2008 BMW X5 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 65about this part
- Share
- 30%of 215 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 82,881miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 65 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 BMW X5, 30% of the 215 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 82,881 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 6 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takata recall! My airbag seat keep on ringing to put seatbelt on when no one is sitting there, and the restraint warning on my tv screen won't go away. I'm afraid my seat will explode on us when we are on the road. They need to check it out, dangerous its better to save lives, then sorry.”
NHTSA complaint #11243431, filed 2019-08, 145,976 miles“Takata recall. My Bmw quit one day and the Bmw dealer in paduca will not take it. It has 2 or 3 recalls and they will not even take it for the recalls. They have cost me a lot of money and have no reason at all for not takeing it for recalls only.”
NHTSA complaint #11166021, filed 2019-01, 115,000 miles“Brought my 2008 X5 in for the crankcase (pcv) recall. The dealer (the Bmw store in cincinnati) told me the serpentine belt had to be removed for the repair and while removing the belt, the tensioner pully fell off. This was described as due to an existing broken bolt in the engine block. The dealer said I would either have to pay to repair or they would put the car back as found and can not be held if the car broke down. Is the dealer liable to repair this since the car was fully operational when it was brought in for the recall?”
NHTSA complaint #11253202, filed 2019-09, 104,000 miles“Bmw passenger seat airbag/seat restraint system has a malfunction. The system says there is a problem with the passenger seat and/or airbag restraint system or seatbelt or belt tensioners. There is a red light on the dash indicating failure of the system. This light comes and goes. Sometimes the light comes on even when no one is in the seat. I've googled this and it seems a lot of people are having the same issue with this. I'm not sure if the airbag is really effected or if it is a sensor malfunction. I see there are similar complaints listed here for this same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10671676, filed 2015-01, 111,000 miles“When a people seat on the passenger seat, the light airbag of the passenger seat is off is on. And the LED panel shows restrain system malfunction . I get my car checked at the dealership, they said this is due to the fault of the sensor in the seat and will make the airbag not deploy in an accident. Actually, this problem has been there for a while but only happen occasionally (one time a month), and can be solved by change sitting position a little bit. When I checked in the service, nothing wrong was found. He said the same problem exists in older models (e.g. …”
NHTSA complaint #10593698, filed 2014-05, 79,000 milesRelated recalls
- 20V016000Jan 15, 2020DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2012 X5 xDrive35d, 2008-2012 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2007-2012 X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i…Covers: BMW X5 2007–2012, X6 2008–2012, X6 Activehybrid SAC 2010–2011
- 19V017000Jan 14, 2019DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M vehicles, 2008-2014 X6…Covers: BMW X5 2007–2013, X6 2008–2014
- 18V030000Jan 9, 2018DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, 2009-2010 X5 xDrive35d vehicles…Covers: BMW X5 2007–2013, X6 2009–2013
- 17V020000Jan 10, 2017DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2012 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M…Covers: BMW X5 2007–2009, 2012, X6 2008–2009, 2012
- 16V364000May 25, 2016DO NOT DRIVEBMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5M vehicles, 2009-2011…Covers: BMW X5 2007–2011, X6 2008–2011, X6 Activehybrid SAC 2010–2011
- 20V017000Jan 15, 2020BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i…Covers: BMW X5 2007–2013, 328I 2006–2013, 335I 2006–2013 +16 more
Related service bulletins
- 10218382Jun 1, 2022A check control message for the restraint system appears. In the Instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. One of the following fault codes stored…
- 10200481May 1, 2021SURFACE RUST ON NEW AIR BAG INFLATORS: The technician finds that the new air bag inflator (aka: gas generator) may have surface rust on the metalhousing .
- 10160287Apr 1, 2019TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
- 10160244Apr 1, 2019TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL REPAIRS This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B01 31 18 dated October 2018.
- 10153726Jan 1, 2019Takata class action settlement. Customer support program. Front driver side airbag modules.
- 10149558Oct 1, 2018For the above-referenced vehicles with passenger?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata…
- 10149557Oct 1, 2018For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata…
- 10154816Feb 1, 2018In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has expanded the BMW Ultimate Rewards platform to include a new Recall Support…
- 10057707Feb 1, 2015Bmw:some bmw models may or may not display airbag warning light.
- 10149597May 1, 2013DSC Warning Light is On. The warning lamps for DSC, ABS and brake warning are illuminated. There may also be a warning in the control display for 'Chassis Control System failure'…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 3% |
| 2024 | 3 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 3% |
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 7 | 6% |
| 2020 | 6 | 5% |
| 2019 | 12 | 6% |
| 2018 | 4 | 5% |
| 2017 | 5 | 7% |
| 2016 | 5 | 7% |
| 2015 | 14 | 9% |
| 2014 | 6 | 6% |
| 2013 | 47 | 32% |
| 2012 | 83 | 31% |
| 2011 | 67 | 25% |
| 2010 | 35 | 28% |
| 2009 | 41 | 30% |
| 2008 | 65 | 30% |
| 2007 | 39 | 55% |
| 2006 | 83 | 49% |
| 2005 | 16 | 20% |
| 2004 | 6 | 9% |
| 2003 | 15 | 15% |
| 2002 | 19 | 19% |
| 2001 | 16 | 10% |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2008 BMW X5
66 complaintsFuel system
41 complaintsElectrical system
35 complaintsBrakes
16 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsExterior lighting
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 BMW X5
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology