Passenger frontal air bag inflator may rupture
Defect Summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2012 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, x5 m, x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i, and x6 m vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, bmw is recalling certain 2009 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i, and x5 m vehicles, 2008-2009 x6 xdrive 35i, x6 xdrive50i, x6 m, and 2009 x5 xdrive35d vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia, or "zone b." additionally, unless included in "zone a" or "zone b" above, bmw is recalling certain 2007-2008 x5 xdrive30i, x5 xdrive35i, x5 xdrive48i, x5 xdrive50i and x5 m vehicles, and 2008 x6 xdrive35i, x6 xdrive50i, and x6 m vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of alaska, colorado, connecticut, idaho, iowa, maine, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, oregon, rhode island, south dakota, utah, vermont, washington, wisconsin, and wyoming. these vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Safety Consequence
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Corrective Action
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. interim letters were mailed march 2017. owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Bmw Of North America, Llc or involving Air Bags.
FAQ: Recall 17V020000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 17V020000?
NHTSA recall 17V020000 was issued by Bmw Of North America, Llc on January 10, 2017. It addresses: Passenger frontal air bag inflator may rupture. The recall affects approximately 48,951 vehicles, with the defect involving the Air Bags component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Bmw Of North America, Llc dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 17V020000 or the manufacturer campaign number shown above. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
What does "Do Not Drive" mean for this recall?
NHTSA has flagged this recall as Do Not Drive, meaning the defect poses an immediate safety risk and affected vehicles should not be operated until they are repaired. Owners should contact their dealer immediately and may be eligible for free towing or a loaner vehicle while awaiting parts.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.