2023 September BMW issued me a "Stop Drive" letter in the mail. I parked the vehicle and haven't drove it since. Since then ive called the number in letter and visited website. At one time the individual handling and scheduling my "repair" had asked me if I could drive the car to nearest dealership to get repaired? I said absolutely not; i have recieved a letter stating to stop driving? Im not gonna drive it? When I asked about them coming to fix it and getting a loaner as the letter offered? They said when the vehicle makes it to the dealership for repair it will be up to the dealership doing repairs if im to get a loaner? I asked what am I to do until it gets fixed being that I cant drive? No logical answer given? I've attempted several more times to contact BMW per phone numbers given in mailers stating "stop drive"? Im completely at a loss as of today the vehicle has been sitting so long its now damaged, weathered, and so forth? I just recieved another letter in mail last week same thing about repair do not drive and so forth. I cant believe nothing has been done thus far? I see all the deadlines for repair have past and my address has. Never changed or phone number they are still the same as day they sent first "stop drive" letter was sent and that was actually way before September 2023 I dont know exactly when but September is when I first called about getting repair done and still remain unaddressed today?
2001 BMW X5 airbags problems
16 complaints (10% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 138,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 16
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- typical mileage
- 138,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Side/window1
- Frontal: passenger side: inflator module1
- Frontal1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
BMW X5 airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 X5 vehicles that may be equipped with a sport steering wheel containing a Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflator. The inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's front air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning December 23, 2025. This recall expands previous the federal safety agency recall number 19V015.
Recall number 25V748000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 17V047000 · Recall details
What 2001 BMW X5 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
My vehicle is DO NOT DRIVE condition. I have not been able to schedule air bag recall repair because the dealerships in my area will not tow to and from my home, and say no mobile service is available. WHAT ARE MY OPINIONS? PLEASE REPLY .....I currently can't drive my car because I have a unexploded claymore in my face!
Got airbag notice in mail 2019 took my car to world wide bmw nanuet ny dealer march 23 2019 told me my airbag system was not on the list of being replaced mined you my airbag light was on well before taking it to bmw dealer and today is still on I would like to know if this is true and what can I do to have it corrected they want to charge me over 2,000 to replace the airbag module
Takata recall I went out to start my car noticed when I started it there was smoke coming from the passenger side front air bag area I immediately shut it off but there was smoke still coming and getting thicker I immediately call 911 I was on the phone with 911 and noticed flames .fire truck showed up put the fire out but the whole front air bag area and glove box was pretty bad
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw x5. The contact stated that the air bags deployed without warning or impact. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for repairs. The contact sustained minor injuries, which did not require medical attention. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 bmw x5. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v047000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. ..updated 06/21/17 *bf
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 bmw x5. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v047000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2001 bmw x5. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, a coyote jumped in front of the vehicle. The contact attempted to void a crash and swerved causing an unknown rear wheel to detach from the vehicle. The vehicle then flipped over several times and crashed upside down into the side of a residential home. A police report was not filed. The air bags failed to deploy. The seat belt failed to restrain the contact who was ejected from the vehicle when the impact occurred. The contact sustained internal bruising that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a collision center but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was later towed to the contacts residence. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact later received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v047000 (air bags). The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw x5. While the vehicle was parked, the front passenger side air bag inflated on its own without warning. The driver and passenger were injured, but did not receive medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bags malfunctioned. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
My passenger side airbag deployed without an accident occurring. I contacted bmws corporate offices. They had me take it in to bmw of dallas so they could see what caused the malfunction. No satisfactory resolve was achieved. They did not fix the malfunctioned equipment. They gave me my vehicle back with malfunctioned airbag unfixed. I am appalled by there lack of corporate accountability. *bf consumer stated she had a head trauma. Updated 7/3/18*jb
Questions about the 2001 BMW X5 airbags
Does the 2001 BMW X5 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 16 complaints about the airbags of the 2001 BMW X5, 10% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2001 BMW X5 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 138,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2001 BMW X5 airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 25V748000, 17V047000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW X5 have bad airbags?
The BMW X5 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2006 (83 complaints), 2012 (83 complaints) and 2011 (67 complaints).
Other 2001 BMW X5 problems
Engine 38Electrical 24Locks 18Transmission 15Visibility 14Brakes 11Steering 11Body 10Lights 9Fuel system 7Suspension 7Seats 6Acceleration 3Driver assistance 2Seat belts 1Tires 1Wheels 1
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