2022-2023 BMW IX Front Air Bag Recall (23V079)
BMW of North America, LLC · 15,803 vehicles · Reported February 14, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 15,803 2022-2023 BMW IX; 2022-2023 BMW X1 vehicles. The front driver's air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly and may not deploy as intended during a crash. A driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended during a crash increases the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V079 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V079000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 14, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022-2023 BMW IX; 2022-2023 BMW X1 |
| Units affected | 15,803 |
| Component | Air Bags > Frontal |
| Safety risk | A driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended during a crash increases the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022-2023 BMW IX in recall 23V079?
The front driver's air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly and may not deploy as intended during a crash.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60 and 2022-2023 X1 xDrive28i vehicles. The front driver's air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly and may not deploy as intended during a crash.
Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 IX with recall 23V079?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended during a crash increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended during a crash increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the frontal.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V079?
Recall 23V079 covers 15,803 vehicles: 2022-2023 BMW IX; 2022-2023 BMW X1.
NHTSA lists 15,803 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | BMW | IX |
| 2022-2023 | BMW | X1 |
What is the fix for the IX front air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 23V079 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 23V079 to NHTSA on February 14, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 14, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 14, 2023 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V079000. |
| April 14, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 44 months ago. If your IX was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my IX is part of recall 23V079?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V079 is open on your IX, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2022-2023 IX vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should IX owners do about recall 23V079?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V079000 applies to your IX.
- Call a BMW dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any frontal symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are IX owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 138 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 17 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 23V079 was reported on February 14, 2023, owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 1 of them (6%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after February 14, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 138 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 17 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2023 BMW X1: 70 complaints in total, 4 about the air bags
- 2023 BMW IX: 38 complaints in total, 12 about the air bags
- 2022 BMW IX: 29 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
- 2022 BMW X1: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Driver Restraint System Malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V079000 (Air Bags).
2023 BMW X1 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11512801, filed March 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V079000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
2023 BMW X1 owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11516925, filed April 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V079000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2023 BMW X1 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11518718, filed April 24, 2023
Can recall 23V079 make my IX a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this frontal recall means their IX qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022-2023 BMW IX has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your IX been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW IX recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V079
Did the recall 23V079 fix work?
Since recall 23V079 was reported on February 14, 2023, owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 1 of them (6%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed April 14, 2023.
Is the 23V079000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my IX is part of recall 23V079000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V079000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or BMW. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.