Recall 23V471 covers 1,981 2023-2024 BMW X5, X6, Xm, and X7 SUVs with defective knee air bags. Repair will be free once available.
BMW is recalling 1,981 2023-2024 X5, X6, Xm, and X7 vehicles because the driver or passenger knee air bag was not manufactured correctly and can fail to deploy as intended. A knee air bag that does not deploy correctly increases injury risk, and the BMW dealer repair will be free once BMW makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The knee air bag in affected 2023-2024 BMW X5, X6, Xm, and X7 vehicles is a supplemental restraint mounted low in the dashboard area. In a crash, it is designed to deploy near the driver's or passenger's knees and help manage lower-body movement along with the seat belt and front air bags.
The problem is inside the knee air bag assembly. BMW found that some driver or passenger knee air bags were not built to supplier specifications, with fabric clamped because the inflator was installed incorrectly. That restriction can keep the bag from opening and filling the way it was designed to during deployment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag sits behind trim, and the defect is inside the assembly, so an owner is not expected to feel, hear, or see a symptom during normal driving.
Who's affected?
Spans four BMW SUV lines across the 2023 and 2024 model years, all tied to the same knee air bag component.
| 2024 BMW X5 | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2024 BMW X6 | air bag system |
| 2023 BMW Xm | air bag system |
| 2024 BMW X7 | air bag system |
| Units affected | 1,981 |
| 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 SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
A knee air bag that does not deploy as intended leaves the driver or front passenger with less crash protection and increases the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, plan for the dealer repair and keep the recall open until the work is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2023-2024 BMW X5, X6, Xm, or X7 is included in this recall.
- Confirm with a franchised BMW dealer whether the free knee air bag replacement is open for your VIN before scheduling.
- Reference recall number 23V471 when you call the dealer or BMW customer service.
- Bring the BMW owner letter if you received one; owner letters were mailed September 6, 2023.
- Drive with extra care until the repair is complete because the knee air bag can fail to deploy as intended in a crash.
What happens at the repair
Once BMW opens the dealer repair, a BMW technician will replace the driver knee air bag, passenger knee air bag, or both, depending on how your VIN is covered. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. BMW's general reimbursement plan on file applies to documented repairs paid before the recall notice. Keep repair invoices and payment records, and contact BMW customer service or ask the service desk how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 10, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 10, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| July 10, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 1, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 6, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V471?
Recall 23V471 covers 1,981 2023-2024 BMW X5, X6, Xm, and X7 vehicles with a knee air bag that was not manufactured correctly. The driver or passenger knee air bag can fail to deploy as intended, increasing injury risk. BMW dealers will replace the affected knee air bag for free.
What should I do if my 2023-2024 BMW X5, X6, Xm, or X7 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific BMW is included in recall 23V471. If it is, call a franchised BMW dealer and ask for the free knee air bag replacement. Reference recall number 23V471 and BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 if the dealer needs support.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. BMW dealers will replace the affected driver or passenger knee air bag free of charge, including parts and labor, once the repair is open for your VIN.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is increased injury in a crash. The affected knee air bag was not manufactured correctly and can fail to deploy as intended, so it does not provide the protection BMW designed for the driver or passenger knee area.
What if I bought this BMW used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you did not receive BMW's owner letter mailed on September 6, 2023, check your VIN and call a franchised BMW dealer with recall number 23V471.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V471000 |
|---|---|
| BMW customer service | 1-800-525-7417 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V471 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V471000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →