Recall 17V495 affects 6,785 2012-2013 BMW X3 and M6 vehicles with driver air bag inflator weld defects. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.
BMW is recalling 6,785 2012-2013 X3 and M6 vehicles under recall 17V495 because the driver's frontal air bag inflator has an improper weld. In a crash that deploys the air bag, the inflator housing can separate from its base plate and send metal toward occupants, raising the risk of serious injury or death; BMW dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in the recalled BMW X3 and M6 is the metal pressure device inside the steering wheel air bag module. In a crash severe enough to deploy the air bag, the inflator produces gas that fills the bag between the driver and the steering wheel. The weld on the inflator housing is supposed to hold that pressure inside the unit.
On these vehicles, the Takata PSDI-X inflator was built with an uneven weld condition during supplier production. That means the inflator housing was not joined as designed. When the air bag deploys and pressure rises inside the inflator, that weak weld can keep the driver air bag from performing as intended.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag system can look normal until a crash deployment puts pressure on the inflator.
Who's affected?
Covers 2012 and 2013 X3 SUVs and 2013 M6 coupes, tied to the same driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2012 BMW X3 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2013 BMW X3 | front air bag |
| 2013 BMW M6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 6,785 |
| 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?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing can separate from the base plate and send metal into vehicle occupants, risking serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before this deployment problem, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 BMW X3 or M6 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the free driver's front air bag module replacement that fixes the improperly welded inflator.
- Reference recall number 17V495 when you call, and give the dealer your VIN.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, or ask the BMW dealer to look up the recall by VIN.
- Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 with questions before your appointment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a BMW technician replaces the driver's front air bag module. The replacement part and labor are free under the recall. This repair addresses the driver's frontal air bag inflator described in campaign 17V495. If you already paid for a related driver's air bag repair before the recall notice, ask BMW customer service or the dealer how to file under BMW's general reimbursement plan and keep your repair paperwork available.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 8, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 16, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| October 6, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 9, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 9, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V495?
Recall 17V495 covers 6,785 2012-2013 BMW X3 and M6 vehicles with a driver's frontal air bag inflator weld defect. In a crash requiring deployment, the inflator housing can separate from the base plate and send metal toward occupants. BMW dealers replace the driver's front air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 BMW X3 or M6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific BMW is included in recall 17V495. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule replacement of the driver's front air bag module. Reference recall number 17V495 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and BMW's remedy for recall 17V495 is free dealer replacement of the driver's front air bag module. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised BMW dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is serious occupant injury in a crash that requires driver's frontal air bag deployment. For recall 17V495, the inflator housing can separate from the base plate, allowing metal to strike people inside the vehicle.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V495000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V495 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V495000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →