UNKNOWN cause. while driving approximately 45–55 mph, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected braking event and engine shut down. •The vehicle automatically came to an abrupt, complete stop. •The engine shut off and then immediately restarted automatically. •A “Service Rear Pads” warning appeared after the vehicle auto-restarted. The vehicle did not gradually slow down; it suddenly and forcefully braked to a complete stop and shut down completely. This was a serious and potentially dangerous safety event as an unexpected stop/shut down event at 45–55 mph could have created a significant risk of collision. We contacted the BMW service center and scheduled a diagnostic appointment for June 22. During the June service visit, the dealership performed: diagnostics, rear brakes and rotors replacement, A/C recharge, tire rotation and balance, and oil change/service. Following the June service, we began experiencing new and intermittent symptoms that had not been present before, including: Ticking, metal clanking, new road/tire noise, Changes in vehicle dynamics and overall driving feel, other intermittent noises. On July 21, we contacted BMW to report the new intermittent noises and changes following the June service and requested an appointment to have these concerns evaluated. An appointment was scheduled for July 24. The July MPI identified several concerns that differed substantially from the June MPI, including: Rear differential leak, worn motor mounts, low battery concerns, & uneven tire wear and cracking. We also observed a permanent brake-pad imprint on a new rotor. These discrepancies raised additional questions and we were told by the SM that the technician had “missed” them in June, even though he documented as good. We refused to accept the X3 back for now d/t safety concerns, and we notified BMW of North America for investigation. The cause for the critical shut down event remains unknown. How can Flow BMW assure it's safe to drive?
NHTSA complaint #11764232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BMW issued safety recall 26V438 (starter fire risk) for my 2022 BMW X3. On September 11, 2026, BMW Arrowhead confirmed my vehicle is affected but has no parts available and no repair timeframe. I was instructed to park outside due to fire risk and to avoid driving the vehicle. When I asked the dealership for a loaner vehicle given the safety instruction, I was told: "no parts, and because of that we can't give you a loaner because there is no timeframe." I called BMW Customer Relations on September 11, 2026 and was told they would follow up. I am a parent of two minor children and have an 80-mile daily commute, and currently have no safe alternative transportation. Current odometer reading: 74,668 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11763694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. While the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for maintenance, the technician discovered an active coolant leak coming from the coolant expansion tank. The mechanic stated that the leak was caused by excessive system pressure stressing the factory plastic tank. The mechanic informed the contact that if the issue was not resolved, the failure might become a major coolant leak into the engine, and the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the leak was coming from several areas. The contact stated that all the plastic parts need to be replaced with metallic parts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #11759410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There were several radiatior hose leaks that happened in the winter due to the outdated plastic housing and lines that seized and cracked with colder temperatures. It has become extremely common historically and not considered affordable part or labor to replace.
NHTSA complaint #11756942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I had started my car drove out of my parking lot as I approached the highway the first intersection everything went dead no lights, snow warning lights just completely shut down and rumble as if the engine was gonna fall out a police man passed me. I was stuck in the middle of the highway. Help me push my vehicle off the road and sat with me while I called AAA. He could not get the car started. It was not the battery. He also only checked the battery terminals under the hood he hooked his portable battery charger. just gonna let me drive home hooked up, but it would not start.
NHTSA complaint #11755391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was pulling out of a parking spot and my X3 completely stalled and lost power. I got infomation on my screen to take my car to my dealer as soon as possible. I was able to start and drive it home. The following week I took it to the dealer for the problem. My local BMW dealer has had my X3 since July 27th over 2 weeks. They said they waiting for a code or fix for what happened. I don’t know if it’s a power train or engine problem. My X3 only has 21,000 miles on it. My concern is this problem could have happened on highway and I could have had a different outcome.
NHTSA complaint #11755469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The engine mounts on my BMW X3 have failed. It is a known national issue with the car, it can be exacerbated by the star/stop feature. There are no warnings or recalls and the repair is several thousand dollara.
NHTSA complaint #11754843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mileage: 31,694 (bought [new]) The engine starter intermittently fails to crank the engine and, per an open manufacturer recall, presents a fire risk while the vehicle is running. On multiple occasions the vehicle struggled to start during normal use. There was no crash, no injury, and no airbag deployment. To isolate the issue I contacted my authorized BMW dealer three times 07/01/2026, 07/16/2026 & 07/27/2026; on each call I was told no recall remedy is currently available and to call back in approximately one month. The vehicle remains subject to the open starter recall with no repair available. No relevant aftermarket equipment is installed.
NHTSA complaint #11753105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on a two-lane 40 MPH road in the left lane the vehicle suddenly lost power, stopped in traffic, and displayed a transmission warning message. Multiple warning lights were "on" and the car would not restart. Additionally, the vehicle would not come out of "Park." Occupants needed to await police who stopped traffic in order for occupants to be able to exit the vehicle safely. The vehicle was towed to BMW of Atlantic City located at [XXX]. Technician found ground missing at EGS, inspected ground strap on transmission and found it severely corroded. Technician replaced ground strap and vehicle was repaired. Was advised by dealer service department that when this situation occurs, the only way to get the transmission into neutral in an emergency is to disconnect the transmission linkage under the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11751025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since purchasing my vehicle, I have experienced numerous ongoing issues that BMW has failed to address. The problems include: A squealing and beeping noise coming from the engine. The headlights turning on by themselves. Interior lights turning on without warning. The vehicle shaking while driving. The check engine light repeatedly coming on. A recent gasoline smell that required me to take the vehicle to the shop due to safety concerns. The roof making a popping noise when driving over uneven driveways or surfaces. I have documented many of these issues with multiple videos. Despite providing evidence and repeatedly reporting these problems, BMW has ignored my concerns and has not adequately resolved the defects.
NHTSA complaint #11750438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is an open safety recall for the engine starter on this vehicle. I contacted the local BMW dealer on 7/10/26 to have the recall fixed they advised me that they cannot address the recall because BMW North America has not sent the parts out for them to do so. I would like this on record in case there is any future damage to my vehicle due to the recall.
NHTSA complaint #11749613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I bought my 2019 BMW X3 late 2025 before Christmas. The Carfax was fine and there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle had been serviced regularly at BMW facilities. Our family mechanic looked at the vehicle before I bought it and performed some basic diagnostics. The vehicle appeared fine. There were no error codes and all of the fluids were topped off. I don't know if the issues with the coolant were there before I purchased the vehicle or if they happened afterwards. There were no warning lights and everything looked good. This car is garage kept and is used a couple of times a week. I did my research on the internet and took my car in for an oil change at a highly-rated independent auto repair facility that specializes in European vehicles and are famous for providing dealership-level expertise, ASE-certified with factory trained technicians from Germany. On March 5th, 2026, when I went to pick up my car, they told me the bad news that is a well known manufacturer defect within the industry regarding these vehicles. They used plastic components in the engine compartment and in the cooling system, which makes the vehicles malfunction. From their report, with pictures, they state the following repairs need to be made, "During the vehicle inspection noticed active coolant leaks are present from multiple locations. The radiator plastic tank actively leaking coolant. The water pump change over valve leaking coolant. The turbocharger coolant line has a coolant crud build up . Oil filter housing and coolant flange on the cylinder block are discolored. For proper cooling system repair recommend complete update of the cooling system. Both balance shaft end caps leaking oil. Recommend replacement during cooling system update." They quoted me $8,914.86 for this repair. That's over HALF the value of the vehicle. They said the entire system needs to be replaced because ALL of the plastic parts in Florida's hot sun will fail. Sudden coolant failures in FL = DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #11748660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 BMW X3. The contact stated that while vehicle was stopped at an intersection with the engine running, the message “Auto Start Feature Off” was displayed, and the starter was cycling unexpectedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted but was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
NHTSA complaint #11747350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2020 BMW X3 M40i, VIN [XXX], manufactured November 2019, now at approximately 100,000 miles, equipped with the B58TU engine. My oil level sensor stopped completing measurements at approximately 45,000 miles, a known precursor to thermoplastic oil pump failure. For 55,000 miles I had no way to identify whether my vehicle contained the defective component because BMW removed the original thermoplastic part number from all dealer networks. VIN-based lookup now falsely returns updated metal component information regardless of what is physically present in the vehicle. This makes proactive identification impossible for both owners and dealers, meaning the defect cannot be remediated even by willing owners. I had no actionable path forward. On [XXX] I was driving on a Florida highway at 80 mph when a low oil pressure warning appeared. I pulled over immediately. A fault log pulled at 2:05PM showed code 1C3002. A second log pulled at 6:49PM after briefly running the engine showed three additional oil system faults including 1C2002 - engine oil pump pressure too low - indicating active progressive failure within hours. This failure occurred in 90 degree Florida summer heat, not cold weather. If NHTSA’s investigation is scoped around cold climate failures, my case demonstrates that scope is incomplete and the affected population is broader than currently documented. Carfax records confirm 18 total service records over 100,000+ miles, including 8 dealer visits between 18,000 and 50,000 miles under active CPO warranty. This vehicle has been consistently and properly maintained throughout its life. The vehicle became a safety hazard at highway speed without adequate warning. I will file a second complaint after physical inspection confirming which pump variant is actually present. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11745794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
reporting a safety issue with BMW vehicles equipped with the B58TU engine, primarily 2019-2021 models. These vehicles have an oil pump with an internal plastic component that regulates oil pressure, and this part is fracturing in the field, causing sudden loss of oil pressure. The failure typically occurs during cold starts in low temperatures. When it fails, oil pressure becomes erratic or is lost entirely, often with little to no warning before engine damage or vehicle disablement. Warning signs, when present, include inability to measure oil level electronically, abnormal oil pressure, or sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. These can rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe damage from oil starvation. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle can become disabled without warning while driving or after startup. This is especially hazardous when cars become immobilized in traffic or during winter conditions when failures occur most frequently, leaving occupants exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Pump replacement requires extensive disassembly and commonly costs $6,000-$8,000, assuming no engine damage. A critical concern: owners cannot determine if their vehicle has the original plastic pump or the later metal revision. BMW's VIN-based parts lookup now shows updated components even when original plastic parts remain installed, and BMW has removed the original plastic part number from dealer networks entirely. Failures are reported across multiple production years, and the scope of affected vehicles remains unclear. Because this condition causes sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning, especially in cold weather, I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety-related defect.
NHTSA complaint #11744370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving under medium acceleration, vehicle made a loud popping noise and engine power was severely reduced. Drivetrain warning light immediately appeared and said vehicle could be driven but at reduced power and needed to be serviced soon as possible. At highway speeds on a major interstate, this created several close calls being struck by traffic while trying to reach a safe area on shoulder. On site inspection revealed the plastic turbo charge pipe had blown away from the throttle body. Pieces of plastic and metal were found in engine bay and under vehicle. Vehicle was driven to nearby residence and towed to closest suitable garage for more detailed assessment and repair. Facility confirmed the Air Duct, BMW part number 13717604033 had failed. Repair made costing approximately $825 US dollars.
NHTSA complaint #11743975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
car starts emitting white smoke with plastic burning smell inside car and outside. no notifications on dash board before this happens therefore emitting this white smoke into car which we are subjected to inhaling further
NHTSA complaint #11741989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and turning the engine off, approximately 10 minutes later a burning rubber odor was present inside the cablin of the vehicle and smoke was present coming from under the hood. The contact opened the hood discovered flames coming from the engine. The fire and police departments were called to the scene and the fire was extinguished the flame. During the incident the vehicle destroyed and later lowed away. A fire and police report was taken. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: ( ). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11741213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.