2011 BMW X5 Diesel Recalled Due to Faulty Welds

The paint hasn’t dried yet on BMW’s latest X5 model, and the North American division of the German brand is involved in a safety recall issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Due to the fact that it has only been on the market for a few months, just 923 units are subject to the recall in question.

It looks like the safety notice involves on the BMW X5 xDrive35d diesel model, and has been issued after faulty welds were find in certain vehicles.

NHTSA says that the problem is due to a component manufacturing error at the supplier. Specifically, the welds in the belt tensioner that could contain incipient cracks that are prone to failure over time.

The direct consequence a weld failure is that the vehicle would suffer an immediate loss of power steering that could result in a loss of control and potentially result in a crash.

As expected, BMW will replace the faulty belt tensioners free of charge to the consumers. Owners of all 923 affected vehicles - which were manufactured between March 31, 2011, and May 19, 2011 - will be notified this July.

In North America, pricing for the BMW X5 xDrive35d starts at $51,800. The model comes fitted with a 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology, capable of developing and 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque at 1,750rpm. It is capable of sprinting from naught to sixty in 6.9 seconds and a 26-mpg average on the highway.