What BMW X3 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See BMW X3 safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 2025 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 126 |
| 2024 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 70 |
| 2023 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 |
| 2022 | 80 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 107 |
| 2021 | 111 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 195 |
| 2020 | 109 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 286 |
| 2019 | 170 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 330 |
| 2018 | 75 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 389 |
| 2017 | 92 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 213 |
| 2016 | 82 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 243 |
| 2015 | 105 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 305 |
| 2014 | 86 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 322 |
| 2013 | 226 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 368 |
| 2012 | 48 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 349 |
| 2011 | 125 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 360 |
| 2010 | 55 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 47 |
The vehicle systems named most often in BMW X3 complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Subject: Formal Safety Complaint â Unresolved Starter Recall on 2022 BMW X3 xDrive30i I am submitting this complaint regarding the active starter-related safety recall affecting my 2022 BMW X3 xDrive30i. I have contacted BMW Honolulu dealership multiple times seeking assistance and requesting an update regarding the recall. However, I have been informed that BMW has not yet developed or released a repair remedy for the affected vehicles. I am concerned that my vehicle remains subject to an unresolved safety recall with no available repair or confirmed timeline for a resolution. I regularly travel with my family, including my young granddaughter, and I am concerned about the possibility of …
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue by phone and confirmed that the part was not yet available, even though the manufacturer's website indicated that parts were available.
Active Grill shutter malfunction. Randomly the check engine light came on the code was for the grill shutter. Upon inspection the grill shutter is not closing. This was an extended warranty on several prior X3/ X5 models. This appears to be the same issue, I wanted to make BMW aware so they can reevaluate the extendeded warranty.
The operating system is yielding extremely poor results. After purchasing the vehicle, the operating system wouldn't remember the settings for the selected driver and would randomly changing settings. At one point, the turn signals on the vehicle stopped working because of the issues with the operating system. This is a direct violation of safety laws and effectively deemed the vehicle undriveable. The vehicle was serviced by the dealer, at which point they stated that there was a communication issue in the vehicle and that it was solved. The vehicle then performed well for about six months, but is now exhibiting the same issues, but manifesting in different ways. One example is where th…
Started car but the infotainment screen remained off. Would not turn on even after restarting the vehicle.
Driving the vehicle and the entire digital display shut off so the digital speedometer display and infotainment system went completely off. Car engine was still running and driving but driving informaiton was completely off. Vehicle felt unsafe. Going slow enought to come to a complete stop. I had to pull over to restart the car in order to see digital display.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and restarted after several attempts. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a recurring coolant leak and cooling-system issue with my 2023 BMW X3. I began receiving repeated âlow coolantâ warnings on the vehicle's dashboard. The coolant was topped off, but the warning continued to return, indicating that this was not simply a low-fluid or routine maintenance issue. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by BMW, and a coolant leak was identified in the engine compartment. I was informed that certain components associated with the cooling system were made with plastic and were exposed to significant heat, which contributed to the components failing and causing coolant to leak. BMW ultimately had to replace the affected c…
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
The BCP controls several vehicle functions, including the windscreen wipers and air conditioning actuators. Low current flow may cause excessive current in parts of the BCP circuit board and damage the unit. If a fault occurs, the wipers or air flap controls may operate incorrectly or fail. A wiper failure is indicated by a yellow warning light and the âWindscreen wiper faultâ Check Control message.
A gap between the rear left door seal and the side frame may allow moisture to enter. This can cause waterto splash onto occupants when the door is opened and may also increase wind and road noise.
When pulling on the hood (highlighted inorange in the top photo) release lever (highlighted in orange in the bottomphoto; driverâs footwell shown ) , there is anoticeable lack of cable tension; and the hoodwill not unlock.
Check Control message and a minimally changed steering feel.
Carrier Return
The seat module for the driverâs seat maycontain an incomplete solder connection. Ifthis connection breaks over time, the seat canonly be adjusted using the controls along theside of the seat cushion.
Potential customer complaints with no fault codes stored / No MIL displayed. 1. âRough idle after idling for a longer period of timeâ 2. âVehicle feels like it is misfiring at idleâ The automatic Start/Stop function is deactivated. The vehicle is stopped and the engine runs at idle speed. After prolonged idle operation (approximately 30 to 50 seconds), a slight jolt or slight change in idlespeed may be noticeable. There are no relevant errors in the DME fault code memory. No mixture control error, no misfiring, no error relating to a relevant component of the drive system. Motor vehicl
After programming the vehicle via ISTA/RSUto I-level â¦26-03-5xx, customer may reportsome of the interior ambient lighting strips(arrows) may begin to fail sporadically after adeep sleep cycle. This concern is temporary and the interiorambient lighting will be restored on its ownafter the vehicle is locked/unlocked or colorselection setting is changed.
Check Control message and a significant change in steering feel .
BMW Notice of the Courtâs Final Approval for Shark-Fin Antenna Settlement (X3, X4, X5, X6, X7)
Delivery Stop - Front Seat Module
In vehicles equipped with the Roof Function Center âFZDâ21â variant, a quiescentâcurrent violation mayoccur if the system fails to enter sleep mode. When this sleep error is present, a remote software upgrade(RSU) may be aborted and the FZD can become degraded. The following Check Control Messages (CCMs) may be displayed: âEnergy Management â Increased Energy Consumption While Parked.â âSoftware Upgrade Failed â Workshop Visit Required.â
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-spe
In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylinder engines (NHTSA Recall 13V-454).According to BMW, movement of the seal disk within the camshaft may result in blocking of the oil supply to the vacuum pump, resulting in imprope
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: engine, electrical system, unknown or other. 1,472 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
