000 miles · Mar 10, 2005
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10114924
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2001
Air BagsInjury
NOTE: CAR COULD BE DRIVEN AFTER AIRBAG WENT OFF. ENGINE TURNED OFF WHEN BAG RELEASED.*AK
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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