German luxury car maker BMW to recall 220,000 cars over defective air bags

German luxury car maker BMW is issuing a global recall for about 220,000 of its 3 Series models made in 2002-2003 over defective air bags.

This is yet another recall involving airbags supplied by Japanese auto safety-parts supplier Takata Corp, which had supplied the same faulty air bags to Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and General Motors, who were last month forced to recall around 3.4 million vehicles worldwide. (See: Six automakers to recall 3.4 mn vehicles worldwide over faulty Takata-made airbags).

The Munich-based carmaker will recall 220,000 cars, including 42,080 in the US. The recall includes 2002-03 325i, 325xi, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons and M3 coupes and convertibles.

The passenger-side front air bag inflator may suddenly deploy with too much pressure and burst, causing the interior to rupture and possibly send out projectiles and hurting the occupants.

Industry experts say that the front passenger airbags could have been assembled with excess gas canister charges resulting in a risk of fires or passengers getting injured by metal fragments.

A BMW spokesman said that no cases of air bag deployments or injuries related to the issue have been reported.

BMW said that it will notify owners this month, but replacement parts may reach dealers only in July.