FaultScore

2024 BMW X3 driver assist problems

11 of the 51 complaints about the 2024 BMW X3 are about the driver-assist systems — 22% of everything reported for this model year.

F

11

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Rearview System Braking 5 45.5%
Automatic Emergency Braking 3 27.3%
Back Over Prevention 1 9.1%
Warnings 1 9.1%
Automatic System Braking 1 9.1%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every BMW X3 year

2019 19 24.4%
2022 31 39.7%
2024 11 14.1%
2025 17 21.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sarasota, FL Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

I started to pull forward from a pharmacy drive-through at an intended low speed (approximately10/15 mph) for a right turn onto a driveway. The car was on auto-hold and in drive gear. When I turned right, the vehicle went into a full throttle acceleration and continued until impact. Brakes were totally ineffective. A TWO-LINE BRIGHT YELLOW MESSAGE FLASHED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION". There was no automatic braking or forward collision function. I made a hard left turn in about 40 feet to avoid a shopping center parking lot. The vehicle continued until colliding with a concrete filled bollard and an automotive electric charging station. The vehicle charging at this station was also struck. My vehicle fell back, landing on its right side. The driver's airbag and both side curtains deployed. I was left suspended in the seat belt until the Fire Department, Emergency Services and the Highway Patrol arrived. A Jaws of Life was used to open the sunroof and extract me. I was transported by ambulance to an emergency treatment center. I was examined there and imaging done. I sustained a ruptured tendon in the middle right finger (permanent damage) and sagittal band ruptures in two fingers on that hand. There were numerous scrapes and bruises on the left thigh, both forearms and hands as well as minor cuts on my forehead. Also, post -accident, I experienced neck pain and overall soreness for several days due to whiplash. The Event Data Recorder was unattainable as insurance paid the claim for the totaled car within one week and assumed ownership. According to the salvage yard, it was sold shortly thereafter. Refer to NHTSA ID number 11659896 for this issue with another 2024 BMW x3 Photos to accompany complaint will be sent by email with VIN #

NHTSA complaint #11740159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ankeny, IA Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

As I was pulling into a parking stall at work, I pressed on the brake and the vehicle did not stop. It went up over the sidewalk which is stepped up from the parking lot 4-6". i continued to press the break in as far as I could and the vehicle continued to travel at least 20 and stopped when it hit the building. The vehicle is equipped with the automatic emergency breaking and collision warning in which neither worked. The brick on the building was only scrapped. However, there are windows right at the brick line at the location that my car stopped. The car did not go through the window or the building. If it would have, it could have injured those inside. I was pressing on the breaks so hard that I have an injury to my toe. I have not seen a doctor yet, but it's possible that I broke it as I was pressing that hard. The vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance company, manufacturer, or dealership yet. I called the dealership and asked that it be inspected and a diagnostic run immediately. The dealership said they cannot get me in for a week. My vehicle is equipped with a Event Data Recorder.

NHTSA complaint #11638763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ankeny, IA Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

As I was pulling into a parking stall at work, I pressed on the brake and the vehicle did not stop. It went up over the sidewalk which is stepped up from the parking lot 4-6". i continued to press the break in as far as I could and the vehicle continued to travel at least 20 and stopped when it hit the building. The vehicle is equipped with the automatic emergency breaking and collision warning in which neither worked. The brick on the building was only scrapped. However, there are windows right at the brick line at the location that my car stopped. The car did not go through the window or the building. If it would have, it could have injured those inside. I was pressing on the breaks so hard that I have an injury to my toe. I have not seen a doctor yet, but it's possible that I broke it as I was pressing that hard. The vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance company, manufacturer, or dealership yet. I called the dealership and asked that it be inspected and a diagnostic run immediately. The dealership said they cannot get me in for a week. My vehicle is equipped with a Event Data Recorder.

NHTSA complaint #11638763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apex, NC

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

Rear cross traffic alert safety feature does not work as advertised and is poorly implemented on my 2024 BMW X3. It sometimes will give a visual or visual & audio indication but this is a very rare occurrence and is dangerous. By the time an alert is generated an accident will have occurred. It does not detect pedestrians walking behind the vehicle. It cannot be relied on and it's as if the vehicle does not have this common safety feature. My dealer was sympathetic but stated this is normal operation for this vehicle and other BMWs as well.

NHTSA complaint #11627010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kenilworth, NJ

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

My vehicle doesn't warn me about rear cross-traffic or it stops for emergency. I paid for this option. Delaer checked the system and reassured me that everything is working. I have to backup to a busy street a few times a day and this system is not protecting me and I am afraid that I will get into a crash. I had several close calls and I am afraid of a crash with this system.

NHTSA complaint #11626920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooksville, FL

BACK OVER PREVENTION

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11625236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooksville, FL

BACK OVER PREVENTION: AUTOMATIC SYSTEM BRAKING

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11625236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooksville, FL

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

PROBLEM: I recently had incidents when the RAB (rear automatic brake) on the 2024 BMW X-3 vehicle DID NOT WORK on multiple. The vehicle never stopped as I backed out of my parking space and almost hit a pedestrian while simply rolling in reverse. Afterwards my husband, who had a similar incident with his BMW 540i, tested the RAB by perpendicularly slowly walking behind the car. He had to run out of the way when the vehicle was continuing to move when approximately 12” from me. I tested both vehicles, 540i & X-3, with the same results.  As a further test I placed a plastic figure that’s ordinarily used a warning to drivers of children playing in the area. Results while slowly backing was that the vehicle hit (bumped) the little green “man”. He previously did the same tests on 2024 540i, VIN [XXX] , with the exact same results. BMW of Wesley Chapel had no solution. We spoke with managers Doonan and Hernandez. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11622469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooksville, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

PROBLEM: I recently had incidents when the RAB (rear automatic brake) on the 2024 BMW X-3 vehicle DID NOT WORK on multiple. The vehicle never stopped as I backed out of my parking space and almost hit a pedestrian while simply rolling in reverse. Afterwards my husband, who had a similar incident with his BMW 540i, tested the RAB by perpendicularly slowly walking behind the car. He had to run out of the way when the vehicle was continuing to move when approximately 12” from me. I tested both vehicles, 540i & X-3, with the same results.  As a further test I placed a plastic figure that’s ordinarily used a warning to drivers of children playing in the area. Results while slowly backing was that the vehicle hit (bumped) the little green “man”. He previously did the same tests on 2024 540i, VIN [XXX] , with the exact same results. BMW of Wesley Chapel had no solution. We spoke with managers Doonan and Hernandez. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11622469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Round Rock, TX

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

After verifying that the vehicle is equipped with front amd rear cross traffic audio and visual alert features, I brought the car to the dealer because it was not showing any cross traffic alerts. They could not find any issues with the sensors, not could they explain why it was not working after checking that all of the configuration settings are correct. Only very close proximity detection of objects works, which confirms that the sensors do indeed function (e.g., coming close to a building or a person). The BMW user manual and video overview for this X3 vehicle confirm how it should work, but it does not function at all. You can see the cross-traffic functional overview in the BMW mobile application. This important safety feature does not work as represented by BMW, not can the certified dealer correct the problem.

NHTSA complaint #11607705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELK Grove Village, IL

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

There are no audible alerts and insufficient visual alerts to indicate when cross traffic is approaching from the rear left or rear right of the vehicle while backing up. The functionality only works when there is a blind spot to the immediate right or left of the vehicle. This is inconsistent with the industry standard. The current vehicle is a 2024 BMW X3 model year. However, in comparison to three other vehicles we operate which are all 2016 model years and poses this technology, it makes driving the 2024 BMW X3 a concern. We have reported this to our dealer, who has indicated the vehicle is operating as designed. This is contradictory to the lead technician at our dealership, who maintained that there should be a clear audible alert to accompany the minimal visual alert on the screen.

NHTSA complaint #11589802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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