The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·17V605000·Announced 2017-09-28

BMW Recalls 2006-2010 X3 Models Due to Passenger Air Bag Sensor Defect

BMW is recalling 2006-2010 X3 vehicles because the front passenger seat occupant detection mat may crack, potentially deactivating the air bag in a crash.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where the air bag system may fail to deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury in a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for significant injury reports or structural defects.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i, and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The recall involves the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, which determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash. This component may fatigue and develop cracks, leading to a system failure.

If the system fails, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury. The recall affects 85,302 vehicles.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017, with a second letter to be sent when parts are available. Owners may 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 X3
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag System
Hazard
Affected units
85,302

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 (1)

  • X3

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · BMW

Same manufacturer · BMW of North America, LLC

See all →

Same hazard · air bag failure

See all →