To Whom It May Concern. Please help me on this. I purchased a BMW x5 that needed recalls installed at the BMW dealer. I purchased the vehicle, performed routine preventative maintenance, new tires, new brakes, full detail, shampooed the interior, and full wash, etc. When I took my BMW to the dealer, the BMW dealer installed the recalled items, but did not install or replace the defective FRM footwell module that controls the electric windows, signals, headlights, emergency flashers, and all the interior lights. Per BMW service manager, this FRM is defective from the factory because the FRM does not have a relay or fuse disconnect that protects the FRM from current surges or spikes. The manner and area that this FRM was mounted into the BMW x5 chassis makes this FRM electronic module highly susceptible to being damaged or become defective due to no fault of the vehicle driver or owner. Shame on BMW for not standing behind the quality of their vehicles. I have spent a considerable amount of money, close to one thousand dollars on the diagnosis and repair of footwell module FRM on my 2011 BMW x5 vehicle. Please intervene on my behalf, hundreds of other BMW x5 owners have also been fraudulently sold defective parts and vehicles. BMW knows this is a major safety issue, yet BMW will not issue a recall until the federal safety agency, NTSB, or another government entity forces BMW to do the right thing. Shameful. Please intervene on our behalf. Respectfully, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2011 BMW X5 airbags problems
67 complaints (25% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 72,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 67
- of this car's complaints
- 25%
- typical mileage
- 72,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 5
Which part fails
- Sensor: occupant classification2
- Sensor: occupant classification: front passenger1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
BMW X5 airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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 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.
Recall number 20V016000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) 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.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V017000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles. 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 passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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 performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V017000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2009-2013 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M vehicles ever registered in the states of 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." BMW is also recalling certain 2007-2010 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X5 xDrive35d, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles ever registered in the states of 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." BMW is also recalling certain 2007-2009 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xdrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X5 xDrive35d, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." 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 passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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 performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 18V030000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5M vehicles, 2009-2011 X5 xDrive35d vehicles, 2008-2011 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid 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 model year 2007-2008 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5M vehicles, and 2008 BMW X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M 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." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and 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.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 16V364000 · Recall details
What 2011 BMW X5 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driveshaft feels like its failing ive read forums about airbags being a safety issue
Upon driving the airbag light came on and said it was not recognized seat belt indicator came on also send a photo
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 bmw x5. The contact stated the vehicle was emitting a burning odor coming from both inside and outside of the vehicle when driving. The contact stated that after stopping then attempting to accelerate the vehicle, the vehicle would hesitate. In addition, the vehicle jerked when turning or decelerating. On a separate occasion, the air bag warning light flashed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (roadshow bmw, address: 405 n germantown pkwy #6207, cordova, tn 38018, phone: (901) 365-2584) who informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 16v746000 (fuel system, gasoline), as well as, the recalls for the air bags and engine (the federal safety agency campaign numbers unknown). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who referred the contact to the federal safety agency to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage 190,000.
One week after I purchaseed bmw x5, the airbag light switched on my dashboard while I was driving on highway and igot a massage saying"fault in passenger restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt force limiter. Continue to wear seat belt. Please contact the nearest bmw center."as my car has been affected by the recall, a bmw dealer will fix the airbag problem free of charge. My bmw doesn't have to have an existing warranty to be covered by a recall. Today 1/27/2020 I went to the bmw dealer in edison for the recall, after 6 hours I received the car and the airbag light still on ???? I asked the employee why the airbag still on? He answered me " we changed the parts but to turne this light off you will pay for it " I asked how much? He said around $400??? I didn't agree and left the dealer with the airbag light on. The conclusion, they don't wanna do it for free!!!!, I'm driving my car without passenger side airbag????
The passenger seat weight occupancy sensor intermittently works. I am concerned if it is not working properly, the airbag may not deploy properly. Also, the seat belt warning light chimes even though the seat is not occupied.
Me and my kids were driving our 2011 bmw x5, we went to a full stop on the freeway, a semi was driving too fast behind us, the semi was on its way to crushing me and my three daughters in the car. We tried to move out of its way and crashed in the car infront of us as there was no place to go. The one second decision was the toughest decision I had to take in my life, either the semi is going to kill us all I I can crash in the car front of us to avoid death, we were relying on the airbag to save our life, the airbag didn't deploy, accident occurred on july 17th. Thankfully the airbag did not deploy or we would've been all dead from the defective bmw airbag, yesterday (july 31st) we received a letter from the dmv that we need to contact bmw to replace the defective airbag. What if the airbag deployed that day? How much is a human life worth? We purchased a bmw to protect us during an accident and we feel cheated. We would've all lost our lives. The car has been towed and sitting in our deiveway. It's inoperable and the airbag hasn't deployed. We are scared to even go inside the car to grab our things because we don't want the airbag to deploy. Someone needs to do something about this. Immediately. My daughters are scared to ride inside a car, and I'm scared to drive again. There has been 24 reported deaths from takata, we could've been number 29.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 bmw x5. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a dealer (bmw 6655 coliseum blvd, alexandria, la 71303 (318) 445-6678) to be serviced under the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v017000 (air bags). After the recall remedy was performed, the vehicle was towed back to the contacts residence however the check engine warning light was illuminated along with a note from the dealer indicating that the engine was at a 50% capacity and that the vehicle needed to be returned at the dealer. The contact called the same dealer when it was informed that the drive shaft needed to be replaced under an extended warranty but after calling on a later time the dealer then informed the contact that they would be responsible for the cost of repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they would investigate the issue however then declined to cover any repair costs. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Takata recall. We have a terrible track record with the two local dealers, as they do not do work that they say they do. They also make it very difficult to get cars into service and back again. I do not want to deal with them again. They have zero respect for the law, the car shows the "audi auto accelerate problem" when coming off the freeway and I parking lots. The car was delivered in a state where it could not be driven on the street legally, and they had the gall to demand that we sign a waiver which we did to do. They had to fix the legal issues the car had.
The passenger occupancy sensor is defective and chimes continuously when unoccupied. The only way to disarm the chime is to buckle the passenger seat belt which activates the passenger airbags. Since this vehicle currently has several airbag recalls on it, the defective occupancy sensor creates a dangerous situation for myself and other owners of this same make and model.
Questions about the 2011 BMW X5 airbags
Does the 2011 BMW X5 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 67 complaints about the airbags of the 2011 BMW X5, 25% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2011 BMW X5 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 72,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 BMW X5 airbags?
Yes, 5 recalls: 20V016000, 20V017000, 19V017000. 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 2011 BMW X5 problems
Engine 119Transmission 58Fuel system 45Electrical 19Steering 18Brakes 8Acceleration 7Lights 7Seat belts 5Body 4Suspension 3Visibility 3Wheels 3Driver assistance 2Tires 2Seats 1
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