The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2012 X5 xDrive35d, 2008-2012 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2007-2012 X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSPI-2) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW X5 | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| BMW X6 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| BMW X6 Activehybrid SAC | 2010, 2011 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X5 | 2007 | 71 | 8 |
| BMW X5 | 2008 | 215 | 10 |
| BMW X5 | 2009 | 138 | 12 |
| BMW X5 | 2010 | 124 | 14 |
| BMW X5 | 2011 | 263 | 14 |
| BMW X5 | 2012 | 271 | 10 |
| BMW X6 | 2008 | 4 | 8 |
| BMW X6 | 2009 | 19 | 10 |
| BMW X6 | 2010 | 15 | 9 |
| BMW X6 | 2011 | 31 | 11 |
| BMW X6 | 2012 | 32 | 7 |
| BMW X6 Activehybrid SAC | 2010 | 3 | 6 |
| BMW X6 Activehybrid SAC | 2011 | 0 | 8 |
Other air bags recalls in 2020
45 of the 782 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2020 concerned the air bags; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 20V791000 17 Dec 2020 | Ford Motor Company |
| 20V785000 16 Dec 2020 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 20V749000 2 Dec 2020 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| 20V747000 1 Dec 2020 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 20V736000 25 Nov 2020 | General Motors LLC |
| 20V734000 25 Nov 2020 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 20V681000 4 Nov 2020 | Volvo Car USA LLC |
| 20V628000 9 Oct 2020 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2020