Electrical System Problems of BMW X3 - part 1

Today, I placed my backpack containing my 2019 BMW X3 key fob in the back seat, closed the door, and proceeded to open the driver’s door as usual. Immediately, the car locked itself with the key fob still inside. This is a failure of the anti-lockout safety system. The vehicle’s comfort access/keyless entry system is designed to prevent the doors from locking when the key is inside, and it should never lock itself under these circumstances. This malfunction creates a serious safety risk, as occupants or pets could become trapped inside the vehicle. I am submitting this complaint to notify NHTSA of a potential safety defect in the BMW anti-lockout / comfort access system. I request an investigation to determine if this defect affects other vehicles of the same model and year.

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Drivers left front daytime running lights failed after <4 years from warranty replacement. 3rd set of lights in under 7 years on this vehicle.

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When starting the vehicle, the message center displays "loss communications brake system control module a. " the vehicle losses power steering, speedometer indication, tire pressure monitoring, and stability control. There are numerous codes displayed for brake system, power steering, parking brake and stability control. This is the third time that this event has happened. Turning the vehicle off and restarting after approximately 1 hour the codes were clear and everything appears to work properly. This event occurs randomly and resets after the vehicle is turned off and restarted after a period of approximately 1 hour. The loss of power steering and speed indication is a safety hazard. I have been driving this vehicle when the power steering and speedometer stopped working. The steering requires a lot more effort to turn and you do not know the current speed of the vehicle. The BMW dealer charged us the customer for a software update to fix this issue. We are not confident that the vehicle is fixed because this is a random event. I believe this should be a safety recall. There is a recall on BMW 2023 and 2024 models for the same issue. The recall does not include the 2022 model at this time. Codes displayed: u0129, u0418, p15c9, p15c8, p15b9, p15b8, p0507, p0610, p152b, p152a.

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The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

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The contact owns a 2016 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

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I believe there is a flaw in the architecture of start-stop technology in conjunction with the electronic shifting technology installed in cars today. . I have ran into this issue twice in a 18month period and I believe it is something the NHTSA should institute new requirements on car manufacturers. My wifes BMW X3 start stop technology has failed twice in 18months and that is not a big deal. Things break and need to be repaired but given the car can not be put in neutral it left us stranded unable to move the vehicle in the middle of the road until a tow truck could move us out of the road. I could have easily put the car in the neutral (if allowed) and pushed the car off to the side of the road out of traffic. Luckily in both occasions a police officer pulled up very quickly and was able to alert traffic there was a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. I want you to imagine being in stop and go traffic on highway 95 and this happens. Then the traffic actually dissipates and your vehicl is in the middle lane on hwy 95 unable to be moved until a tow truck arrives and now the traffic is going 65-70 mph. The BMW X3 can not be place in neutral unless you go underneath the car in some sort of service panel. I do not believe given the mandate of auto-stop start on these new cars coupled with the inability to place cars into neutral is a good design point and I would hope the the NHTSA would mandate cars be able to put cars in neutral to avoid potentially catastrophic accidents on the highways across America. .

My X3 has 52,000 miles. During a recent road trip, an "emergency call system malfunction" message appeared. When I returned home, I took the vehicle to the dealership. The advisor said the shark fin trim is loose on the roof causing water ingress into the vehicle causing damage to the aerial antenna and the tcb unit. The tcb unit is also known as the telematics control unit that is responsible for vehicle safety and connectivity features, door locking mechanisms, and so on. The technician found faults in the aerial antenna and tcb. I understand from the service advisor that they see this fairly regularly. I have further learned that BMW issued a service information bulletin admitting the problem to dealers and telling them it was a manufacturing defect during the painting process and lists the parts needed to fix it. The quoted cost to replace the damaged components and install/seal a new shark fin was over $4,000 (almost 10% of the car's original price). BMW knows this to be a problem and I think there should be a safety recall for it, regardless of whether the car is out of its original warranty period.

Regarding sib 65 12 22, NHTSA id number 10227571, manufacturer communication number b651222. Summary: the seal of the roof-mounted antenna housing is separating from the vehicle. Affected products: (20) vehicle BMW X3 2018-2022 - BMW x4 2019-2022 - BMW x5 2019-2022 - BMW x6 2020-2022 - BMW x7 2019-2022 I would like to mention that, this issue was known by BMW and acknowledge as painting process deffect, BMW havent release a recall. BMW released on oct 2022 a BMW service information bulletin detailing a defect in the paint and sealant of the roof-mounted antenna housing, which can allow water to leak into the vehicle and damage electrical components, including the emergency call system and gps. Vehicles produced before January 10, 2022, are affected. The bulletin provides instructions for dealers to inspect for water ingress, remove the affected antenna housing, inspect the paint for separation on the sealing surface, and replace the housing if the paint is separating. Even when this production deffect main consequence is the damage of the telematics control unit (tcu) due to physical closeness and consequently failure of the vehicle’s emergency call system and other communication systems and gps. The bulletin only focus on replace of antenna and painting of area (approx cost $700) and doesnt mention any alternatives for solution to damaged tcu (approx cost $3000) and on top the solution mentioned is even more restricted to coverage under the terms of the BMW new vehicle limited warranty for passenger cars and light trucks. Please, respectfully request you to consider reviewing this situation due to affects 20 models and a considerable big amount of people.

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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The fuse box in trunk caught fire there are tons of these incidences if you search the web BMW has done nothing I willhope your “ safety “ agency will. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2011 BMW X3 🔎.

The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2013 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system). The contact stated that while her mother was driving at 60 mph, the vehicle jerked and an abnormal sound could be heard coming from the engine and the engine seized. The message "service engine" was displayed. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. However, an abnormal sound could be heard coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received the notification after the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle at the residence and had not been driven since. The failure mileage was 116,262.

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The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message that the "engine was overheated" was displayed on the instrument panel with the rpm elevated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective water pump. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system). The contact was then referred to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

The contact owns a 2025 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v202000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The digital instrument cluster that displays the speedometer and other information will occasionally not illuminate when the car is started leaving the driver unable to know how fast they are going. This is so dangerous. This has happened to me at least 4 times in the past 6 months.

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On may 26, 2025, after I arrived home and parked my 2025 BMW X3, the vehicle caught fire approximately 30 minutes later. The fire started due to a known recall issue (NHTSA recall no. 25v202) related to the electrical/starter-generator connection, which can cause overheating and fire. I contacted BMW multiple times before the incident — on April 19, may 9, and may 25 — requesting help to fix the open recall, but they failed to take action. The fire was sudden and violent, putting my life and property at risk. Firefighters and police responded; case number: 25/200048976. I filed a claim with progressive insurance and have photos and documentation available.

Backup camera failure , missing rearview image when car gear is shifted to r, increasing the risk of crash and injury. When reversing the backup camera does not display any image/video feed on the screen, only the collision warning system is displayed.

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The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 40-50 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated and the message "engine overheated -stop vehicle immediately" was displayed. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was later restarted, but the message "engine overheated stop - vehicle immediately" was displayed again. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the water pump had overheated and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, who also determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

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Shark fin antenna water ingress causing emergency call malfunction. Known issue with BMW and no warranty or recall due to failed seal allowing water to ingress into the telematics control module disabling all cell service, hands free communication and tracking/navigation in case of an accident vehicle does not provide accurate location. Cost of repair is 3,000-5,000 due to water damage. Warnings come onto instrument cluster that can be removed and blocks mileage or any other settings to be viewed including cruise control settings.

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

I am reporting an unresolved safety recall (NHTSA recall number: 25v202) on my 2025 BMW X3 (VIN: [xxx] ). The recall is related to a defect in the electrical connection between the starter-generator and the positive battery cable. This could lead to engine stalling while driving, or in extreme cases, a fire due to overheating and smoldering. The defect creates a serious safety risk to both driver and passengers. I purchased this vehicle under financing, and I am still making monthly payments while being unable to safely use it. There is currently no remedy available, and BMW has not provided a timeline or solution. I am afraid to drive this car due to the potential danger. I am requesting urgent action from NHTSA to escalate the resolution of this safety issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a rattling sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 158,897. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2011 BMW X3. The contact stated that "engine temperature" message was displayed on the instrument panel with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was hot(h). Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact discovered that steam on the radiator, and a coolant leak. The contact removed the cooling fan and shroud and discovered that the wiring from the electric water pump was burned and inoperable. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the year and model vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN nor the vehicle was included in the recall for the electrical connector. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.

The electric water pump, has shorted internally , even with the vehicle off , this caused the battery to run down.

The complete a/c unit has completely gone out and I am just now getting notice after almost a year of a coolant pump recall that could potentially create a fire hazard. I am told that to date a remedy has still not been available.

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact received notification of the NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that for the past several months the vehicle needed several attempts before the vehicle started. The contact called a dealer and was informed that parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The passenger side daylight running light stopped functioning. I called BMW dealership while it was still under warranty and was told that if it was simply a light needing replacement it would be $500. At the next oil change I had a diagnostic test done and was told that the modules for both daylight running lights had overheated and melted and that a headlight also would need replacement. The cost of this was quoted at $4,200. This is a huge safety concern as this could easily cause an electrical fire. BMW was contacted and refused to cover the cost as it was 2000 miles out of warranty when the oil was changed.

See all problems of the 2021 BMW X3 🔎.

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.

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Car suddenly wouldnt start and gave drivetrain malfunction. Had to get towed to dealer. Car is a 2025 X3 that is less than a month old and 600 miles driven so practically brand new.