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BMW M440i Side Air Bag May Not Deploy

NHTSA campaign 21V176000 · Reported Mar 15, 2021 · BMW of North America, LLC

high How serious is it? About this label

An air bag that does not deploy correctly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	21V176000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 15, 2021
Manufacturer	BMW of North America, LLC
Part affected	AIR Bags:side/window:thorax
Vehicles covered	1 model/year combination, model years 2021
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Some BMW 430i and M440i 4 Series Convertible vehicles may have a head-thorax side air bag that does not deploy the way it is supposed to in certain side-impact crashes. This air bag is meant to help protect the head and torso area of an occupant during a side collision, but on these vehicles it may not deploy correctly when needed.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is included. 2. Contact a dealer to ask about the software update, or call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. 3. The software update is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 21V176000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (1)

2021 BMW M440I

Who to contact

BMW — official BMW recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-525-7417

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

BMW Air Bag Recalls Cover Deployment Failures and Passenger Protection · all 14 BMW recalls in this area

Other BMW M440I recalls

Aug 16, 2023BMW seat belt warning chime may not soundmedium
Jul 21, 2021BMW, MINI and Toyota Supra passenger seat belt retractor faultmedium
Feb 19, 2021BMW backup camera may show partial or blank imagemedium
Dec 9, 2020BMW 48-Volt Battery Connection May Cause Firecritical

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:THORAX
Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 430i and M440i 4 Series Convertible vehicles. In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended.
Safety risk: An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software, at no charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory, and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. The recall began March 9, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.