The problem
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the front passenger seat has a sensing system to detect if the seat is occupied. This sensing is programmed to detect if the seat is occupied by a small adult or certain child restraint seats. Placing certain child seats on the front passenger seat is designed to result in the automatic deactivation of the front seat passenger's air bag.
The risk
In some cases, the sensing system May misinterpret a properly seated small adult as one of these specific child seats, resulting in deactivation of the front passenger air bag when the air bag might be beneficial for the adult, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat sensor. The recall began on May 21, 2007. Owners May contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 07V-178 (07V178000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Component | Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive |
| Report date | April 25, 2007 |
| Owners notified | May 21, 2007 |
| Vehicles affected | 225 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 07V-178 repair free?
Yes. BMW dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will replace the front passenger seat sensor. The recall began on May 21, 2007. Owners May contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 225 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.