BMW Withdraws Thousands Of X5 As Potential Airbag Explodes Without Warning

Airbag Takata has problems in thousands of BMW X5 cars. (Photo: Carscoops)

JAKARTA BMW has announced a recall for a number of X5 model SUV units due to potential damage to the driver's airbag module supplied by Takata Corporation. In a re-examination of the previous recall campaign, BMW discovered that several units may not have been able to get replacement components that should have been done.

In its official report, BMW mentioned that 5,361 units of X5 from production year 2000 to 2021 were involved in this latest recall campaign. The component of concern is the PSDI-4 type airbag inflator module, which is at risk of suddenly exploding and spreading metal debris into the cabin as the airbag expands.

BMW explained that the main cause was the degradation of the driving material in the inflator due to exposure to high humidity, extreme temperatures, and the long-term heat-cold cycle. Although only about zero point one percent of the total units are thought to have risk inflators, BMW chooses to make a proactive recall in order to maintain user safety.

The company ensures that all affected vehicle owners will be officially contacted towards the end of the year. They will be asked to take the vehicle to BMW's official dealer for inspection and, if necessary, replace the airbag at no cost.

Takata's own airbag problem has been a global issue for years due to similar cases that befell various automotive manufacturers. The component made by Takata is known to have potential failures that could cause an explosion when the airbag expands.

Through this latest move, BMW reaffirmed its commitment to users' safety around the world. For owners of the 2000 to 2021 BMW X5 production, it is recommended to check the vehicle's frame number (VIN) through official dealers to ascertain whether their unit is included in the recall list.