Topline
BMW is recalling more than 291,000 vehicles over a piece that could detach after being damaged in a crash, increasing the risk of injury, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the latest notice by the automaker this month after recalling hundreds of thousands of other cars installed with potentially explosive airbags.
The automaker became aware of the defect after an “extreme” crash involving an affected model.
Key Facts
The recall affects some BMW X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and X3 manufactured between 2018 and 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The vehicles are installed with a rear cargo rail—a bar on the car roof—that could become damaged in an “extreme rear crash,” likely causing the rail to detach, regulators said.
BMW became aware of an “extreme rear crash” involving one of the affected models in August 2022, the automaker said, though the car’s owner retained legal counsel and details about the incident weren’t accessible.
BMW’s North American and German offices were served with legal notices in October and January, respectively, allowing the automaker to inspect the vehicle in March and April, which involved crash tests and a review of the car’s manufacturing, among other tests.
BMW said it will notify affected drivers starting Aug. 30, and dealers will offer free rear cargo rail replacements.
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Big Number
778,102. That’s the number of cars recalled by BMW across 17 notices this year, according to NHTSA data. About 88.2% of those cars have been recalled across three recalls this month.
Key Background
BMW recalled more than 390,000 vehicles earlier this month, notifying regulators of cars equipped with previously recalled airbag inflators that have an increased risk of exploding in a crash. That recall covered some BMW 3 Series Sedans and Sports Wagon models with airbag inflators manufactured by Takata. Takata’s airbag inflators have killed at least 27 people and injured at least 400 others in the U.S., according to the NHTSA, including 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 the Takata airbag inflators, including some Gran Coupe and Gran Turismo models manufactured in 2014 and 2015, among others.
Further Reading
Exxon acquiring Pioneer for nearly $60 billion, a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs across the U.S. and the challenges against transgender health care. Before joining Forbes, he covered the Black Mountain, North Carolina community for the Asheville Citizen Times. Ty earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Auburn University and his master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Email him at troush@forbes.com.
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