NHTSA safety recall National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

BMW recall: The seat belt system may inaccurately detect that passengers are belted

Recall published 2+ years ago

The seat belt system may inaccurately detect that passengers are belted, preventing the seat belt warning light from illuminating and possibly causing the supplemental restraint system to not deploy…

The hazard: Airbag or restraint defect

This campaign concerns the airbag or restraint system, which only matters in a crash — and is therefore easy to postpone and expensive to postpone.

What the notice says: A seat belt warning light that does not alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt or an SRS system that deploys improperly can both increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Why it matters: The airbag or its inflator may not deploy correctly, may deploy without a crash, or may send fragments into the cabin when it fires. The system is meant to be the last line of protection, so a fault in it is only discovered at the worst possible moment.

Recall details

Recall number
24V345000
Published
May 15, 2024
Risk level
NHTSA safety recall
Status
Open safety recall
Issued by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Brand
BMW of
Product type
Seat Belts
Distribution
Nationwide
Vehicles
BMW X5 · BMW X6 · BMW X7
Lot / code info
NHTSA campaign number 24V345000

Products covered by this recall

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 XM, 2025 BMW X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 M60i, X5 M, X5 xDrive50e, X6 xDrive40i, X6 M60i, X6 M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 M60i, and Alpina XB7 vehicles. The seat belt system may inaccurately detect that passengers are belted, preventing the seat belt warning light from illuminating and possibly causing the supplemental restraint system to not deploy as intended during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Vehicles in this campaign

Check your product

The notice names 12 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Vehicle

Match this against the make and model on your registration.

  • XM
  • BMW X5 sDrive40i
  • X5 xDrive40i
  • X5 M60i
  • X5 M
  • X5 xDrive50e
  • X6 xDrive40i
  • X6 M60i
  • X6 M
  • X7 xDrive40i
  • X7 M60i
  • and Alpina XB7

Codes are lifted verbatim from the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Airbag

BMW of — This campaign concerns the airbag or restraint system, which only matters in a crash — and is therefore easy to postpone and expensive to postpone.

  1. Treat this as a high-priority repair rather than something to fit around your next service.
  2. Keep the repair order the dealer hands you. It is your proof the campaign was closed out, and it matters at resale.
  3. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you do anything else. A campaign covers a build range, not every car of that model year, and the VIN lookup is the only thing that confirms yours is included.
  4. Call any franchised dealer for the brand, give them the campaign number from this page, and ask them to confirm parts are in stock before you book — part supply, not labour, is what delays a fresh recall.

Costs, reimbursement and your rights

The repair itself is free. What people most often miss is that money already spent can frequently be claimed back.

  • If you paid for the same repair out of pocket before the recall was announced, ask the manufacturer for reimbursement. Carmakers must run a reimbursement plan for pre-notification repairs; you will need the original invoice.
  • Towing is normally covered where the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and loaner cars or rental reimbursement are often available on long parts delays. Neither is usually offered unless you ask.
  • A dealer may not charge a diagnostic, inspection or shop-supplies fee for recall work. If one appears on the estimate, query it before you sign.
  • If a dealer refuses the repair, delays it unreasonably or tries to bill you, complain to the manufacturer’s customer line, then to NHTSA. Those complaints are logged against the campaign.

Remedy named in the notice: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat lower seat belts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Company contact: BMW of North America, LLC

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was BMW of seat belts recalled?

The seat belt system may inaccurately detect that passengers are belted, preventing the seat belt warning light from illuminating and possibly causing the supplemental restraint system to not deploy… A seat belt warning light that does not alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt or an SRS system that deploys improperly can both increase the risk of injury in a crash.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Treat this as a high-priority repair rather than something to fit around your next service.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat lower seat belts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Does the repair cost me anything?

No. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at a franchised dealer for as long as the campaign is open, whether or not the vehicle is still under warranty.

Related recalls