BMW X6
Registered from 2008 to 2027.
About this model
The BMW X6 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV by German automaker BMW. The BMW X6 is the originator of the sports activity coupé (SAC), referencing its sloping rear roof design. It combines the attributes of an SUV with the stance of a coupé. It is built in BMW's North American plant in Greer, South Carolina alongside the BMW X5, whose platform it shares. Prior to the release of the X7, the X6 was considered a flagship SUV for BMW.
From the Wikipedia article BMW X6, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The manufacturer has told owners of 4 of these to stop driving until the repair is done.
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Engine: more complaints than 90% of 2012 cars — 48% of its 98 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 21%.
- Fuel/propulsion system: more complaints than 90% of 2012 cars — 18% of its 98 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 7%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- ENGINE — 29 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN — 9 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 6 owners reported this
- ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 6 owners reported this
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 6 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 6 owners reported this
- AIR BAGS — 3 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 3 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 3 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE — 3 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE — 3 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS — 3 owners reported this
- STEERING — 3 owners reported this
- STEERING,POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 3 owners reported this
- STRUCTURE — 3 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
- SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 3 owners reported this
Crash test
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | No |
| Lane departure warning | No |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway |
| 2026 | 523 hp · 2493 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2025 | 523 hp · 2325 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2024 | 523 hp · 2325 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2023 | 335 hp · 2325 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 15.7 L/100km (EPA) · 18.1 L/100km city · 13.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2022 | 335 hp · 2325 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 15.7 L/100km (EPA) · 18.1 L/100km city · 13.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2021 | 335 hp · 2325 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 13.1 L/100km (EPA) · 14.7 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2020 | 335 hp · 2325 kg · 2970 mm wheelbase · 13.1 L/100km (EPA) · 14.7 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2019 | 443 hp · 2345 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 10.7 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2018 | 443 hp · 2345 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 13.8 L/100km (EPA) · 15.7 L/100km city · 11.2 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2017 | 443 hp · 2345 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 13.8 L/100km (EPA) · 15.7 L/100km city · 11.2 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2016 | 443 hp · 2345 kg · 2930 mm wheelbase · 13.8 L/100km (EPA) · 15.7 L/100km city · 11.2 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
77% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
- Do not drive
17V020000
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed March 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- Do not drive
18V030000
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- Do not drive
19V017000
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
- Do not drive
20V016000
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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.
12V267000
LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID CAN SPRAY ONTO HOT EXHAUST PARTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
17V138000
If the front universal joint fails, the front wheels would not be driven, affecting vehicle traction. Additionally, continued driving of the vehicle with a broken front universal joint may damage other components. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
17V327000
The incorrect tire size on the label does not comply with FMVSS number 110.
BMW has notified the affected owners and is providing them with a corrected tire information placard, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
17V727000
Loose bolts can affect the performance of the suspension, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the wishbone suspension bolts, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
19 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
BMW filed 15 bulletins about the 2026 X6.
- Electrical system: 7
- Engine: 3
- Structure: 3
- Wheels: 1
- Other: 1
- Due to an implementation error in various OBD diagnostics in the vehicle's control units, in very rare cases itmay happen that stored fault memory codes (DTCs) and the MIL (warning light) are not… · July 2026
- In these vehicles with an S68 engine, an incorrect diagnosis of the Valvetronic (VVT) may occur. Undercertain operating conditions, the software may detect a short-circuit in the valve control system… · July 2026
- Delivery stop: variable valve timing · June 2026
- After replacing the Multifunctional Display (MFD), the Central Information Display (CID) is black. The backlight of the CID is illuminated, and touch function does register an audible sound. · May 2026
- The center console and front cup holder get noticeably too warm to the touch on long journeys with the interior "Heating on". · May 2026
- BMW AG is conducting Voluntary Emissions Recall (effective March 11, 2026) on certain Model Year 2023 -2026 BMW vehicles that were produced between January 14, 2022, and September 16, 2025. · March 2026
- A “rattling” noise may be heard from the rear portion of the headliner when traveling over rough surfaces. · February 2026
- The vehicle may experience various operational issues with the Multifunction Display such as: Intermittent black screen Permanent black screen Intermittent head unit functions not displayed (i.e.,… · January 2026
7 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.