BMW Points New Recall for 2000–2001 X5 Over Takata Air Bag Inflator Danger

BMW has issued a brand new security recall for early-production E53 X5 fashions after figuring out that some automobiles could have obtained Takata PSDI-4 air bag inflators as substitute elements. The marketing campaign, filed as NHTSA 25V748000, covers 5,361 models from the 2000 and 2001 mannequin years. All doubtlessly affected automobiles have been constructed between February 19, 1999 and March 31, 2000.

The recall applies to:

• 2000–2001 BMW X5 3.0i
• 2000-2001 BMW X5 4.4i

BMW’s documentation notes that these X5s didn’t initially go away the manufacturing facility with Takata inflators containing ammonium nitrate. As an alternative, the danger comes from substitute sport steering wheel air bag modules that will have been put in throughout service work greater than 20 years in the past. These modules might embrace a PSDI-4 inflator, the identical kind utilized in lots of the earlier Takata recollects.

The problem is acquainted by now. Over time, below circumstances of excessive humidity, warmth, and repeated temperature swings, the inflator’s propellant can degrade. If the air bag deploys, the housing can rupture and ship steel fragments into the cabin. It’s the identical failure mode that led to the worldwide Takata disaster, and the identical concern applies right here: an inflator rupture could cause severe harm or loss of life.

Takata’s inside testing, referenced within the recall submitting, reveals age-related modifications within the inflator’s traits. Mixed with environmental publicity and regular manufacturing variability, the danger is excessive sufficient that BMW and NHTSA are increasing the earlier marketing campaign (19V015) to incorporate these further automobiles.

BMW will examine the driving force’s air bag and substitute it if a PSDI-4 inflator is current. The restore is free. Proprietor notification letters are scheduled for December 23, 2025, and VINs can be searchable on NHTSA.gov the identical day. For questions, house owners can contact BMW customer support at 1-800-525-7417.

For anybody driving an early X5—particularly one geared up with a sport steering wheel—that is price being attentive to. Many of those automobiles have lengthy service histories, and never each substitute half put in within the early 2000s is well-documented. As soon as the VIN lookup goes reside, house owners ought to affirm whether or not their car is a part of the expanded recall.