The Recall Desk
CriticalNHTSA·17V020000·Announced 2017-01-10

BMW Recalls X5 and X6 Models for Air Bag Inflator Rupture Risk

BMW is recalling 2007-2012 X5 and X6 vehicles because the front passenger air bag inflators may rupture during a crash, potentially causing serious injury or death.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Highest-severity recall. Risk of serious injury or death is documented or strongly suspected. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death, which meets the criteria for a Critical severity score.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2007-2012 BMW X5 and X6 vehicles due to a defect in the front passenger air bag inflators. The recall covers specific model years and trims, including the X5 xDrive30i, xDrive35i, xDrive48i, xDrive50i, xDrive35d, and X5 M, as well as the X6 xDrive35i, xDrive50i, and X6 M. The affected vehicles were originally sold or registered in specific geographic zones defined by the manufacturer, including various states and U.S. territories.

The defect involves air bag inflators that may rupture due to propellant degradation after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature cycling. If a crash necessitates the deployment of the front air bags, the rupture could cause metal fragments to strike vehicle occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module free of charge. Interim letters were mailed in March 2017, and owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may also contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
BMW X6, X5
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
48,951

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • X6
  • X5

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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