Illustrative photo: Source BMW

BMW 3 Series / E46 (1997 – 2000)

airbag injury

09/10/2021

Reason for the recall:

The vehicles affected may have been fitted with Takata non-azide driver inflator (NADI) gas generators in which inadequate sealing on the gas generator could allow the ingress of moisture and thus result in the degradation of the propellant.

If the airbag deploys, this could cause the gas generator to underinflate or to burst. In the case of under-inflation, the protective effect is not given. In case of overpressure deployment, metal parts can enter the vehicle interior, this could cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants of the vehicle.

The BMW 3 Series / E46 models affected by this recall were manufactured between 3 June 1997 and 30 June 2000.

BMW recall code: 0032960200, 0032970200, 0032980200, 0032200300
Types: 346L, 346X, 346K, 346C, 346R
Vehicle numbers (worldwide): 757,145

Source: Rapex Alert 40/2021 A12/01400/21

Source: Rapex Alert 24/2020 A12/00852/20

Type of alert	Serious
Production period	3. 6. 1997 - 30. 6. 2000
Risk	Injury
Type/number of model	Type-approval numbers: e198/140097, e198/140144, e12001/1160144, e198/140167, e12001/1160167, e198/140112, e12001/1160112, e198/140146, e12001/1160146, Types: 346L, 346X, 346K, 346C, 346R
Country of origin	Germany
Alert submitted by	Germany
Measures taken by economic operators	Recall of the product from end users
Products were found and measures were taken also in	See the source
Published by Rapex	12/06/2020

This notification is purely informative for the vehicle type you have selected. As these deficiencies often relate to specific components (engine type, bodywork, equipment), the recall may not apply to all vehicles of this type. For more detailed information on possible recalls for your vehicle, please get in touch with an authorised workshop (see below at "What the owner should do?").

What should an owner do if there's a recall?

Please note that the recall may not apply to all vehicles produced in a given period. If you think your car might be affected, you should immediately contact a BMW dealer or workshop officially authorised to perform repairs on behalf of the manufacturer and ask for the details. You can use our sample request text. After reporting the vehicle's VIN code, you will find out if the defect is present on your car, or if it has already been resolved by the previous owner if the car was purchased second-hand.

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Recalls and Reliability

If you wish to know more about the eventual problems of a specific car (e.g. real mileage, potential traffic accident damages, odometer rollback, repairs, etc.), in that case, we suggest going to this page.

Check the vehicle's history