BMW has issued a recall for 394,029 3 Series models built between 2006 and 2012. The reason? A faulty driver's side airbag inflator may explode, causing serious injury or death in a crash where the airbag is deployed. Unsurprisingly, these vehicles are equipped with Takata airbag systems. If you're unaware, the now-defunct Japanese company engineered airbags with a deadly flaw linked to the propellant.
The company chose to use ammonium nitrate (without a drying agent) to inflate the airbags, which may cause a problem in a collision. When the airbag deploys, there's a potential for the propellant to burn too quickly, causing the inflator to explode. This sends shrapnel flying through the cabin and turns a safety feature into a deadly instrument. So far, the defect has killed more than 30 people globally.
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