2025 BMW X3 Curtain Air Bag Recall (24V856)
BMW of North America, LLC · 2 vehicles · Reported November 12, 2024
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 2 2025 BMW X3 vehicles. The gas generator in the right-side head curtain air bag may have been assembled incorrectly. An incorrectly assembled air bag can result in delayed activation or improper deployment of the head curtain air bag, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V856 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V856000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 12, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2025 BMW X3 |
| Units affected | 2 |
| Component | Air Bags > Side / Window > Curtain |
| Safety risk | An incorrectly assembled air bag can result in delayed activation or improper deployment of the head curtain air bag, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 BMW X3 in recall 24V856?
The gas generator in the right-side head curtain air bag may have been assembled incorrectly.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 X3 30 xDrive vehicles. The gas generator in the right-side head curtain air bag may have been assembled incorrectly.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 X3 with recall 24V856?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An incorrectly assembled air bag can result in delayed activation or improper deployment of the head curtain air bag, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An incorrectly assembled air bag can result in delayed activation or improper deployment of the head curtain air bag, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your X3 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the curtain, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V856?
Recall 24V856 covers 2 vehicles: 2025 BMW X3.
NHTSA lists 2 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | BMW | X3 |
What is the fix for the X3 curtain air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the right-side head curtain air bag, if necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace the right-side head curtain air bag, if necessary, free of charge. The vehicles have not been sold from dealer inventory and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
When was recall 24V856 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 24V856 to NHTSA on November 12, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 12, 2024 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V856000. |
This recall was filed 22 months ago. If your X3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my X3 is part of recall 24V856?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V856 is open on your X3, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V856000 is open on your X3, 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 X3 owners do about recall 24V856?
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 24V856000 applies to your X3.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized BMW dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the curtain happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 X3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 24V856 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 38 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 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.
- 2025 BMW X3: 38 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
Can recall 24V856 make my X3 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.
Recall 24V856000 does not automatically make your X3 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (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.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 X3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other BMW X3 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V856
Is the 24V856000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my X3 is part of recall 24V856000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 24V856000 (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.