2024 BMW X5 Knee Bolster Recall (23V471)
BMW of North America, LLC · 1,981 vehicles · Reported July 10, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 1,981 2024 BMW X5; 2024 BMW X6; 2024 BMW X7; 2023 BMW XM vehicles. The knee air bag (driver and/or passenger) may not have been manufactured correctly, which can result in the knee air bag not deploying as intended. A knee air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V471 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V471000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 10, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2024 BMW X5; 2024 BMW X6; 2024 BMW X7; 2023 BMW XM |
| Units affected | 1,981 |
| Component | Air Bags > Knee Bolster |
| Safety risk | A knee air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024 BMW X5 in recall 23V471?
The knee air bag (driver and/or passenger) may not have been manufactured correctly, which can result in the knee air bag not deploying as intended.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 M60i, X5 M, xDrive 50e, 2024 X6 xDrive40i, X6 M60i, X6 M, 2024 X7 xDrive40i, X7 M60i, Alpina XB7, and 2023 XM vehicles. The knee air bag (driver and/or passenger) may not have been manufactured correctly, which can result in the knee air bag not deploying as intended.
Is it safe to drive a 2024 X5 with recall 23V471?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A knee air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A knee air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your X5 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the knee bolster, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V471?
Recall 23V471 covers 1,981 vehicles: 2024 BMW X5; 2024 BMW X6; 2024 BMW X7; 2023 BMW XM.
NHTSA lists 1,981 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BMW | X5 |
| 2024 | BMW | X6 |
| 2024 | BMW | X7 |
| 2023 | BMW | XM |
What is the fix for the X5 knee bolster recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the knee air bag (driver and/or passenger), free of charge.
Dealers will replace the knee air bag (driver and/or passenger), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 23V471 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 23V471 to NHTSA on July 10, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 6, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 10, 2023 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V471000. |
| September 6, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 39 months ago. If your X5 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my X5 is part of recall 23V471?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V471 is open on your X5, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V471000 is open on your X5, it will be listed there. You can also ask any BMW dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should X5 owners do about recall 23V471?
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 23V471000 applies to your X5.
- 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 knee bolster 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 X5 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 23V471 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 218 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 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.
- 2024 BMW X5: 145 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
- 2024 BMW X7: 62 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2024 BMW X6: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
- 2023 BMW XM: 2 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owned a 2024 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH through an intersection, another vehicle ran a red light and t-boned the contact's vehicle on the front passenger side to the partial front rear door.
2024 BMW X5 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11656594, filed April 24, 2025
Car's information system was giving error stating: "Urgent interior functionality check up. The driver restraint system of your vehicle is malfunctioning. There is an increased risk of injury in case of a collision.
2024 BMW X5 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11712478, filed January 21, 2026
BMW of North America is hiding problems with brand new vehicles.
2024 BMW X5 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11531876, filed July 12, 2023
Can recall 23V471 make my X5 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 knee bolster recall means their X5 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)).
Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2024 BMW X5 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 X5 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW X5 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V471
Is the 23V471000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 6, 2023.
How do I know if my X5 is part of recall 23V471000?
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 a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
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 23V471000 (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.