NHTSA Complaint #11331794 — 1999 BMW 328I

ON JUNE 11, 2020 MY CAR WAS DELIVERED TO CLASSIC BMW IN PLANO, TEXAS FOR 1999 BMW SAFETY RECALL 19V-851 FOR THE TAKATA NON-AZIDE DRIVER INFLATOR. THEY WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO CHANGE THE IGNITER, BUT WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I TRIED THE HORN AND IT DID NOT WORK AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR BACK FOR REPAIR. I GOT THE CAR BACK ON JUNE 25.2020 AND WAS TOLD THAT A CONNECTOR WAS NOT COMPLETELY ATTACHED. HOWEVER, THE PAPERWORK THEY GAVE ME STATED - "FIRST VISIT A DUAL STAGE AIRBAG WAS RECEIVED FROM PARTS. VEHICLE HAS A ONE STAGE IGNITER. THE HARNESS WAS DIFFERENT CAUSING HORN TO BE INOP." THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITH THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG (OR ONE THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE IT) AND THE HORN NOW WORKS. EVERYTHING I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE STATES THAT THESE 2 SYSTEMS (SINGLE STAGE & DUAL STAGE AIRBAGS) ARE NOT COMPATABLIE WITH WIRING AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND WILL NOT FUNCTION. HAD I NOT CHECKED THE HORN THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RETURNED FOR MONTHS UNTIL THE NEXT INSPECTION AND MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT A FUCTIONAL AIRBAG. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THIS THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE THAT THEY RETURNED TO ME ON JUNE 12. IF THAT WAS TRUE, WHY DID THEY PUT THE ORIGINAL BAG BACK ON THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND MISTAKES HAPPEN AS BMW CHANGED TO THE DUAL SYSTEM SOMETIME IN 1999 BUT I FEEL THESE GUYS WERE LYING TO ME TRYING TO COVER UP THEIR MISTAKE.