The knee airbag of BMW X5, X6, X7, and XM models may have inadequate fabric stitching that affects its safe deployment
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by Brad Anderson
September 19, 2023 at 16:29
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Various BMW X5, X6, X7, and XM models are being recalled in the United States as they could be fitted with a front passenger knee airbag that was not produced to the correct specifications.
The airbag in question was manufactured by Joyson Safety Systems in Mexico and BMW asserts that a portion of the fabric stitching may have a stitch density that is less than specified. This means that were a vehicle to be involved in a crash that requires the deployment of the knee airbag, it is possible that it would not occur as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The recall impacts a total of 2,352 BMW SUVs in the U.S. These start with 1,044 examples of the 2024 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 M60i, and X5 M that were built between June 13, 2023 and August 16, 2023. The recall also impacts 513 examples of the 2024 X5 xDrive50e hybrid built between the same dates.
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Read: Second-Row Headrests May Not Stay In Place Leading To 2023 BMW X5 Recall
In addition, 208 units of the 2024 X6 xDrive40i, X6 M60i, and X6 M are being recalled, all of which were built from June 12, 2023 to August 15, 2023. Some 586 examples of the 2024 BMW X7 xDrive40i, X7 M60i, and the Alpina XB7 built between these dates are also impacted, as is a single 2023 BMW XM that was built on June 19, 2023.
Interestingly, BMW issued a recall related to the same issue in mid-July but in that case, impacted vehicles were only built between May 23, 2023 and June 27, 2023.
BMW was first informed about a potential issue by the supplier in mid-July after an internal test showed that the airbag may not deploy as intended. An investigation revealed that a fabric seam appeared to open during the test and BMW quickly discovered that vehicles already delivered to customers with a low stitch count and exposed to high temperatures may have cushion seams that partially open.
Owners will be alerted to the recall after October 30, 2023, and be asked to take their vehicle to a dealer where the front passenger knee airbag will be replaced.
