2007 BMW X3 SAV transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 72 IN ILLINOIS, WE NOTED A LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT. CHECKED THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AND IT STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE, BUT WE SHOULD CHECK IT AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. COINCIDENTALLY, THE OTHER PARTY WE WERE TRAVELING WITH ASKED IF WE WANTED TO STOP FOR COFFEE AT A LOCATION 1.5 MILES OFF THE INTERSTATE. WHEN WE STOPPED, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT WENT OFF. BEFORE GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. A REPAIR FACILITY WAS NEARBY, AND THEY INVESTIGATED THE LEAK AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS EMANATING FROM A CRACK IN THE WATER PUMP. ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS THE ENGINE SAGGING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT A LOWER ENGINE MOUNTING BOLT WAS MISSING ENTIRELY. THIS WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WATER PUMP, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS JACKED BACK INTO PROPER POSITION. AT THIS POINT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER MOUNTING BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. WE WERE ONE MOUNTING BOLT AWAY FROM THE ENGINE SAGGING EXCESSIVELY, LIKELY CAUSING DRIVE TRAIN SEIZURE.

NHTSA complaint #10777935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OFF AND ON AND THE EML WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR DID COMPLETELY CUT OFF AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THE CAR RESTARTED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE MET ME AT MY PLANNED DESTINATION AN HOUR LATER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP. ON THE WAY IT CUT OFF AGAIN. WE FINALLY MADE IT AND HAD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS. IT SHOWED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR, WHICH BASICALLY DEALS WITH THROTTLE CONTROL. THE TOTAL COST FOR REPLACEMENT WAS QUOTED AT $1,707.08. THE VEHICLE (A BMW X3 ) HAS 92,538 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I WANT THIS ON RECORD IN CASE OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10644974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, EXITING AN OFF RAMP, DECELERATING IN SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE DIED, THE CAR STALLED AND I LOST POWER STEERING. THIS VERY SAME THING HAPPENED 5 WEEKS PRIOR WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING 60 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10619267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 07, 2014 AND WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD AND WHEN YOU WOULD TRY TO STOP BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK HARDER AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN APRIL, I BELIEVE THE 5TH I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEN SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN. AS SOON AS THE SERVICE ADVISOR CHECKED ON THE VEHICLE SHE SAID THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND HOW IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE END OF JUNE IT SAID I WAS REALLY LOW ON OIL. I WENT TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN AND IT WOULD NOT START.

NHTSA complaint #10611325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SEVERE ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION ON 2007 BMW E83 X3. ONCE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, TRANSMISSION ISSUES ARE MORE NOTICEABLE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO THROTTLE INPUT WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP. SEVERAL HESITATIVE JERKS ARE FELT AND THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY. OFTEN TIMES DURING THIS SEQUENCE, THE EXHAUST EMITS A HUGE PLUME OF SMOKE, BLINDING DRIVERS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. UPON DECELERATION, MY VEHICLE MAY DOWNSHIFT HARSHLY, GENERATING A FORWARD SURGE OF ACCELERATION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO MATCH ENGINE REVS WITH THE LOWER GEAR; I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC AT LOW SPEEDS (<20 MPH). ALSO WHILE DECELERATING, MY VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER, WHICH RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE A DECELERATION RATE THAT "TRIGGERS" THIS BEHAVIOR. I AM A TEST ENGINEER AND A PERFORMANCE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR WITH BMW CCA. I HAVE REGULARLY DRIVEN BMWS OVER THE PAST DECADE AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER MODELS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN (E46, E39, E63). I ALSO HAVE LIMITED RACING EXPERIENCE IN E30 BMWS. I.E. I KNOW HOW AN ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSE TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE UNDER A WIDE VARIETY OF CONDITIONS. THESE ACCELERATION/DECELERATION ISSUES ARE VERY CONCERNING TO ME.

NHTSA complaint #10561948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP DESPITE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE HESITATION RANGES FROM 1-3 SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE HESITATION IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATION LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OR MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY FAMILY DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10522060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2007 MODEL YEAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS BEEN GRADUAL INCREASE IN UPSHIFT KICK AND DOWNSHIFT KICK AFFECTING THE ACCELERATOR FOOT PEDAL FEELING. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS READY TO MOVE FROM A DEAD STOP, THIS IS SPECIALLY CONCERNING ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING IN LOW GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT KICK IS MORE PREVALENT IN THE LOWER GEARS 3RD TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST. THE UPSHIFT KICK IS MORE PREVALENT IN 2ND TO 3RD. A SENSE OF CONCERN HAS CREEPED UP ON MY WIFE EVERY TIME SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE WITH NO SENSE OF SECURITY AS SHE TRIES TO MAKE LEFT TURNS OR IN SLOW STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT REACT AND BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10469256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA complaint #10455530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THERE IS A DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE THROUGH THE 1-2, 2-3 UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP; THERE IS A LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION WHEN REAPPLYING THROTTLE, DURING EITHER A 4-3 OR 3-2 TIP-IN DOWNSHIFT. THIS MAY OCCUR AFTER SLOWING AND COMING TO A STOP ON A HILL AND THEN CONTINUING INTO A TURN; HARSH DOWNSHIFTS WHEN SLOWING ON A ROADWAY WITH HILLS; DOWNSHIFTS BECOME VIOLENT. BMW DEALER HAS LOOKED AT VEHICLE TWICE FOR SAME CONCERN BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THIS ALL HAPPENS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS ALMOST STALLED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 DAYS, ONCE MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION WITH NO LIGHT, AND THE OTHER TWO TIMES WHILE ENTERING A ROUNDABOUT. BMW NA SAYS SEE A DEALER AND THE DEALER DOES NOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10451730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO HESITATE @ LOW GEARS, ESPECIALLY AT INITIAL ACCELERATIONS WHILE STOPPED @ A STOP SIGN OR SIGNAL LIGHT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES,CAR JOLTS TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT GEAR. THE CAR THEN JUMPS INTO A HIGHER GEAR AND DANGEROUSLY ACCELERATES RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING ON A STEEP DOWNHILL DECLINE, THE CAR ADJUSTS WELL; HOWEVER, WHEN TRANSITIONING TO A LEVEL SURFACE STREET AFTER A STEEP DOWNHILL, THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR (I.E., WAS STUCK IN PREVIOUS GEAR). ON 6/14/2010, TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY "PERFORMED BMW DIAGNOSIS CONTROL UNIT FUNCTION, THERE IS NO FAULT RECORD IN CONTROL UNIT, AND AT TEST DRIVE I9 COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME." NO FIX WAS PROVIDED. AFTER YEARS OF MINOR JOLTS WHEN ACCELERATING (I BELIEVE IN 1ST AND 2ND) & THEN A RAPID KICK ACCELERATION TO 3RD, NO MAJOR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED BUT SAFETY ON ROAD HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. I HAVE LEARNED TO EASE INTO ACCELERATIONS WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF UNEXPECTED HESITATIONS/ACCEL. ON 1/14/2012, I HAD A CLOSE CALL ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AFTER I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS I PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT, THE CAR HESITATED & STALLED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION, THEN JERKED FORWARD AND YELLOW TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. I PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT IT IN "P" & TURNED ENGINE OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON AND TRANNY LIGHT REMAINED ON AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN "D"; HOWEVER, IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO "REVERSE." IT TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS (ON/OFF ENGINE) AND THE CAR WENT INTO "D" WITH HESITATION. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME AND CAR STALLED AT THE NEXT LIGHT. WAS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF ROAD FOR 2 MINUTES TRYING TO GET IT IN GEAR. "D" FINALLY WORKED. I PARKED IN A LOT, TURNED ENGINE OFF FOR 15 MINUTES. CAR HAS BEEN WORKING OK REST OF DAY BUT IT IS NOT SAFE! THIS IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10443826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

IN ACCELERATION THE CAR WILL HANG AND HESITATE, AND LUNGE. IN A SLOW DOWN SITUATION THE CAR WILL VIOLENT LERCH FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT, AND CAN NOT THINGS OUT OF THE SEATS.

NHTSA complaint #10440236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION ON MY 07 BMW X3 IS NOT HANDLING PROPERLY. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES, AND YET AGAIN FOR REDLINING AND STALLING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED THIS FROM A BMW. WAITING FOR SERVICE DEPT. TO CALL BACK WITH A CRAZY PRICE THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10384135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, BMW HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER AND MOST RECENTLY "LIMP-HOME" MODE OCCURRENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVETRAIN ON THE 2007 BMW X3. THE SYMPTOMS 1ST PRESENTED ITSELF AS A LOSS OF POWER FROM A START. UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND THEN RESPONDED WITH A SURGE OR LURCHING FORWARD. THIS MAKES FOR UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUSLY ERRATIC VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS (+4) AND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH THE SOUND OF GEAR OR DIFFERENTIAL NOISE, THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DID SOME TYPE OF ECU UPDATE THAT APPEARED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE NEVER SUBSIDED AND RECENTLY THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE FORCING A TOW AFTER UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE WENT INTO TRANSMISSION LIMP-MODE. AS USUAL, THE SYMPTOMS "CAN'T BE DUPLICATED" ONCE CODES ARE CLEARED YET THE ECU IS THROWING MULTIPLE CODES FOR TRANSMISSION LIMP-MODE AND CODE 56BE FOR CLUTCH GEARS 2 AND 6. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO EITHER PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND FOR IT TO BE NON-RESPONSIVE THEN HAVE A DELAYED VEHICLE SURGE NOT PROPORTIONAL TO THE INPUT AND TIMING OF THE ACCELERATOR DEPRESSION AND/OR PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY CURTAILED VEHICLE POWER DUE TO THE "LIMP-HOME" CONDITION. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON 5/31/2009.

NHTSA complaint #10383489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AROUND 2000 RPM UPHILL. THE SHUDDER GETS WORSE AND WORSE AS MILES ADD UP. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR TWO WEEKS THIS TIME AND STILL NOT FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10380838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

OVER A YEAR AGO I BEGAN HEARING LOUD NOISES UNDERNEATH MY 2007 BMW X3. I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED FOUR TIMES FOR THE FOLLOWING: LOUD POPPING FROM UNDERNEATH ESPECIALLY WITH SLOW DRIVING (5MPH ), PROBLEMS WITH JERKING WITH ACCELERATION, & A SIGNIFICANT RATTLING AND OR SHAKING FROM UNDER THE CAR BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIMED TO HEAR NOTHING. THE 3RD TIME THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES WERE TO BLAME. WHEREIN THEY FURTHER TOLD ME THAT IF IT WAS TRANSMISSION ISSUES ( I TOLD THEM EACH TIME IT WAS TAKEN IN WE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION) THEN THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE CAUSING AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSFER CASING. THE FOURTH TIME WAS THE SAME AS BEFORE WITH STILL NO RESOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #10369703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER HAS SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL FROM LOW SPEEDS THERE IS BARELY ANY ACCELERATION IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR UNDER 2,000 RPMS, BUT WHEN 3RD GEAR GOES IN CAR ACCELERATES MORE THAN DESIRED MOST OF THE TIME. THIS IS MOST APPARENT WHEN CAR IS COLD, BUT NEVER GOES AWAY COMPLETELY. THIS REALLY BOTHERS ME AS THIS USUALLY HAPPENS DURING TURNS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN AND WHEN YOU WANT TO ACCELERATE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD TO PRESS ON THE PEDAL, IF YOU PRESS TOO MUCH CAR JUMPS AHEAD, IF NOT ENOUGH YOU BARELY MOVE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS YOU CAN HEAR A FAINT THUMP OF EVERY DOWNSHIFT SOMEWHERE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A LITTLE SURGE FORWARD. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER AS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE.

NHTSA complaint #10358173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2007 BMW X3 TRANSMISSION ISSUES. TRANSMISSION WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE (4TH GEAR) AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ON DASH APPEARED. BMW DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS MALFUNCTION AND HAD A BULLETIN THAT RECOMMENDED A SOFTWARE FIX. THIS IS APPARENTLY A FAR REACHING MALFUNCTION AND QUITE COMMON ON THIS MODEL. THE NHTSA SHOULD MAINTAIN METRICS FROM DEALERS TO SEE IF THE FIX WORKS BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T THEN THIS CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS TO THE OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10346358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2007 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW X3 NEEDED AN ENTIRE NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10329027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE GEARBOX WILL FAIL TO RESPOND AT RANDOM TIMES USUALLY IN CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS SUCH AS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR AVOIDING OTHER CARELESS DRIVERS. CAN'T SEEM TO DECIDE WHAT GEAR TO BE IN WHEN MAKING QUICK UPHILL TURNS. WHILE DOWNSHIFTING IN SD THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE DOWN SHIFTS SO ROUGH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER DRIVER. COLD TEMPERATURES SEEM TO ALWAYS MAKE THE SHIFTING ISSUE WORSE AND THE VEHICLE MAY RED LINE OR NOT SHIFT AT A NORMAL RATE.

NHTSA complaint #10297187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

NHTSA complaint #10276795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2007 BMW X3 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO BMW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE SPRING OF 2007. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN A MONTH (TOTAL FROM NUMEROUS VISITS). AT A STOP LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION WILL OCCASIONALLY SURGE & IF NOT FOR FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THAT SURGE WOULD THROW ME INTO THE CAR AHEAD. IT HAS SURGED WHEN PARKING ALMOST RAMMING ME INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. I ALMOST WENT THROUGH A FILE CABINET AND INTO THE WALL IN MY GARAGE YESTERDAY. HESITATES WHEN CHANGING LANES & THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. ALMOST RAMMED FROM THE REAR AT 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN TRANSMISSION HESITATED & WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T KICK IN FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN THE CAR TAKES OFF LIKE A ROCKET. THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUS. I'VE BEEN TRYING INCESSANTLY TO GET BMW TO HELP ME FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. ALL LEVELS SAY THEY WILL HELP BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS SHORT OF A TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMING WHICH DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM...AND THEY KNOW IT. BMW STATES THE "VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED". WHAT A STUNNING ADMISSION! THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND QUITE EASY TO VERIFY. SERVICE MANAGERS ADMIT THE PROBLEM TOO...AND BMW IS SAYING THEY DESIGNED THE VEHICLE THIS WAY??? WHO HAS TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF? BMW HAD A REGIONAL TECH ENGINEER EVALUATE MY VEHICLE. HE SAYS IT'S "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". HE ALSO SAID THERE ARE NO 'FAULTS'. A SERVICE MGR ONCE TOLD ME THAT 'FAULTS' DON'T ALWAYS REGISTER IN THE COMPUTER SO HAVING 'NO FAULTS' ISN'T UNUSUAL. BY THE WAY, BMW HAD ME TAKE THE CAR IN TO GET REPROGRAMMED SHORTLY "BEFORE" THAT REGIONAL TECH DID HIS EVALUATION. YES, THEY REPROGRAMMED IT "THEN" SENT HIM IN! NOTHING WAS FOUND? GO FIGURE! WHAT COULD I DO? IT'S A LEASED VEHICLE. I COULDN'T JUST SELL IT OR TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. WHY DO THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME WHEN IT WOULD COST NEXT TO NOTHING. THEY LOVE MY $$$.

NHTSA complaint #10258323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY CAR HESITATES TO CHANGE GEARS DURING A COLD START AND THERE IT IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL.

NHTSA complaint #10246281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND IS QUITE UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS. CARS WOULD BE COMING AT YOU WHILE YOU ARE 'PRAYING' FOR IT TO MOVE! IT HAPPENS REGULARLY BUT UNPREDICTABLY. SORT OF LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE! THE MAIN PROBLEM, ASIDE FROM PERFORMANCE IS SAFETY-SAFETY-SAFETY! THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS STILL UNDER BMW WARRANTY. IT'S BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS NOW! ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANS-AXLE! THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO ALL OF ITS OWNERS. CHECK: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F11FFDC/0 SUBJECT: BMW X3 HESITATION ON ACCELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10243144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BMW X3 SAV SURGES FORWARD OR LOOSES POWER UNEXPECTEDLY. UNEXPECTED POWER SURGE HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN TAKING TURNS, COMING OUT OF THE TURN THE CAR TAKES OFF. LOSS OF POWER, HAPPENS OFTEN WHEN GOING UP A HILL OR SOMETIMES AFTER A STOP TO TAKE A TURN THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY. HAVE HAD CAR IN TO DEALER 5 TIMES AND STILL IS NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10236195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2007 BMW X3 (GM6 TRANSMISSION) HESITATES IN ACCELERATION DURING DRIVE MODE. IT HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO MAKE A FAST LANE CHANGE. I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED TODAY. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN TOP COMMUNITY SO DRIVING DOWN HILL THE DOWN SHIFT IN MANUAL (STEPTRONIC) 4TH TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 2ND PRETTY MUCH ALLOWS THE CAR TO LUNG FORWARD AS IF IN NEUTRAL. IN RELYING ON THE TRANSMISSION TO SAFELY SLOW THE CAR IT PRACTICALLY FORCES YOU INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR OR DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SAFE SLOW THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO USE HARD BREAKING. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES NOW. I AM BEING TOLD "THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS" I SPENT 6 HOURS WITH THE BMW REGIONAL ENGINEER TEST DRIVING AND DOING SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS. WE COMPARED THIS TO A 2008 MODEL. ANY X3 WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10233075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2007 BMW X3 (GM6 TRANSMISSION) HESITATES IN ACCELERATION DURING DRIVE MODE. IT HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO MAKE A FAST LANE CHANGE. I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED TODAY. I LIVE IN A MOUNTAIN TOP COMMUNITY SO DRIVING DOWN HILL THE DOWN SHIFT IN MANUAL (STEPTRONIC) 4TH TO 3RD AND 3RD TO 2ND PRETTY MUCH ALLOWS THE CAR TO LUNG FORWARD AS IF IN NEUTRAL. IN RELYING ON THE TRANSMISSION TO SAFELY SLOW THE CAR IT PRACTICALLY FORCES YOU INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR OR DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SAFE SLOW THE CAR WITHOUT HAVING TO USE HARD BREAKING. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES NOW. I AM BEING TOLD "THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS" I SPENT 6 HOURS WITH THE BMW REGIONAL ENGINEER TEST DRIVING AND DOING SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS. WE COMPARED THIS TO A 2008 MODEL. ANY X3 WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10233075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BMW X3 STALLS/HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW. VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT OR SIGN. TRANSMISSION REV'S VERY HIGH. HAVE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS OR LIFE THREATENING MOMENTS WHEN DRIVING THIS CSR. HAVE HAD PREVIOUS BMW'S AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. HAVE TAKEN CAR IN FOR SERVICING ONCE AND IT IS GOING IN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10232914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WE HAD A NEW 2007 BMW X3 THAT HAD HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT WAS VERY SCARY - THE CAR WOULD HESITATE WHEN YOU WANTED IT TO ACCELERATE, IT WOULD SEEM TO LOSE POWER AT TIMES - A REAL DISASTER AND SAFETY CONCERN. BMW WAS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE - TOLD US ALL SORTS OF NONSENSE ABOUT US NOT KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE. INITIALLY THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A MONTH CLAIMING THEY NEEDED SOFTWARE. THEN THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THAT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE CAR. WE SENT THE CAR BACK FOR SERVICE AGAIN, AND AFTER ANOTHER MONTH THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. FINALLY, AFTER JERKING US AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, THEY AGREED TO SWAP THE CAR OUT FOR A 2008, BUT EVEN THEN, THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED WAS ABOMINABLE. THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE DEALING WITH BMW, THEY KEPT ACTING LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEMS WE WERE HAVING, YET A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. OBVIOUSLY, BMW IS TRYING TO AVOID A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10228950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE HAS A TREMENDOUS LAG WHEN U STEP ON THE GAS....

NHTSA complaint #10228609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.