I received a safety recall notice - remedy unavailable from bmw. The airbag warning light has been activated on the dashboard since december 19, 2019. The notice read that "it is also possible that the airbag housing may explode and could cause metal fragments to pass through the air bag cushion material, striking the driver or other occupants which may result in injury or death." I spoke with bmw customer relations and was told that I could continue to drive the vehicle. I will not drive the vehicle until this problem is remedied nor should I be expected to. It has been more than five months since I received the original notice and there is still no date given for the expected remedy. I believe that bmw should provide me with a replacement vehicle until such time as a remedy is available. Why hasn't a stop driving order been issued by bmw if this problem could result in the death of the driver? What recourse do I have?
BMW 323I airbag light comes on
21 of the 563 owner complaints about the BMW 323I describe airbag warning light, most of them for the 1999 model year.
- owner complaints
- 21
- worst model year
- 1999
- typical mileage
- 89,000
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 bmw 323i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v852000 (air bags) however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to union park bmw dealer, 1900 pennsylvania ave, wilmington, de 19806, where it was rejected to be serviced due to the part not available for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact part was not available. The failure mileage was 178,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.*dt
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 323i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v853000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that upon start up, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 159,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 323i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v853000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The federal safety agency hotline was contacted and the VIN tool confirmed parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 bmw 323i. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained on. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 bmw 323i. While driving at various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Updated 11/09/15*lj
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 bmw 323i. When the contact started the vehicle, the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the air bag was replaced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v428000 (air bags); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,920.
Greeting, I have been in possession of my 1999 bmw 323i for 11 years. I made the purchase oversees through the military bmw sales program. I had the vehicle maintenance by bmw highly trained technicians since year 2000. The car was service at bmw in 2007 for the heating & air condition compressor (HVAC) and bmw was informed about the airbag indicator light. We informed bmw on many service visits prior to the 2007 service visit and after 2007 that the airbag indicator light constantly comes on when either conducting normal driving on approved roads or on one occasion when the drivers door was shut after arriving home from a service visit. On one visit they reset the light without charge and on other service visit they wanted to charge a fee for resetting the airbag indicator light. However, on one service visit bmw said there was nothing they could do to fix the problem. I never receive any notices from bmw informing me that there was a problem with the airbag system. I assumed that taking the vehicle for service that all problems was identified by bmw allowing the customers to determine the repair decision. On or about 03 aug 08, the head airbag deployed while conducting normal driving on an approved hard ball road. After taking the car in for service and informing bmw about the airbag indicator light, they replied that there was nothing they could do to resolve the problem. As a result the airbag indicator light was on prior to the deployment. The car has been disabled for 4 months pending a decision on repair cost of $9000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 bmw 323i. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the air bag warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The following day, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The mechanic stated that the front driver's side air bag would not deploy in the event of a crash. The contact was advised that the air bag be replaced at the cost of $1,500. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 89,000. Updated 07/15/08
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30mph the airbag warning light illuminated. Upon inspection, the dealership determined the airbag sensor needed to be replaced again. The sensor was replaced three times before by the dealer.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 24V513000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V‑851, 19V852, or 19V‑853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 21V401000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V018000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V853000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2000 323i and 328i and 2000 323Ci and 328Ci vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will mail interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Dealers will inspect the driver air bag inflators and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. BMW mailed interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. The recall began July 27, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V852000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999 323i and 328i vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata at one specific inflator production facility. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the driver air bag inflators and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Note: BMW recommends that owners do not continue to drive their vehicles.
Recall number 19V851000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 14V428000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- On certain 4-door passenger vehicles, the side air bag system could deploy in certain non-crash impacts, such as when contacting large potholes or curbs at substantial speeds.
- Risk
- This could cause the side air bag and head protection system to deploy without an actual side crash or impact severe enough to cause significant visible damage to the vehicle. Unexpected deployment of the side air bag could cause serious injury if the occupant's head is resting near the side air bag.
- Remedy
- Dealers will recalibrate the central air bag control module to reduce the possibility of such a non-crash deployment. Owner notification began october 25, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.
Recall number 02V223000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles are built with a side air bag system consisting of door-mounted thorax air bags (rear door air bags are optional), a head protection system (hps) for front occupants, a central electronic sensor and diagnostic system, left and right satellite impact sensors, and associated wiring. This system is unduly sensitive to certain non-crash impacts, such as contacting large potholes or curbs at substantial speed.
- Risk
- This could cause the side air bag and hps to deploy without an actual side crash. In addition, the battery safety terminal (bst) would also activate, disconnecting the starter cable from the battery. In this case, vehicle electrical system would continue to operate and the engine would continue to run, but after stopping, could not be restarted.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the central computer control module that regulates the performance of all of the vehicle's occupant protection systems.
Recall number 99V063000 · Recall details
Questions about the BMW 323I airbag light
Why does the airbag light come on in the BMW 323I?
Owners who report it most often also describe seat belt won't latch or retract, hesitation when accelerating and check engine light.
Which BMW 323I years have airbag warning light problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1999 (11 complaints) and 2000 (10 complaints).
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