Recalls for BMW, VW

BMW AG and Volkswagen AG both had high-profile recalls last month.

BMW recalled 164,000 X5 SUVs worldwide due to a faulty brake hose, affecting models built between August 1999 and April 2002 at Spartanburg, SC. Some 19,900 of the recalled vehicles were sold in Germany.

BMW says it has notified owners and knows of no accidents or injuries related to the defect.

Volkswagen will recall more than three-quarters of a million '01, '02 and early '03 Audi, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen vehicles in the U.S. and Europe due to faulty ignition coils.

Vehicles powered by VW's 1.8L 4-cyl., 2.8L VR6, V5 and W8 engines, as well as Audi's 3.0L V-6, are affected. In North America alone, VW says the action covers 530,000 Audi A4 and TT and VW Golf/GTI, Jetta, Beetle and Passat models.

In Europe, the recall involves several Skoda and SEAT models. VW is recalling 320,000 vehicles in Europe, including Bora and Audi A3.

VW says it will begin replacing coils that fail at no cost to the consumer and will expand the program to replace all coils, whether they fail or not, in the coming months.