2015 BMW X6

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2015-2019 X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6M vehicles equipped with rear seat lower anchor bars used in securing child restraint seats. The lower anchor bars may become damaged over time when used with an ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

The risk

Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. Owner notification began January 17, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 32,760 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

towed · 85,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X6. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST POWER, AND THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND MANAGED TO DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS TO PARK AVE BMW (216 NJ-17, ROCHELLE PARK, NJ 07662, (201) 843-7900). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …

NHTSA complaint 11288809, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Car goes into limp mode on highway. Shakes very bad and I lose power to my car speed going from 65-70mph to 30-40mph forcing the car trying to get to a safe area to see why my car suddenly lost power. After dodging all the close call accidents from me trying to pull over I come to a complete stop and car is shaking out of control so I turn it off and turn it back on but my car still shakes out of control. After sitting on the side of the road with traffic zipping past me for about 30 minutes I turned my car back on and the shaking went away. Days later the car did it again but I was in city streets I pulled over and turned off the car and waited 30 minutes again. The next day I took it to a …

NHTSA complaint 11629551, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The vehicle moonroof shattered for no reason at all it was as if an explosion occurred, forcing the glass upwards.

NHTSA complaint 11558311. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

134,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into neutral with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V755000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

NHTSA complaint 11423540. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V823000 (CHILD SEAT) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HANSEL BMW OF SANTA ROSA (2925 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95407) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 11311945. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.