83 of the
2,799 complaints filed about the BMW X3
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
83
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
28
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
Heat Management Module HMM is bad. BMW used a plastic part that is right up against the engine block. This HMM Heat Management Module resulted in STOPPING the vehicle completely in the middle of the freeway. I had no control. Then the car drove, then stopped again. I had NO CONTROL over the vehicle. Weeks later the Drivetrain Malfunction warning light appeared as i was driving home late at night from the ER. I took it to my BMW dealer. The diagnostic test was performed and was told the Heat Management Module HMM needed to be replaced at a cost to me of $3000. I contacted BMW USA, explained what transpired and they responded with a denial. I stopped driving the car completely after i found other complaints about BMW using an inferior part on the 3 series and the same issue about the car stopping in highway traffic without any control. I later got my BMW repaired, at the BMW dealer, as i could not afford to buy another car. I have the defective inferior part in my possession for inspection by NHTSA. BMW refuses to recall the Heat Management Module HMM and will not address the Drivetrain Malfunction warning light. I would like this to be escalated and investigated by NHTSA.gov so that others may be safe when driving please. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11749367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, attempting to park the vehicle in the park the vehicle, while depressing the brake pedal the vehicle unintendedly accelerated independently causing the vehicle to drove over the curb and the contact mention due to the impact the rear passenger tire was damaged and before the brake pedal she could hear the vehicle began to decelerate independently and while depressing the brake pedal with her left foot . No warnings light illuminated A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they inspected the vehicle, and they informed the consumer there was no failure. The contact mention that this failure had occurred on two different occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure offered no assistance and denied helping the consumer. The approximate failure mileage was 17,903.
NHTSA complaint #11742130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving and stopping at a red light or stop sign, the vehicle accelerated from 20 MPH to 40 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11725049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA Safety Complaint – Narrative VIN: [XXX] | Vehicle: 2026 BMW X3 | Purchase Date: December 2025 | Mileage at First Failure: 360 miles | Incident Date: January 14, 2026 | Crash: No | Injuries: No | Vehicle Moving: Yes I am filing this complaint regarding a serious, recurring defect in my 2026 BMW X3, purchased new in December 2025 in California. Defect: While driving at highway and surface street speeds, the instrument panel goes completely black without warning, causing me to lose visibility of vehicle speed, fuel level, warning indicators, navigation, and driver assistance displays while in motion — a direct safety hazard. Frequency: This occurs spontaneously on multiple occasions with no specific trigger and no audible alert. Repair History: The vehicle has been presented to an authorized BMW dealership in Berkeley, CA twice for this defect. Both attempts failed. Cumulative days out of service: 31. A replacement headunit ordered from Germany was promised by February 20, 2026 and has not arrived as of February 22, 2026. Systemic Defect: At least one other NHTSA complaint documents the identical failure in a 2025 BMW X3 — and that owner experienced the same blackout in a BMW X3 loaner vehicle, strongly indicating this is a systemic defect across the 2025/2026 X3 redesign. Safety Impact: Loss of the instrument panel eliminates speed monitoring and disables critical warning indicators, increasing collision risk — particularly at highway speeds. Relief Requested: I request NHTSA open a formal investigation into this defect across 2025/2026 BMW X3 models and compel BMW to identify the root cause and issue a recall or remedy if warranted. Additional Information: I have sent formal lemon law demand letters to the selling dealership and BMW of North America under the California Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and am documenting all records accordingly. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11719738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a recurring infotainment system failure involving the 2025/2026 BMW X3. While driving, the center display screen suddenly blacks out, which creates a serious safety hazard. This issue first occurred with my personal BMW X3. More concerning, the exact same failure occurred again while I was driving a BMW X3 loaner vehicle provided by the dealership. This indicates the problem is not isolated to a single vehicle but may be systemic. I was able to capture video evidence of the incident while driving, which clearly shows the screen going completely black: [XXX] When the screen blacks out, access to navigation, vehicle settings, driver assistance displays, and other critical information is lost while the vehicle is in motion. This creates a dangerous distraction and increases the risk of an accident. Despite previous service visits, the issue has not been resolved, and the occurrence in a second vehicle raises serious concerns about the reliability and safety of BMW’s infotainment system in the X3. And most importantly, this is the brand-new redesign BMW X3 2025 and 2026 model. Not any previous model, which raises more concerns. I believe this defect warrants investigation, as it directly impacts driver safety and may affect multiple vehicles. I am uncomfortable continuing to drive the vehicle under these conditions. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11708119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Subject: Rear Differential Mount Failure and Driveshaft Breakage — Sudden Loss of Vehicle Control at Highway Speed Complaint Summary: While driving at highway speed, I experienced a sudden and extremely loud bang from the rear of the vehicle. Immediately afterward, I lost complete control of the rear end, accompanied by violent clanking and grinding noises from the driveline area. The gearbox then stalled, leaving the vehicle disabled in the middle of the highway. Upon inspection, it was determined that a rear differential mounting bolt had sheared, causing the differential to shift violently out of position. This sudden movement resulted in the driveshaft breaking, which further destabilized the vehicle and led to a severe and immediate loss of control. This failure occurred without warning and created an extremely dangerous situation. The sudden loss of drivetrain integrity at highway speed placed both myself and nearby motorists at serious risk of a crash. A component as critical as a differential mount or driveshaft should not fail under normal operating conditions. This incident strongly indicates a serious design or manufacturing defect affecting the vehicle’s powertrain and structural safety. Requested Action: I urge the NHTSA to investigate rear differential mounting and driveshaft failures on this vehicle model. Such failures can lead to catastrophic loss of control, and immediate attention is necessary to prevent future incidents and ensure driver safety.
NHTSA complaint #11695243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had decelerated and was jerking abnormally. There was an abnormal flickering sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved codes related to computer failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
NHTSA complaint #11680321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Around April 2025, While driving at highway speeds for approximately 1hour with cruise control engaged, vehicle suddenly began to decelerate as if I had taken my foot off the throttle. Pressing the throttle had no effect on engine RPM or vehicle speed as the vehicle continued to decelerate. Tapping the brakes then pressing the throttle had no effect as vehicle continued to decelerate. I was able to negotiate across lanes of highway traffic at low speed to reach shoulder with no throttle control. After coming to a stop on the highway shoulder, pressing the throttle failed to rev the engine or move the vehicle forward in drive. After placing transmission in reverse, the vehicle did back up normally allowing me to put the car in a safer position on the shoulder. After turning off the ignition and restarting, the vehicle operated normally. I was able to complete my trip without incident. I did not engage the cruise control. A few days later, I took the vehicle to an BMW dealer service center but no error codes or malfunctions were identified. A second incident similar to the first occurred in August 2025. Again, I was able to reach the shoulder without serious incident. After turning off the ignition and restarting, the vehicle operated normally. I was able to complete my trip. I did not engage the cruise control.
NHTSA complaint #11680007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2024 BMW X3
at 17,000 milesGranite Falls, NCCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
The contact owned a 2024 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH and turning right, the vehicle unintentionally continued accelerating and veering to the right. The contact stated that she had depressed the brake pedal, but the brakes did not respond. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped the curb, the contact was not able to steer the vehicle back onto the roadway because the steering wheel was seized. The contact stated that the vehicle hit a traffic sign and side-swiped a street light pole. The contact stated that the vehicle then crashed into a parked vehicle head-on and stopped. The contact stated that the air bags had not deployed during the front-end collision. The contact stated that the police and emergency services had arrived. The contact was transported to a hospital, and the police issued a report. The contact stated that she had bruises on her chest, ribs, both arms, and wrists. The contact also had a whiplash injury to her neck. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot, and a total loss was declared. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 17,000.
NHTSA complaint #11659896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2025 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving 1 MPH in stop and go traffic and approaching another vehicle, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and bucked four times. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
NHTSA complaint #11655994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
The accident happened at Noon on [XXX] at the Amazon Fresh/Post office parking lot’s far right exit lane facing [XXX] The address is [XXX] . We were leaving the parking lot and I stopped at the exit lane with 2 cars in front of us. After the first car exited, the second car, a black Ford Explorer, moved forward. I released the brake slightly but my foot was still on the brake pedal. At this moment, my car suddenly accelerated and quickly approached the Explorer. I immediately pressed the brake pedal hard but was unable to stop my car and hit the back of the Explorer. The Explorer was forced out in front of the stop sign but the driver was able to turn right to park at the roadside. With my foot still firmly on the brake pedal, my car kept on accelerating into [XXX] , crossing 5 lanes of traffic until we hit the roadside curb of westbound [XXX] . The car then swerved left and hit a roadside tree, turning sideways into [XXX] middle turn lane. During this entire time, I did not press the accelerator and the car was violently shaking and jerking right and left. As the car slowed down, I was able to steer the car to the right eastbound lane of [XXX] , next to the parking lot near Bank of America’s ATM sign. After I got out of the car, I noticed the front and right sides of the body and tires were damaged including crushing, dents, and significant scratching. The problem I believe is as follows: 1.Sudden Unintended Acceleration and Control Circuit Malfunction. 2.Airbags did not deploy even though we hit a car, curb and tree. 3.Onboard Data Recorder should have the information needed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11619886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I emailed BMW of Arlington on [XXX] detailing the critical safety issue I experienced with my BMW X3 2012 on Sunday [XXX]. I was driving on the tollway northbound from [XXX] in Grand Prairie in the pouring rain with my wipers on, and the car suddenly started braking and decelerating from the 70 mph cruising speed to 40 mph in seconds. The car behind me nearly hit my vehicle, and since it kept doing that, I had to turn on my hazard lights till I exited. The car was doing that irrespective of whether it was on cruise control or my driving speed. I discovered by googling it that this is a known defect in BMWs since their shop foremen and certified technicians who know more than me think I am dreaming this up [XXX] -. Driving this car on the highways in Dallas regularly is extremely dangerous as I could end up in a major multivehicle MVA pileup. Also, the previous time I had this issue before I brought it in on [XXX], it wasn't raining, and it started with the car not even moving when I put it in reverse and pressed the gas. Then it suddenly started decelerating on the road, backfired, and shook violently at normal speeds. The car overheated as the radiator coolant leaked, and I had to replenish it. CarShield, the Auto Warranty company, and I paid approximately $7,000 to BMW Mini of Arlington between June 2023 and today (see attached invoices_receipts_diagnosis reports). The last two times ([XXX] and [XXX]), their multi-point diagnosis on my vehicle identified no issues that need attention. Two of their service advisors who worked on my car in June and October 2023 quit immediately after completing it. The dealership does not respond to the BBB or my calls, emails, faxes, etc. BMW USA advised me to contact NHTSA. On June [XXX], while driving on city streets, the brakes were squealing even without engaging, and the car overheated/ backfired again/ almost caught fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) The dealer finally responded stating their diagnosis did not d
NHTSA complaint #11592023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On December 27, 2023, vehicle was taken to the service center of the dealership where it was purchased. The primary concern was that the car would at times suddenly launch forward and increase in speed on its own. Employees/repairmen test drove the vehicle, scanned the codes and the concern was not duplicated. On January 14, 2024, when slowing to park this vehicle, it suddenly raced forward, causing driver to hit a post. I have this documentation. Vehicle was totaled (at loss to me). I need some remedy.
NHTSA complaint #11569122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 3 MPH, and slowing to park the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,307.
NHTSA complaint #11550565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was slowly pulling into a parking space and as I applied pressure to the brakes, there was no response. In fact the car seemed to rev up and accelerate, jumping the curb and ramming a tree. I was able to steer away from the tree to avoid hitting the center of the front end, but smashing the left front. Even after hitting the tree the car did not slow and I’m trying to pump the brakes, there was no response… I kept going over a grassy area, across a sidewalk and back into the driveway in front of the building, finally the brakes engaged and the car came to a stop. I was then able to pull into another space safely out of the way. I was so lucky it was only 7:15 am and no pedestrians were around and no other vehicles. So I did not hit anyone and did not injure myself.
NHTSA complaint #11520483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driver drove approx. 3.5 to passenger’s home. While sitting & talking to the passenger for several minutes, the car suddenly, rapidly lurched forward, crashing into neighbor’s property. Substantial damage was done to the neighbor’s deck and brick wall at rear of the house. At least one piece of heavy lumber speared through the windshield between the driver and passenger. Vehicle is auto-shut off capable, however, the driver doesn’t recall if they shut the engine off manually, but believes it may have auto-shut off, while stopped before parking the vehicle. Driver recalls pressing the “P” button to put the vehicle in park. Driver said they were just sitting and talking to the Passenger (ie Driver was in a relaxed seating position, hands were not on the steering wheel, and feet not on the pedals). Driver said they attempted to hit the brakes after the vehicle lurched forward, but feels that they may have partially froze due to the shock of the unexpected acceleration. The passenger who also witnessed the event says the car seemed to go slowly for a split second then suddenly took off at extremely high acceleration. Passenger said prior to the car moving, the driver was pressing or had pressed the park button on the gear shift, when the car started to move, slowly at first (for a split second) and then suddenly the car took off at rapid acceleration. Driver said they recalled checking to see if the car was in park, which they noted is indicated by a red light (which they recall seeing). Passenger doesn’t recall seeing light on, but recalls Driver pressing the P button at least twice. Vehicle owned since 2017, purchased with 24k miles, 1 prior owner (previously leased). Vehicle had about 50k miles at time of incident. Vehicle was always serviced at BMW of Fairfax. No prior issues with the vehicle. The car was equipped with BMW OEM rubber floor mats. No Airbag deployment. The event occurred on or about May 25th, 2021 at 9 pm. Vehicle deemed total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11515345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.