BMW is recalling more than 291,000 cars because of a component that could come loose after breaking in a crash, increasing the risk of injury, according to a regulatory filing filed Wednesday, the latest decision by the automaker this month after to recall many thousands more cars from the market. installed with potentially explosive air bags.
The recall affects certain BMW X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and X3 manufactured between 2018 and 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The cars are installed with a rear cargo rail, a bar on the roof of the car, that could break in the event of an “extreme rear-end collision,” which would likely cause the rail to come off, regulators said.
BMW has learned of an “extreme rear-end accident” involving one of the affected models in August 2022, the automaker said, the owner of the car hired an attorney and the main points of the incident were not accessible.
BMW’s North American and Germany offices obtained legal notices in October and January, respectively, allowing the automaker to acquire the vehicle in March and April, which involved, among other tests, crash tests and a review of the car’s manufacturing.
BMW said it would notify affected drivers starting Aug. 30 and that dealers would offer loose replacements for the rear cargo rails.
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That’s the number of cars recalled through BMWs out of 17 notices this year, according to NHTSA data. About 88. 2% of those cars were recalled in three recalls this month.
BMW recalled more than 390,000 cars earlier this month, telling regulators that cars supplied with recalled airbag inflators pose a higher risk of explosion in the event of a crash. This recall affected certain BMW 3 Series sedan and sport utility vehicle models equipped with Air Bag Inflators manufactured through Takata. Takata airbag inflators have killed at least 27 other people and injured at least 400 others in the United States, according to NHTSA, adding the driver of a 2014 BMW X3 who was injured in a crash in October. The automaker recalled another 1,000 cars the following week with Takata airbag inflators, adding some Gran Coupe and Gran Turismo models made in 2014 and 2015, among others.
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