Vehicle recall R/2008/179

BMW X5 recall: Airbag may deploy inadvertently

DVSA recall R/2008/179 names the BMW X5. It was launched 25 November 2008. It covers vehicles built 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/2008/179
Launched: 25 November 2008
Issued by: BMW
Manufacturer reference: 0065120200
Vehicles: 6,240 across the lines below

What can go wrong

The front air bags may trigger unnecessarily and the possibility of occupant injury cannot be excluded.

The fix

Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to recode the air bag control unit.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. Vehicle numbers are DVSA figures for each line.
Model	Built	Vehicles
BMW X5	1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002	6,240

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/2009/074 Brakes may fail 21 July 2009, BMW X5, BMW X6
R/2007/122 Brake fluid may leak 14 August 2007, BMW X5
R/2007/106 Driver's seat belt may de-latch 16 July 2007, BMW X5
R/2010/197 Electric fuel pump may fail 8 November 2010, BMW X5
R/2011/123 Risk of fire 5 October 2011, BMW 7 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW X3 and others
R/2011/147 Short circuit may occur 17 November 2011, BMW 7 Series, BMW X6, BMW 5 Series and others

Found one you might buy?

A recall is one part of the picture. See how often it fails its MOT at each age, or what the VetTheCar Buying Report tells you about a specific car.

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources