BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, X5 Recall R/2019/086: Potential Rupture Of Driver Front Air Bag Inflator, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 22 Mar 2019
- Launched
- 34,410
- vehicles in the UK
- 0032790200 0032930200
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
BMW recalled 3 Series, 5 Series, X5 vehicles built between 28 September 1999 and 19 December 2003. The front drivers air bag may not deploy correctly on activation. The dealer will check and replace the drivers front air bag if required. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
The front drivers air bag may not deploy correctly on activation.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: POTENTIAL RUPTURE OF DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG INFLATOR Defect: The front drivers air bag may not deploy correctly on activation. Remedy: Check and replace the drivers front air bag if required.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: potential rupture of driver front air bag inflator.
The Fix
The dealer will check and replace the drivers front air bag if required.
Are You Affected?
3 Series, 5 Series, X5 built between 28 September 1999 and 19 December 2003 may be included. BMW estimates 34,410 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 0032790200 0032930200 or the DVSA reference R/2019/086. 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/2019/071 on 4 Mar 2019, for rear lights may be fixed with incorrect securing nuts. The one launched after it was R/2019/091 on 22 Mar 2019, for incorrect tightening torque of left front seat fixing bolts. You can also see every BMW recall, all recalls launched in 2019 and airbag recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2019/086, launched 22 March 2019. 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.