Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 BMW X5 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Passenger Restraint System Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the passenger restraint system had failed, and an unknown repair needed to be completed. The contact was charged a repair cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 10056703-9690. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
We hit a deer while driving at 55 MPH. We were wearing seatbelts and not injured, it was a major frontal impact, the car is probably totalled. When we stopped we noticed multiple warning messages on the display: * restraint system failure * passenger airbag failure * pre-tensioner failure It appears that the car detected the collision and tried to activate the restraint systems, but nothing activated. No air bags deployed, and we did not feel the pre-tensioners activate.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that the air bag restraint malfunction message was displayed, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
I received a message of Restraint system malfunction and when I called the local dealer I was told the part is not availabel anywhere in the USA. What am I supposed to do with this. I was told the air bags and seatbelts may malfunction. The vehicle only has 85k miles. its a 2012. At this point who will take the car as a trade? It's not safe and they don't have an answer except to say I'm [redacted] and i guess you need to get a new vehicle!! Can you believe this? I have to get a whole new vehicle because they don't have a part! You can't make this stuff up. I spoke with BMW USA and was told they only honor 4yr and 50k miles and after 10years they are not responsible for parts to be made. The I was told to get it further diagnosed to the tune of 250.00 so they can "MAYBE" have the parts manufactured. What the heck! this company is saying our cars are garbage after 10yrs!
Vehical randomly shuts off, it all safety systems warning lamps come on l, like ABS, Airbag, and traction control. Found wiring harness laying in a pool of water in the rear right cargo compartment. Rain water leaking from sunroof collected in compartment. The harness contains wires for the the vehicles CAN buss systems the water causes corrosion in the harness, which causes all sorts of problems that could happen at any time like the vehicle shutting off or the airbag or abs warning light coming on.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that the passenger air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken twice to auto hermana BMW dealer, located on calle acuarela #106, carretera 20 klm 4.0, guaynabo, pr 00969, where it was rejected to be serviced under the recall remedy due to the part not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags), 17V020000 (air bags) and 17V138000 (power train) however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 72,727. VIN tool confirms part not available and part distribution disconnect. Updated 09/06/17
"Takata air bag recall" we were advised of this problem over 1 year ago by our BMW service advisor and we applied for a new replacement at that time. We live in clearwater florida and the car is parked outside in the sun all the time. I have a young child that is routinely a rider in this car and we feel that the bag should be replaced or disconnected until a replacement bag can be installed. I have called my dealer on numerous occasions and have also contacted BMW corporate only to be told they have no idea when it will be fixed! The risk of injury or death to me or my family is unacceptable. Please help us as consumers to force the manufacturer to fix this problem in the affected cars, even if you must limit those that they can sell for new vehicles! Thank you.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 17V138000 (power train) and NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags) had exceeded a reasonable time for the repair. The contact received recall notification in April of 2017 and the sterling BMW dealer located at 21710 auto world circle sterling, va 20166, phone number: [phone] advised that parts are not available for repair. The manufacturer also advised that parts were unavailable for repair. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 11/07/17
The sensor (to detect if someone is sitting in the seat) under the front passenger seat is not working properly and requires the seat belt to be activated to silence the warning beeps, even when the passenger seat is not occupied, so it's clearly not functioning as intended. Leads me to question whether the airbag will deploy in the event of an accident. The same issue happened for several years with our 2007 BMW 530 and that was finally acknowledged by BMW and we were offered a free repair for this item. Keep waiting on them to include our X5. It's been several years.
Takata recall: I received my letter notifying me of the recall March 2016. The date for replacement has been pushed out from by the end of 2016 to March 2017 and when I called in May 2017 I was advised that my passenger airbag also has been recalled. The current replacement time is now September for the drivers side and December for the passenger side. I am concerned about the safety of my vehicle when the replacement continues to be extended.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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,…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Show 2 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other X5 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 BMW X5?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 BMW X5, 29% of the model year's 292 complaints. The component named most often is sensor › occupant classification (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 BMW X5 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-017 (inflator module, Jan 15, 2020); NHTSA recall 20V-016 (inflator module, Jan 15, 2020); NHTSA recall 19V-017 (inflator module, Jan 14, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 BMW X5 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.