Every 2016 BMW X3 recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA 24V608000
Aug 13, 2024Engine and Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Pump
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full recall details for 24V608000 →Fuel System, Diesel · NHTSA 21V907000
Nov 19, 2021Fuel System, Diesel
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
- Risk
- A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full recall details for 21V907000 →Fuel System, Diesel · NHTSA 21V586000
Jul 29, 2021Fuel System, Diesel:Delivery:Fuel Pump
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full recall details for 21V586000 →Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA 18V755000
Oct 25, 2018Engine and Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
- Risk
- The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full recall details for 18V755000 →Child Seat · NHTSA 16V333000
May 23, 2016Child Seat:Latch Strap
- Problem
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.
- Risk
- Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Fix
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full recall details for 16V333000 →
2016 BMW X3 complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW X3, reporting 7 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries. BMW has issued at least 243 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Electrical System23
- Engine and Engine Cooling18
- Engine13
- Unknown Or Other12
- Service Brakes10
- Power Train9
Service bulletins by component
- Equipment (88)
- Electrical System (81)
- Engine and Engine Cooling (35)
- Engine (24)
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (18)
- Structure (17)
Read BMW X3 owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2016 BMW X3
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 2 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
What people reported
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW X3. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Fire
“The contact owned a 2016 BMW X3. The contact stated that while parking in the garage, the warning message "engine overheated" had displayed, but the temperature gauge displayed a normal temperature reading.”
2016 BMW X3Oct 27, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11695769
Fire
“The contact owned a 2016 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.”
2016 BMW X3Aug 15, 2022
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11479331
Fire
“ON 8/30/20,AFTER SITTING FOR AN HOUR AFTER A LONG DRIVE, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED DOWN TWO ADJACENT HOMES. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED TO BURN.”
2016 BMW X3Sep 14, 2020
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11354903
Injury reported
“MY 8-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING ON REAR PASSENGER SIZE SEAT ON A BOOSTER SEAT WITH SEAT BELT ON. SHE FIRST PLAYED WITH MY SON WHO WAS SITTING ON A READ DRIVER SEAT ON A CAR SEAT. THEN SHE FELL ASLEEP. IN THIS PROCESS THE SEAT BELT SOME HOW GOT WRAPPED AROUND HER.”
2016 BMW X3Dec 29, 2019
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11291909
Crash
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW X3. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE RPMS INCREASED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED.”
2016 BMW X3Mar 6, 2019
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11184715
Check your X3 by VIN
Not every 2016 BMW X3 is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any BMW dealer.
Run a free VIN recall check →