The Takata airbag saga continues as a new kind of inflator is found to be potentially deadly.
The voluntary recall has been issued after one BMW driver died and another was seriously injured following incidents involving the airbags. No further details on when or where the incidents occurred have been released.
If the airbag is found to be at fault, it will be the second recorded fatality of a motorist in Australia by a Takata airbag following the death of a Sydney man who’s deadly ‘Alpha type’ Takata airbag inflator killed him.
The inflator in question is a NADI (non-azide driver inflator) type 5AT unit and BMW will replace all affected airbags, though the wait could be long. Helping affected customers, BMW is providing loan cars and authorising buybacks to keep people on the road in their own vehicle.
BMW urges affected customers to park their car and not drive it, with either a mobile mechanic coming to fix the vehicle or the car towed to a dealer service centre.
Precisely 12,663 BMW E46 models produced from November 21 1997 to June 30 2000 are involved.
BMW will contact owners but anyone concerned can contact the BMW Australia Takata Hotline on 1800 243 675 to organise a free vehicle inspection.
