BMW has announced a voluntary recall of all 3 Series cars built between 2000 and 2006 as a result of potentially faulty airbags. In an official statement, the German carmaker said the recall was a "precautionary voluntary measure to minimize the risk of the passenger airbag not opening properly." Around 1.6 million vehicles are estimated to be affected worldwide, around 574,000 of which are in the US.

The problem is with the passenger side airbag inflators rupturing, something that Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota are also concerned about, with limited regional recalls being conducted to address the safety issue. The common factor is Japanese supplier Takata who manufacture airbags for these carmakers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also issued a statement: "Today's action is influenced by a NHTSA investigation into six reports of air bag inflator ruptures, all of which occurred in Florida and Puerto Rico," said the safety agency.

Based on the limited data available at this time, NHTSA supports efforts by automakers to address the immediate risk in areas that have consistently hot, humid conditions over extended periods of time."