BMW to Recall X5 Crossovers Again Due to Takata Airbags (3 photos)
The Takata airbag recall may be the largest in the history of the auto industry, and the scandal continues to reverberate. BMW announced a recall in the US of 5,361 X5 crossovers manufactured in the early 2000s, which may pose a safety hazard. BMW is also evaluating the possibility of replacing airbags on older X5s outside of North America. 
The suspect crossovers are equipped with optional steering wheels that are sportier than the standard ones. Standard steering wheels were equipped with airbags, which posed no risk, but the optional steering wheels included airbags with inflators known as PSDI-4. 
The components of this inflator can degrade over time due to humidity and temperature fluctuations. Under certain circumstances, this process could result in the inflator exploding when the airbag deploys, spraying metal and plastic fragments into the vehicle's interior.
According to the manufacturer, less than 1% of the vehicles being recalled are equipped with potentially dangerous airbags, but the driver's airbag will be replaced on all vehicles. The service campaign affects X5s manufactured between February 19, 1999, and March 31, 2000.
According to some estimates, defective Takata airbags have caused the recall of approximately 67 million vehicles. The malfunction has led to dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. 
