WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET THE ENGINE STOPPED, WOULD NOT RESTART, THEN CAUGHT FIRE
2015 BMW X5
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 BMW X5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all X5 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
71 reports with mileage · 81 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Diesel. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
152 reports2015 X5 DIESEL HAD ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE @ ~85,650 MILES WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AT SURFACE STREET SPEEDS. DID NOT NOTICE ANY DRIVEABILITY/PERFORMANCE ISSUES, BUT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WITHIN A WEEK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF FOR THE WEEK LEADING UP TO DROPPING OFF. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF 2 INJE…
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2015 X5 DIESEL HAD ITS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE @ ~85,650 MILES WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AT SURFACE STREET SPEEDS. DID NOT NOTICE ANY DRIVEABILITY/PERFORMANCE ISSUES, BUT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WITHIN A WEEK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF FOR THE WEEK LEADING UP TO DROPPING OFF. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF 2 INJECTORS. CYLINDERS 1 AND 2. PAID TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND APPEARS TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY AND NO RETURN OF CEL AS OF YET (ABOUT 50 MILES). BMW HAS AN EXTENDED 120,000 MILE WARRANTY (SIB 01 09 19) ON INJECTORS FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2016 AND 2017 X5 DIESEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME INJECTORS AS WELL AS VARIOUS MY 2015, 2016, AND 2017 DIESEL VEHICLES. COVERAGE SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MODEL YEAR 2015 X5 AS WELL AS BELIEVE IT LIKELY THE 4 REMAINING ORIGINAL INJECTORS WILL FAIL AS WELL. HOPEFULLY BMW WILL ADD EXTENDED WARRANTY OF THE INJECTORS TO THE 2015 MY X5 DIESELS WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BLIND SPOT DETECTION MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BLIND SPOT DETECTION MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
HEADS UP DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ODB CODE LED TO BMW TECHNICAL BULLETIN SI B62 05 16. THIS WAS A KNOWN SOFTWARE CORRUPTION THAT REQUIRES SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALER REFUSES TO UPDATE SOFTWARE WITHOUT CHARGING THREE HOURS LABOR ($150/HR). BMW WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MELBOURNE BMW (1432 S HARBOR CITY BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901; (321) 727-3788) AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,600.
AUG 25TH 2020 MORNING, WESTPORT CT, MY WIFE STARTED VEHICLE AND TRYING TO BACK OUT FROM GARAGE. SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT SHE CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL AS BEFORE AND BECAME EXTREMELY STIFFEN. SHE ALMOST HIT THE GARAGE WALL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THIS ISAN EPS FAILURE. WE INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND SAW SEVERAL CASES LIKE US AND…
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AUG 25TH 2020 MORNING, WESTPORT CT, MY WIFE STARTED VEHICLE AND TRYING TO BACK OUT FROM GARAGE. SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT SHE CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL AS BEFORE AND BECAME EXTREMELY STIFFEN. SHE ALMOST HIT THE GARAGE WALL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THIS ISAN EPS FAILURE. WE INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND SAW SEVERAL CASES LIKE US AND SOME HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE ARE LUCKY FOUND THIS WHEN WE ARE STILL IN OUR GARAGE. EPS OF BMW HAD RECALL(16V-704) WHICH BMW ONLY RECALLED 50 CARS DURING 2-3 YEAR OF MANUFACTURING PERIOD. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND CERTAINLY MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED WHICH IS WITHIN THIS TIME FRAME.IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
THE VEHICLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PARK, AND/OR SHOULD HAVE SHIFTED TO PARK WHEN IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF.
MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM CITY TRAFFIC TO COMMUNITY ROAD, DURING THE TURN, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE THE COLLISION. AFTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE AIRBAG COVERED ALL THE DRIVER'S VISION, AND THEN, THE COLLISION HAPPENED. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT THE COLLISION. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN BELLE…
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MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM CITY TRAFFIC TO COMMUNITY ROAD, DURING THE TURN, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BEFORE THE COLLISION. AFTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE AIRBAG COVERED ALL THE DRIVER'S VISION, AND THEN, THE COLLISION HAPPENED. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT THE COLLISION. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN BELLEVUE, WA, ON MAY 29TH, 2020. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE BACK OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN BLACK SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO GET IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND OPEN THE TRUNK WHERE I SAW A FIRE IN THE TRUNK. I SHUT THE TRUNK AND RAN AND THE CAR BLEW UP TWO TIMES. 4 MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THIS THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY BAT…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE AND WITHIN SECONDS THE BACK OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN BLACK SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO GET IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND OPEN THE TRUNK WHERE I SAW A FIRE IN THE TRUNK. I SHUT THE TRUNK AND RAN AND THE CAR BLEW UP TWO TIMES. 4 MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THIS THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY BATTERY WHICH IS IN THE BACK AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WITH THE BATTERY (IN THE TRUNK) THAT STARTED THE FIRE. IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS WITH THIS SORT OF ISSUE, NOT SO MUCH AS WHEN DRIVING, BUT I THINK MAYBE MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THERE WAS ALMOST NOTHING LEFT TO THE CAR, THAT IS HOW QUICK THE FIRE HAPPENED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT WHEELS CEASED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRON…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT WHEELS CEASED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE SMOOTHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF ARLINGTON (1105 E. LAMAR BLVD, ARLINGTON, TX 76011, 817-461-9222 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS THE DRIVESHAFT AND U-JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.*DT*JB
Official recalls
621V907000 · Fuel System, Diesel
Nov 19, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
21V586000 · Fuel System, Diesel:delivery:fuel Pump
Jul 29, 2021
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
18V755000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)
Oct 25, 2018
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
16V683000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Sep 21, 2016
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 BMW X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, X3 xDrive28d, X4 xDrive28i and X4 xDrive35i vehicles, and model year 2014-2015 X5 xDrive35i, X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, and 2014 X5 xDrive35d vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began on November 1, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
15V147000 · Air Bags
Mar 13, 2015
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 BMW X5 xDrive 35d Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) manufactured August 19, 2014, to February 16, 2015, and 2014-2015 BMW X5 xDrive 35i, X5 sDrive 35i, X5 xDrive 50i, Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) manufactured August 28, 2013, to February 16, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Head Protection System (HPS) air bag may not be securely connected to the air bag inflator gas generator.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without a secure connection to the inflator, the HPS air bags may have insufficient inflation during a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Head Protection System, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
14V650000 · Seats
Oct 17, 2014
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 X5 vehicles manufactured September 12, 2014,to September 21, 2014 and equipped with the optional rear comfort seat. The left rear seat belt attachment point in the affected vehicles may not have been sufficiently welded.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the seat belt attachment could break and fail to restrain a seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left rear seat frame, free of charge. The recall began November 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA23001 · High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Mar 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Diesel:delivery:fuel Pump
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA and BMW.During the investigation FCA filed recalls 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087 which include vehicles not identified in the initial subject population by ODI. ODI also received recall 21V586, involving loss of motive power due to failed CP4 fuel pumps on certain BMW manufactured vehicles. An information request letter response received from BMW indicated that failed pumps on their vehicles were caused by an interaction between pump internal components and US market diesel fuel, leading to increased slip and eventual particle-generating wear surface. Additional work will be done to identify whether a similar root cause is associated with the FCA recalled population and if similar wear dynamics occur on pumps supplied to vehicle manufacturers other than those included in the recalled population.ODI has upgraded this investigation to an EA in order to 1) determine engineering specifications of internal pump components that are correlated with pump failure leading to loss of motive power or other safety related hazards, 2) identify vehicle populations equipped with alleged defective pump variants, 3) assess if vehicles equipped with alleged defective pump variants result in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and 4) gather and review any other relevant information related to high pressure fuel pump failure associated with the subject populations of recalls 21V586, 21V880, 21E094, 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087.Review of the above information will allow NHTSA to confirm root cause and recall remedy viability, and identify and evaluate vehicle populations equipped with pump components that may pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 11257550, 11351441, 11361603, 11361616, 11365300, 11365426, 11365858, 11366401, 11372337, 11373793, 11374797, 11376793, 11377871, 11378173, 11384377, 11386063, 11387018, 11399710, 11402550, 11415339, 11418868, 11418870, 11427075, 11434276, 11436807, 11437226, 11437249, 11437273, 11437292, 11437294, 11437394, 11437399, 11437403, 11437405, 11437423, 11437528, 11437565, 11437579, 11437580, 11437590, 11437679, 11437744, 11437781, 11437842, 11437993, 11438006, 11438008, 11438121, 11438138, 11438155, 11438392, 11438629, 11439359, 11439879, 11440397, 11443030, 11446542, 11448163, 11453556, 11458918, 11460558, 11469337
EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
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.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
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.
Illustration