42 of the 343 complaints filed about the BMW X3 SAV are about the engine — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.
42
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
ENGINE
NOTHING HAPPENED (YET) BUT BMW SERVICE TELLS ME THERE'S NO RECALLS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ON MY VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #11202531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS GIVING ME MANY PROBLEMS. THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE SEAM AND LEAKING. THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK, CAUSING ZERO HEAT INTO THE CABIN ON A COLD DAY. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD NOT RE START THE IGNITION KEPT TRYING, AND AFTER 20 MINUTES STALLED IT FINALLY STARTED, LIMP DRIVING TO MY HOUSE FROM THERE. . THE DISPLAY READS DRIVE MODERATELY /DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #11184363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY VEHICLE IS UNDER TWO RECALLS: 17V605 17V683 AS RECOMMENDED, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE BMW DEALER FOR THE RECALLS. THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME STATING THAT THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. SINCE THAT TIME, I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES FROM BMW FOR THE SAME RECALL NUMBERS. YOUR DATABASE SHOWS THAT FOR BOTH RECALLS: "RECALL INCOMPLETE/REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE". I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE "REMEDY" IS "NOT YET AVAILABLE". CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN BMW PROJECTS A "REMEDY" TO BE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT BOTH RECALLS? IT SEEMS LIKE THE TECHNICAL RESOLUTION OF THESE ISSUES WOULD BE FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD, ALBEIT SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE, FOR BMW TO PROCESS. THANK YOU- [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11123837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON A HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE IN MY 2012 BMW X3 35I SEIZED AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I HAD TO GLIDE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE BMW DEALER (LAUREL BMW WESTMONT) THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $22K. BMW USA OFFERED TO PAY 60% OF THE COST AND WOULD NOT DISCUSS THE SAFETY ISSUES. THE CAR HAS 59.5K MILES AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED.
NHTSA complaint #11120634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BOLTS HOLDING THE VARIABLE CAMSHAFT TIMING VANOS HOUSING ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND BMW NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A RECALL IN 2014 FOR 156000 VEHICLES. HOWEVER, I HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND BMW SAYS I MUST PAY ALMOST $4,000.00 BECAUSE IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL...EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11092196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I RECIEVED A RECALL FOR PVC VALVE HEATER LAST YEAR DEC 2017 UNTIL NOW APRIL 20 2018 MY CAR IS NOT FIX AND I GET OVERHEAT WHEN MY CAR IS STUCK ON TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #11089177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I HAVE 2 DANGEROUS RECALLS. ONE-NO ONE CAN SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AND THE SECOND, MY ENGINE CAN BE ON FIRE DUE TO A PVC VALVE. BMW HAS NO REMEDIES AND IT HAS BEEN OVER 4 MONTHS, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. SOMEONE HAS TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON BMW TO GET THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11082069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ALL FOUR ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE SHEARED AND COMPLETELY BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT AND NO OTHER ISSUES I.E. ENGINE TAKEN OUT AND REUSAGE OF BOLTS, ETC. THE ENGINE WAS SITTING ON THE SURROUNDING CHASSIS. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE HEAD TO CRACK AND OIL LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST
NHTSA complaint #11079526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ENGINE BOLTS ARE LOOSE OR HAVE FALLEN OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10985117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
IN 3 OCCASIONS (WITHIN 2 YEARS DURATION) WHEN I BRAKED THE CAR (BRAND NEW 2012 X3 2.8I) GENTLY TO STOP IT, IT SLOWED DOWN FIRSTLY BUT ALL IN A SUDDEN IT ACCELERATED WITH ENGINE REVVED UP (WITH NOTICEABLE ENGINE NOISE), THE BRAKE SEEMED LOSING POWER AT ALL. THE FIRST TWO TIMES I COULD BE ABLE TO STOP IT (BY FLOORING THE BRAKE) BEFORE HITTING THE ROADBLOCK AND THE CARPARK ENTRANCE GATE, THE THIRD TIME I COULD DO NOTHING BUT HIT INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE CARPARK DUE TO THE SHORT DISTANCE. I'M SURE THAT I WAS NOT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL ACCIDENTALLY FOR I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PRESSING THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR IN ALL THREE CASES. I FOUND A SIMILAR RECALLS FM MY LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AUTH (REF: HTTP://WWW.TD.GOV.HK/FILEMANAGER/EN/CONTENT_1179/10000456_E.PDF AND HTTP://WWW.TD.GOV.HK/FILEMANAGER/EN/CONTENT_1179/10000457_E.PDF) WHICH MAY RELEVANT TO MY ISSUE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR NOT IN THE LISTED VIN RECALL. I HAD TALKED WITH THE LOCAL BMW SERVICE GUY AND SHE DENIED THE PROBLEMS ARE RELEVANT (WHICH COSTED AROUND US$15,000 TO DO THE AUTO REPAIR EVENTUALLY, COVERED BY INS).
NHTSA complaint #10969444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BMW'S USE ELECTRIC WATER PUMPS COMPARED TO MOSTLY BELT DRIVEN PUMPS USED BY OTHER MANUFACTURES. IN THE BMW COMMUNITY IT IS WIDELY KNOW THAT THE PUMPS WILL FAIL AFTER 60,000 MILES, AND SOME EVEN SOONER. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAS IN FACT CHANGED THE DESIGN AND THE VENDOR SUPPLIER FOR THIS PART. THE COMPANY SHOULD VOLUNTARILY RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE FAULTY PUMP DESIGN AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE HAD TO CHANGE IT OUT OF WARRANTY ON THEIR OWN EXPENSE. BMW HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY BUT ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AS ONE CAN LOOSE ALL ENGINE POWER THAT PUTS THE CAR IN A LIMP MODE, IMAGINE IF THAT HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY WHERE OTHER CARS MIGHT HIT YOU FOR GOING AT 25 MPH IN A 65-70 MPH ZONE IN CALIFORNIA. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME ON A FREEWAY AND IT WAS SCARY AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT THAT DAY BEING CHRISTMAS. BLOG AFTER BLOG ON BMW DESCRIBES THIS ISSUE AND IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THEIR WATER PUMPS AMONGST ALL BMW ENTHUSIASTS.
NHTSA complaint #10940309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
RIGHT FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET BOLTS SHEARED OFF. 3 OF THE 4 BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF, AND IF THE 4TH HAD SHEARED BEFORE WE GOT IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THIS WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10933794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE THE PASSENGER REMAINED INSIDE. ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT, AND CAUSED IT TO CRASH INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO THE BACK, SHOULDER, AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VANOS HOUSING BOLTS WERE SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAD NOT CALLED THE CONTACT BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10926525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE SLOWING DOWN MY CAR (BMW X3 YEAR 2008)ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. I PULL OVER PUT IT IN PARK AND IT AND RE-START AUTO. THIS HAS HAPPEN A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS TODAY 10/08/2016 WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A YIELD SIGN. LUCKY FOR ME THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES ON A BUSY STREET, PULLING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A BACKUP.
NHTSA complaint #10914918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
MY 2007 BMW X3 (E83) FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, "ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET BOLTS" SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. AT LEAST 3 OF THE 4 ALUMINUM BOLTS SNAPPED DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION WHICH RESULTED IN MY ENGINE RESTING ON THE VEHICLES WATER PUMP AND EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE WATER PUMP TO FAIL. MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE SNAPPED BOLTS WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL A NEW WATER PUMP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE HALF YOUR ENGINE NOT PROPERLY MOUNTED DOWN AND SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL. JUST THINK OF THE DAMAGE A FRONT END COLLISION CAN COST WITH THAT PART OF THE ENGINE ABLE TO MOVE FREELY. ON THE MICRO SIDE IT COST ME A WATER PUMP. HOWEVER IT COULD HAVE DONE MORE DAMAGE. PLEASE RECALL THIS!!! NUMEROUS PEOPLE ONLINE ARE REPORTING THE SAME FAILURE. IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION THAT COULD BE AVOIDED BY BMW. THE PROBLEM IS GALVANIZED CORROSION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT METALS OVER TIME. THE BOLTS ARE ALUMINUM, AND THE ENGINE MOUNTS ARE MAGNESIUM-ALUMINUM MIX. I BELIEVE IT IS THE MAGNESIUM THAT IS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FIXES. 1-EASY FIX WOULD BE TO TAKE STEEL BOLTS AND COAT THEM WITH ALUMINUM (THE ALUMINUM WILL SLOW CORROSION AND THE STEEL WILL STRENGTHEN THE BOLT WITHOUT GIVING WAY TO GALVANIZED CORROSION). 2-OTHER FIX WOULD BE TO MAKE THE BOLTS OF THE EXACT SAME MIXTURE AS THE ENGINE BLOCK (MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM) NOT JUST ALUMINUM. THE BOLTS STILL WONT BE AS STRONG AS THE STEEL (ALUMINUM) COATED BOLTS.
NHTSA complaint #10897394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
DRIVING ON A FLAT PAVED ROAD AND HEAR TWO MENTAL PING SOUNDS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE.I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE, AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I PULLED OUT AND WHEN I TURNED THERE WAS A LOUD VIBRATION. THIS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT FROM A STOP. WHEN FURTHER INSPECTED YOU COULD SEE THE MOTOR WAS HANGING AT AN ANGLE. THE FOUR BOLTS ON THE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET HAD BROKEN OFF CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HANG DOWN. AFTER INSPECTING THE PARTS YOU COULD SEE BY THE DISCOLORATION OF TWO BOLTS THAT THEY HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOMETIME . THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THE FIRST ONE BROKE OR HOW LONG IT TOOK THE LAST TWO TO BREAK .THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH A BMW MECHANIC AND HE SAID THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME,ITS NOT UNUSUAL. ITS DEFIANTLY A SAFETY CONCERN .
NHTSA complaint #10893113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3 SAV. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.
NHTSA complaint #10881266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
VEHICLE IS PARKED ON DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE STARTED . DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION SHOWS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE STARTS BUT CAN NOT PUT IT DRIVE OR REVERSE
NHTSA complaint #10876485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNMOVED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT SUDDENLY BROKE OUT IN FLAMES (ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT). THE FIRE GREW QUITE LARGE AND THE CAR EXPLODED (THE POLICE OFFICER'S WORD). SECURITY CAMERAS ON THE PROPERTY SHOW NO ONE IN THE AREA TO TAMPER WITH THE CAR. THIS WAS SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. A GOOGLE SEARCH OF "2009 BMW X3 FIRE" SHOWS MANY OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10865284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHEN I PULLED THE COVER PLATE OFF LEADING TO THE ENGINE MOUNT ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, A SHEARED BOLT FELL OUT. AS I SEARCH TO WHERE IT CAME FROM I NOTICED IT WAS ONE OF THE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THE ENGINE MOUNT TO THE ENGINE. ONE THING TO MENTION ABOUT THE BOLT IS THAT IS MADE OF ALUMINUM. IT SEEMS COMPLETELY INADEQUATE FOR A HIGH STRESS AREA LIKE AN ENGINE MOUNT. I CANNOT TELL YOU WHEN EXACTLY THE BOLT FAILED, LIKELY IN MOTION AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 70K AND 80K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10864942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.