BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, X5 Recall R/2016/252: Drivers Airbag May Deploy Incorrectly, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 1 Nov 2016
- Launched
- 218,559
- vehicles in the UK
- 0032260200
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
BMW recalled 3 Series, 5 Series, X5 vehicles built between 1 January 2002 and 31 August 2006. The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment. The recall notice describes the fix as: on affected vehicles replace air bag and inflator assemblies. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment. Metal shards may pass through the air bag material and cause injury to occupants.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: DRIVERS AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY INCORRECTLY Defect: The driver's air bag inflator may rupture during deployment. Metal shards may pass through the air bag material and cause injury to occupants. Remedy: On affected vehicles replace air bag and inflator assemblies.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: drivers airbag may deploy incorrectly.
The Fix
The recall notice describes the fix as: on affected vehicles replace air bag and inflator assemblies.
Are You Affected?
3 Series, 5 Series, X5 built between 1 January 2002 and 31 August 2006 may be included. BMW estimates 218,559 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with BMW, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with BMW.
- Book with any franchised BMW dealer, quoting the campaign code 0032260200 or the DVSA reference R/2016/252. See how to get a BMW recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Series, 5 Series Touring, 7 Series, 7 Series - High Security and 2 moreChecking and re-securing the air-conditioning wiring harness | Urgent | R/2026/092 | |
| 2 Series, 3 Series, 3 Series Touring, 4 Series and 7 moreReplace the engine starter motor | Urgent | R/2026/054 | |
| 1 Series, 1 Series 3 Door Hatch, 1 Series 5 Door Hatch, 3 Series and 3 moreReplace the driver’s airbag: takata PSDI-5 | Urgent | R/2025/327 | |
| 1 Series, 1 Series 3 Door Hatch, 1 Series 5 Door Hatch, 2 Series and 22 moreTakata driver and/or passenger airbag recall (Global VINs) | Urgent | R/2025/349 | |
| 5 SeriesProgram control units (CoC documents) | Low | R/2026/075 |
This is one of 275 BMW recalls in DVSA’s data. The BMW recall launched before it was R/2016/224 on 4 Oct 2016, for possible loss of control. The one launched after it was R/2016/265 on 16 Nov 2016, for front airbags and seat belt tensioners may fail to deploy when needed. You can also see every BMW recall, all recalls launched in 2016 and airbag recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2016/252, launched 1 November 2016. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.