BMW Recalls SUVs in US Over Deadly Takata Airbag Issue, Raising Concerns

BMW has issued a recall of 486 SUVs in the US due to a deadly airbag issue caused by a malfunctioning driver-side airbag inflator manufactured by ARC Automotive and used by Takata. The airbags have been linked to 27 deaths and over 400 injuries in the US alone. The affected BMW models include X3, X4, and X5 SUVs built in 2014. Takata airbags containing ARC inflators can degrade over time, causing them to rupture and shoot metal shards into the passenger compartment. The NHTSA advises drivers to check their vehicle identification number (VIN) in the recall database. Takata has had about 67 million airbags recalled globally, and the NHTSA predicts that the recall will expand to include 52 million units by 2024.