Recall 17V020 covers 48,951 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 BMW X5 and X6 SUVs for passenger air bag inflator rupture. Do not drive. Free repair once available.
An air bag inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, including short trips, until the remedy is performed. Arrange a tow if it must move. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
BMW is recalling 48,951 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012 X5 and X6 vehicles under recall 17V020 because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can rupture after long-term humidity and temperature exposure. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause 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?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator is the metal device inside the passenger air bag module that fills the air bag during a crash. In affected BMW 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 X5 and X6 vehicles, the module uses a Takata PSPI-2 inflator. Its job is to create gas fast enough to inflate the bag before the passenger moves forward.
In NHTSA campaign 17V020, the defect is tied to the inflator propellant. After long exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature cycling, the propellant wafers change over time. During a crash that requires air bag deployment, that degraded propellant can make the inflator rupture instead of deploying normally. The final remedy uses a different inflator or air bag module.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the air bag inflator, so the vehicle can look and drive normally before a crash deployment.
Who's affected?
Included model years differ by model: X5 appears for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012, while X6 appears for 2008, 2009, and 2012.
| 2008 BMW X6 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2009 BMW X6 | front air bag |
| 2009 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2007 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2008 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2012 BMW X5 | front air bag |
| 2012 BMW X6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 48,951 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
An air bag inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, including short trips, until the remedy is performed. Arrange a tow if it must move. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 BMW X6 or X5 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until the passenger front air bag inflator or air bag module is replaced.
- Arrange a tow if the vehicle has to be moved; do not drive it to the dealer yourself.
- Contact a franchised BMW dealer to ask about remedy timing and the free passenger air bag repair once parts are ready.
- Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with questions and reference recall number 17V020 when you call.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the vehicle until the remedy is performed. The final dealer repair is still under development, and BMW sent interim letters in March 2017. Once remedy parts are available, a BMW technician will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the full air bag module, free under the recall. BMW's general reimbursement plan is on file for owners who already paid for this repair. Keep prior repair documentation and ask BMW customer service how to submit it under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 10, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 10, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| March 1, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 28, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V020?
Recall 17V020 covers 48,951 BMW X5 and X6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during deployment after long exposure to heat and humidity. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Do not drive until the dealer completes the free repair.
What should I do if my 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 BMW X6 or X5 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V020. If it is, do not drive the vehicle. Call a franchised BMW dealer or BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 and ask how to arrange the free passenger air bag inflator or module replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and BMW says dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module free of charge. Ask the BMW dealer how the repair will be handled for your included VIN.
What does Do not drive mean for this BMW air bag recall?
Do not drive means the vehicle should stay parked until the recall repair is complete. BMW's remedy says owners are advised not to drive these vehicles before the repair. If the vehicle has to move, ask the BMW dealer about towing or another safe transport option.
What if I bought my BMW X5 or X6 used?
The free recall repair still applies if your VIN is included. Used vehicles can miss owner letters, especially when registration or address records changed. Check your VIN, then reference recall 17V020 when you call a franchised BMW dealer for next steps.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V020000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V020 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V020000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →