FYI: BMW Recalls 200,000 U.S. Vehicles for Passenger Air-Bag Sensor

[DSH]

BMW Recalls 200,000 U.S. Vehicles for Passenger Air-Bag Sensor
2008-08-13 14:23:33.880 GMT


By Greg Bensinger
Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world's largest maker of luxury vehicles, is recalling 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix a sensor in the passenger seat that may fail and prevent the air bag from deploying.
The recall affects 2004 to 2006 model-year BMW 5-Series cars and X3 crossover sport-utility vehicles and 2006 model-year 3-Series cars, according to a letter posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The passenger-side seat may develop cracks which could damage the electrical current and lead to deactivation of air bags on that side, according to the letter. The flaw could prevent the air bag from opening in an accident.
Jan Ehlen, a spokesman for BMW of North America in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, didn't immediately return a voice- mail message seeking comment. Munich-based BMW said in the letter it received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problem.