BMW issues 'do not drive' order for 90,000 cars with Takata airbags

BMW has sent out an important "do not drive" order that applies to about 90,000 cars built between the 2000 and 2006 model years. The cars included in the campaign were part of a recall related to the Takata-made driver-side airbag inflator, but they haven't been repaired yet.

The list of cars that should be parked until they've been repaired includes the E46-generation 3 Series (pictured) built between 2002 and 2006, the E39-generation 5 Series built from 2000 to 2003, and the E53-generation X5 built between 2000 and 2004. The M3 and M5 are part of the campaign as well. BMW explains these cars were included in earlier recall campaigns but didn't get taken to a dealership for repairs.

All of these older models are equipped with a driver-side airbag inflator made by Takata that can send shrapnel flying into the cabin — in the direction of the front passengers — if triggered. BMW notes it has warned owners about the problem several times since 2016, and it adds that the problem becomes increasingly serious as the part ages. "The risk of serious injury or death increases," it wrote in a statement.