Recall 16V747 covers 15,455 2016-2017 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles for a driver seat belt retractor defect. Repair will be free once available.
BMW is recalling 15,455 2016-2017 X1, 528I, Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper Convertible, and Ghost vehicles because the driver's seat belt emergency locking retractor does not lock as designed. In a crash with heavy braking, the belt can lock after the driver has moved forward in the seat, which increases injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's seat belt in the covered 2016-2017 X1, Cooper S, Cooper Convertible, 528I, Cooper, and Ghost vehicles uses an Emergency Locking Retractor. That retractor lets the belt move during normal driving, then locks the belt when the vehicle slows hard or moves suddenly. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism is the part that triggers that lock.
In this recall, a supplier manufacturing problem left parts of that mechanism out of tolerance. The sensor lever and housing can interfere with each other, so the retractor does not lock as designed under the federal seat belt standard. That means the driver's belt lacks the intended locking performance in the conditions the standard tests.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can still pull out and retract normally, so an owner is not given a clear symptom before the locking problem matters.
Who's affected?
Spans BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models across the 2016 and 2017 model years, all tied to the same front seat belt retractor component.
| 2016 BMW X1 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 MINI Cooper S | seat belt |
| 2016 MINI Cooper Convertible | seat belt |
| 2016 BMW 528I | seat belt |
| 2017 MINI Cooper | seat belt |
| 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost | seat belt |
| 2017 MINI Cooper S | seat belt |
| 2017 BMW X1 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 15,455 |
| 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 your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
This recall concerns the driver's seat belt emergency locking retractor. In a crash with heavy braking, the retractor is at risk of locking after the occupant has moved farther forward in the seat. That raises injury risk. Schedule the repair when BMW makes it available. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 X1, Cooper S, Cooper Convertible, 528I, Cooper, or Ghost is included in this BMW recall.
- Use BMW's July 3, 2019 owner letter to confirm repair instructions before scheduling.
- Contact a franchised BMW dealer about the free driver's seat belt assembly replacement that fixes the ELR locking problem.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 16V747 when you call.
- Drive with extra following distance until the repair is complete, since the driver's seat belt retractor can lock late during heavy braking in a crash.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is listed as under development, so do not treat this as a ready to schedule repair until BMW opens it. Once available, a BMW technician will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, including the emergency locking retractor built into that assembly. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. BMW has a general reimbursement plan on file. If you already paid for a related driver's seat belt repair, contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with repair documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 17, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V747?
Recall 16V747 covers 15,455 2016-2017 BMW vehicles with a driver's seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor that does not lock as designed. In a crash with heavy braking, the retractor can activate when the driver is farther forward in the seat, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 BMW X1, Cooper S, Cooper Convertible, 528I, Cooper, or Ghost is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V747. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer and ask for the driver's seat belt assembly replacement. Reference recall number 16V747 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and BMW dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly free of charge. BMW customer service is available at 1-800-525-7417 for recall questions.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced seat belt restraint performance in a crash with heavy braking. The driver's Emergency Locking Retractor can lock later than intended, when the driver is already farther forward in the seat, increasing injury risk.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2016-2017 BMW vehicle is included, then call a franchised BMW dealer with recall number 16V747.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V747000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V747 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V747000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →