RoadVitals

2009 BMW X6

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

NHTSA has issued a “do not drive” advisory affecting this model year.

Campaign 20V016000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.

Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Jul 20, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
10
Latest Jan 15, 2020
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 BMW X6, most frequently naming the engine, airbags and fuel system categories. 10 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 248 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1043.5%
  • Airbags313.0%
  • Fuel system313.0%
  • Electrical14.3%
  • Brakes14.3%
  • Tires & wheels14.3%
  • Interior & seats14.3%
  • Exterior lighting14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

10 campaigns cover this model year

View all 10

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
20V017000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 15, 2020
59,965 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW 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, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
20V016000NHTSA advisory: do not drive

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 15, 2020
4,007 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW 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, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSPI-2) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until this remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
19V017000NHTSA advisory: do not drive

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 14, 2019
83,016 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW 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 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M vehicles, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d vehicles and 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 19
BrakesEngine
Filed Jul 20, 2020

I WAS DRIVING HOME I LOST POWER IN MY ENGINE MY RADIATOR FAN WAS EXTREMELY HIGH THE GATE IS GOING UP AND DOWN WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD AND MY OBD GOT BURN OUT

NHTSA ID
11340301
Incident
Jul 18, 2020
Mileage
80 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2020

I TOOK MY 2009 BMW X6 TO THE BMW DEALER, ADVANTAGE BMW MIDTOWN (HOUSTON, TEXAS) FOR SUSPECTED OIL LEAK AND EXCESSIVE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES. I REQUESTED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION INCLUDING THE ENGINE. THE COMPLETE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION RESULTS ALONG WITH FINDINGS AND AN ESTIMATE CAN BE FOUND IN THE ATTACHED REPORT. WHICH INCLUDE: REPLACE VALVE SEALS, OIL RETURN COVER AND REAR MAIN SEAL (VALVE SEAL LEAKING AND MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS) REPLACE UPPER OIL PAN GASKET (UPPER OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING) REPLACE BULKHEAD COVERS (BULKHEAD COVERS COMING APART) REPLACE BOTH POST CAT O2 SENSORS (FAULTS STORED FOR POST-CAT O2 SENSORS) SPOKE WITH/COMMUNICATED WITH BMW SERVICE ADVISOR REP, BMW MIDTOWN (HOUSTON, TEXAS) REGARDING N63 ENGINE: VALVE SEAL REPLACEMENT " MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS' LOCATED IN THE NHTSA WEBSITE: COMPONENTS: ENGINE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10149960 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: B110815 MY CAR LISTESTED UNDER THIS CATAGOLRY AND ALL OTHER N63 ENGINE PROBLEMS (CASES). BMW SERVICE ADVISOR REP SAID ALREADY COMMUNICATE WITH BMW USA AND THE THEY TOLD HIM IM NOT QUALIFIED SINCE MY CAR IS 2009 OVER 10 OLD. NEXT MORNING, I CALLED BMW RECALL HOTLINE AT (800) 525-7417 AND THE EXCUTIVE OFFICES THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. MY CAR HAS 58243 MILES. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
11338140
Incident
Jul 6, 2020
Mileage
58,244 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2020

THE CAR WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND WON'T ACCELERATE . IT STUTTERS AND READS REDUCE ENGINE POWER. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME ON A CITY STREET. IT ALMOST STOPPED COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327553
Incident
Jun 5, 2020
Mileage
105,004 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2020

I TOOK MY 2009 BMW X6 TO THE BMW DEALER, UNION CITY GA FOR 3 PURPOSES: SUSPECTED LEAK OF COOLANT; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON; AND EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES. SPOKE WITH/COMMUNICATED VIA EMAIL WITH BMW SVC REP, WENT OVER DOCUMENTED CONCERNS...TO INCLUDE SMOKE FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES; RECEIVED DOCUMENT FOR APPROVAL; WHICH I APPROVED. RECEIVED VEHICLE 3 DAYS LATER, RETURNING HOME WITH VEHICLE TO OBSERVE SMOKE 'EXCESSIVE' FROM BOTH EXHAUST PIPES. RETURNED VEHICLE, TO BE TOLD BY SVC MGR, "I'M SORRY, I CAN ONLY REPRIMAND SVC REP, AS THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WOULD NOT CORRECT SMOKE FROM EXHAUST." THEN, SVC MGR WENT ON TO SPEAK OF THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THAT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE TIMEFRAME TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED (FOR FREE) HAD EXPIRED 'BY DATE"...AND THIS INFORMATION IS USUALLY SENT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. AS I EXPRESSED TO HIM, I AM THE 4TH OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND RECEIVED NO INFORMATION...HE OF COURSE WAS APOLOGETIC AND GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $8K TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM (THAT I WAS "TOLD" AND PAID FOR WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM). I CALLED HQ BMW ONLY TO RECEIVE AN APOLOGY AND REFERRED TO BMW UNION CITY...TO RECEIVE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FROM THE [SAME] SVC MANAGER. *SMOKE OBSERVED WIHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH ENGINE ON; AND IN MOTION IN BOTH CITY AND ON HIGHWAY. BEGAN 3/16 - 3/31/2020

NHTSA ID
11320966
Incident
Mar 31, 2020
Mileage
105,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 25, 2018

VANOS CAMSHAFT FAULT. FC 2A82 AND FC 2A87. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 25MPH THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON. I STOP TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT THE LIGHT IS NOW OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR 10MINS THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER I'M STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE CAR IS NOT GOING THIS HAS HAPPENED NEARLY EACH TIME I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR LATELY. I TAKE THE CAR TO A SHOP SPENDING ALMOST $1000 TO TELL ME THE VANOS OR CAMSHAFT ITSELF IS THE PROBLEM THIS REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $4000. I SEE THAT THIS IS BINDER RECALL FOR 2010 TO 2014 MODELS I'M THINKING YOU JUST FORGOT US. HELP THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
11097883
Incident
Apr 6, 2018
Mileage
134,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 11, 2018

ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL AND IT'S A FIRE HAZARD... GOOGLE SEARCH FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON WITH BMW. CAR HAS 25K MILES AND OIL FILTER GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD ARE LEAKING OIL INTO ENGINE, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A HARDLY DRIVEN CAR. SUSPECT BMW IS INTENTIONALLY USING DEFECTIVE PARTS TO CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS REPAIR FEES. OTHER MANUFACTURES RECALL THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, WHY IS BMW GETTING AWAY WITH THIS? SEE EXAMPLE YOUTUBE VIDEOS AT HTTPS://M.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=5CO92U-WA94 AND HTTPS://M.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=RYJLM5VEMMO

NHTSA ID
11072171
Incident
Jan 24, 2018
Mileage
25,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 7, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11044196
Incident
Aug 3, 2017
Fuel system
Filed Apr 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10979834
Incident
Dec 19, 2016

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B110614

ENGINE

This bulletin outlines the Customer Care Package program that has been designed exclusively for BMWvehicles with the N63 engine. Vehicles with the N63 high performance engine are engineered with EfficientDynamics that provides fueleconomy without compromising on its “class leading” power and performance. To ensure these engines keep delivering the ultimate performance, we have designed this Care Package thatincludes a 6 point check, and if necessary, the replacement of one or more of the following powertraincomponents: Hot-Film Air Mass Sensors PIEZO High Pressure Fuel Injectors Engine Vacuum Pump Fuel System Low Pressure Sensor/Feed Line Fresh Air Intake Turbo Seals Crankcase Ventilation Lines (Hoses)

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B612723

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

When using the Key Reader to retrieve CBS information from the customer key, no current vehicle data is available, or the data does not match the maintenance schedule.

B653423

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicle’s equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.

B612723

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

When using the Key Reader to retrieve CBS information from the customer key, no current vehicle data is available, or the data does not match the maintenance schedule.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW X6 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026320—
2025140—
2024950—
2023110—
2022311—
2021771—
20209100—
2019540—
2018441—
2017321—
2016911—
2015911—
2014113048.2
2013255045.7
2012327048.2
20113111057.7
2010159057.9
2009Viewing1910047.7
2008480—
2007100—
2006100—
2005000—
2004000—
2003000—
2002000—
2001000—
2000000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.