NHTSA Complaint #11349198 — 2016 BMW X5

AIR COMPRESSOR ABSORBS MOISTURE AND PREVENTS VALVES FROM OPENING AND INFLATING AIRBAGS AROUND 4 YEARS OR 60-70K MILES. THIS BREAKS DOWN TO ABOUT A $3200 REPAIR FROM THE DEALERSHIP OR AROUND $2400 FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW MECHANIC. BOTH PLACES HAVE INFORMED THAT THEY ARE SEEING A TON OF THESE REPAIRS THIS YEAR. FOR AN AIR COMPRESSOR TO BE BLOCKED, AND THE SILICA GEL COMPLETELY ABSORBED WITH MOISTURE ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THE SIGNS OF THIS MALFUNCTION ARE THAT THE REAR END WILL SAG AND NOT PROPERLY INFLATE (IF AT ALL). SOMETIMES IT WOULD DEFLATE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE THE WHEELS TO SLAM AGAINST THE CHASSIS, RISKING MUCH MORE SEVERE AND PERMANENT DAMAGE. IN SHORT, THE VEHICLA CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE ISSUE IS REPAIRED, AND CAN BE LIFE THREATENING IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY OURS WENT OUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE WAY TO THE STORE AND WE WEREN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GETTING THROWN ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE FEELING IS LIKE EXTREME AIR TURBULENCE BOUNCING YOU UP AND DOWN. MY CHILD ALMOST VOMITED FROM THE BOUNCING. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH THE F15 X5'S AND BMW NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS.