BMW Warns Owners ‘Do Not Drive’ 90,000 Cars Recalled Over Defective Airbag

A BMW logo sits on the steering wheel of a BMW 3 Series automobile at the Bayerische Motoren Werke AG exhibition stand during the Paris Motor Show in Paris, France, on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. The auto industry -- a slice of it at least -- converges in France this week for the biennial Paris Motor Show, where executives are showing off electric cars for the masses, robo-cars for the future and the self-proclaimed quickest car in the world. Photographer: Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- BMW AG is the latest carmaker to upgrade its recall of vehicles with Takata airbags, telling owners to park the 90,000 affected sedans and SUVs until the defective equipment has been replaced.

The “do not drive” alert follows similar orders from Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and others about the Takata Corp. airbags, which can explode if they are deployed after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity. The crisis triggered the largest recall in US history, affecting about 34 car brands. At least 25 deaths and more than 400 injuries in the US have been linked to the defect, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Three BMW model ranges with driver's airbags from Takata are affected: the 2000-2006 BMW 3 Series (E46) including M3, the 2000-2003 5 Series (E39) including M5, and the 2000-2004 X5s (E53). The recall also covers the BMW 1 series, X1, X3, X5 and X6 models made in certain years, according to the auto maker's website.

Owners are asked to check whether their vehicles qualify for a free repair by visiting BMW's recall website, or call or contact a BMW service center for assistance.

Investigations into issues with the Japanese airbags began in the early 2000s. The company pleaded guilty to criminal charges and agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties in 2017, with $850 million set aside for automakers. Takata filed for bankruptcy the same year, and recalls have continued to this day.

Read more: Takata's Ticking Time Bomb Is Still on the Road

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