Recall 16V364 affects 97,738 2007-2011 BMW X5 and X6 vehicles for passenger air bag inflators. Do not drive. Free BMW dealer repair.
An inflator rupture sends metal fragments into the cabin and creates a risk of serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips. If it must move, arrange towing and tell the BMW dealer this is recall 16V364. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
BMW is recalling 97,738 certain 2007-2011 X5 and X6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into occupants, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive if your VIN is included; the BMW dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
In these 2007-2011 BMW X5, X6 Activehybrid Sac, and X6 SUVs, the passenger front air bag inflator is the metal device inside the air bag module that produces gas during deployment. When a crash calls for the front air bag, the inflator is supposed to fill the passenger air bag in a controlled way.
The affected vehicles use certain Takata passenger front air bag inflators. Over time, the propellant inside the inflator can degrade after long exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and temperature cycling. If the air bag deploys in a crash, that degraded propellant can create too much pressure and rupture the inflator.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the passenger air bag module, so normal driving feel, warning lights, or the look of the air bag cover do not confirm whether your SUV is included.
Who's affected?
Spans X5, X6, and X6 Activehybrid Sac models across 2007-2011, all tied to the front passenger air bag inflator module.
| 2007 BMW X5 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2011 BMW X6 Activehybrid Sac | front air bag |
| 2008 BMW X6 | front air bag |
| 2009 BMW X6 | front air bag |
| 2009 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2010 BMW X6 Activehybrid Sac | front air bag |
| 2008 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2010 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2010 BMW X6 | front air bag |
| 2011 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2011 BMW X6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 97,738 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific SUV.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator rupture sends metal fragments into the cabin and creates a risk of serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips. If it must move, arrange towing and tell the BMW dealer this is recall 16V364. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2011 BMW X5, X6 Activehybrid Sac, or X6 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until BMW confirms the passenger air bag inflator or air bag module repair is complete.
- Contact a franchised BMW dealer to ask for current repair availability and towing guidance for recall number 16V364.
- Arrange a tow if the vehicle has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Bring any BMW recall notice if you have it, and ask the dealer to replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or air bag module free of charge.
What happens at the repair
BMW says owners should not drive these vehicles until the passenger frontal air bag repair is complete. Once the dealer repair is available for your VIN, a BMW technician will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the full air bag module, free of charge. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. BMW's standard reimbursement plan covers documented, eligible out-of-pocket repairs paid before the recall notice. Keep repair invoices and contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 about reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 25, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 25, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| May 25, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 28, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V364?
Recall 16V364 covers 97,738 2007-2011 BMW X5, X6 Activehybrid Sac, and X6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture in a crash. If metal fragments strike occupants, the result is serious injury or death. BMW will replace the inflator or air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2011 BMW X5, X6 Activehybrid Sac, or X6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific BMW is included in recall 16V364. If it is, do not drive the vehicle until the dealer completes the repair. Call a franchised BMW dealer or BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 and ask about towing.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. BMW dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or air bag module free of charge, including parts and labor, if your VIN is included in recall 16V364.
What does Do not drive mean for recall 16V364?
Do not drive means keep the BMW parked until the passenger air bag repair is complete. This applies to short trips and dealer visits. If the vehicle has to move, ask the BMW dealer or BMW customer service about towing before you drive it.
What if I bought my BMW X5 or X6 used?
The free repair still applies if your VIN is included. This recall depends on the exact vehicle, model year, and registration history, so a used BMW that never sent you a letter still needs a VIN check before you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V364000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V364 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V364000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →