Electrical System Problems of BMW X3 - part 2

Supplemental update – manufacturer response to safety complaint (BMW) I am submitting this supplemental update in connection with my existing NHTSA safety complaint regarding my BMW vehicle. Following my report that the vehicle continued operating without the key present while transporting minor children, BMW of north America acknowledged the concern and indicated it was under review. However, BMW has now stated that it is closing my case file without: • conducting any inspection; • issuing written findings; • providing a safety explanation or analysis; or • confirming whether the reported behavior is a defect, system failure, or normal operation. BMW has conditioned further assistance on dealership inspection while simultaneously closing the manufacturer-level case, creating a gap in accountability and preventing meaningful review of the safety issue at the corporate level. I am not refusing inspection and remain willing to present the vehicle. My concern is that BMW’s attempt to close the case prior to evaluation undermines safety reporting and limits transparency regarding potential risks to drivers and passengers. Please add this update to my complaint record for consideration in any review or investigation.

See all problems of the 2024 BMW X3 🔎.

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the emergency sensor warning light illuminated, as well as the camera system, the forward collision avoidance warning light, and the key proximity features malfunctioned. The contact stated that the shark fin cover was missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the backup battery and wiring harness were damaged due to water intrusion from the missing shark fin cover. The contact was informed that the backup battery, wiring harness, and shark fin cover need to be replaced; however, the vehicle remained unrepaired. The contact had contacted the insurance provider, and the insurance provider declined to cover the repairs under the comprehensive coverage, citing that the failure was a known issue with BMW vehicles. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 70,000.

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The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. 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.

See all problems of the 2021 BMW X3 🔎.

Emergency call system - tcb module failure. A telematics control box, is an embedded computer in my X3. It processes, and transmits data wirelessly. It is a hub for my car to connect services like gps tracking, diagnostics, infotainment, emergency calls (e. G. , ecall), and vehicle-to-everything (v2x) communication, enabling real-time monitoring for safety, efficiency, and fleet management. It connects the car to the internet for emergency services. If the tcb were working properly it would call 911 automatically. It has failed and now it will not call automatically if I get into an accident. The car had less than 50k miles and the dealer wanted to charge $2500 to fix. This should be a recall due to the safety issue. This isn't just a minor inconvenience; it's a critical safety feature failure, disabling automatic crash notification and location services. It has disabled all other msg and the error msg stays on continuously and I am unable to see any other msg that could appear.

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system). The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for maintenance, and the contact was informed that the water pump had failed. The contact showed the independent mechanic the receipt for when the vehicle was repaired under the recall for the water pump. The contact was informed that the water pump was not replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 71,245.

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The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while starting. The contact then stated that while at a relative's home, the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts, with white colored smoke coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved dtc: 216113, 21611a, 21a511, and 216115. Due to the failure, the vehicle remained at the relative's home. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system); and linked it to the failure. The manufacturer and the dealer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,500.

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine. After several minutes, the vehicle was able to be started. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and an unknown message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with starter failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

Appears to be related to recall 25v636. Vehicle is 2020 BMW X3 m40i, equipped with same engine as the supra (b58). Engine would not start with the push of the "start button". Pressing a second time would sometimes start, but as time went on the number of presses required to start took minutes to up to 30 minutes before engine would start. Had starter motor replaced October, 2025 and mechanic observed that starter motor was shorting out, similar to existing recall. However, my vehicle is not included in the recall.

Unknown . The safety recall is extremely dangerous and I drive my child around. This is unacceptable and very unavoidable by providing a remedy or give me a new car. This is not my fault and my life and my family’s lives are in danger.

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not 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.

Starter.

See all problems of the 2022 BMW X3 🔎.

Engine over heating alert issued and to pull over immediately. We had car towed to BMW dealership who stated it is water pump issue. This is a known issue for this make and model but recall not in effect for our VIN. We are having the same issues as stated in recall for water pumps and temperature control issues. Just because our VIN number is not associated with this recall they will not repair this issue unless we pay out of pocket. This is a known issue for our make and model of car and should be a covered expense by BMW. I have attached a link to the recall issues. Please review and respond accordingly. Thank you!.

The digital display went blank and no controls on the display . This has happened multiple times. We have reported it to the dealership. However this is a significant problem to loose all digital displays while driving.

See all problems of the 2025 BMW X3 🔎.

Announcing the recall in September 2025 and still no remedy available 4 months later is unacceptable. My car is at risk of catching fire randomly even if it's parked with ignition off. I need a fix and I need BMW to pay for it.

My vehicle is subject to an active safety recall (NHTSA #25v-636) issued in September 2025 involving the engine starter. As of today, no remedy has been provided by the manufacturer. Due to the safety risk associated with this recall, I do not feel safe operating the vehicle and have been forced to keep it parked and unused for an extended period of time. This has caused significant financial hardship, as I am still required to make monthly loan payments, maintain insurance, and cover related expenses for a vehicle that is unsafe to drive. The issue has effectively rendered the vehicle unusable. The manufacturer has failed to provide a repair, replacement, or timeline for resolution. This situation places my safety and the safety of others at risk, as the vehicle may fail to start or function properly without warning. I am requesting immediate action, as this delay is unreasonable and creates both a safety hazard and financial burden.

The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system). The local dealer was contacted on three occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact had not experienced a failure.

There is an open recall(NHTSA recall number25v636) for my vehicle since September 2025 and there is still no remedy available from the manufacturer (BMW). I am told by the dealer that they won't have the part for next several months. This is unacceptable as I need to get the urgent safety recall fixed as soon as possible.

Main dashboard display is partially blocked by a message stating “emergency call system malfunction. ” apparently the roof mounted antenna’s seal fails and allows water into the electronics for the emergency call system. Upon failure, it also stops the bluetooth microphone for the cell phone to stop working. The dealer quoted the repair at $3,200. Judging from a google search, this is a common problem among this generation of BMW vehicles.

See all problems of the 2019 BMW X3 🔎.

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.

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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The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal thumping sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v636000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed to leave the vehicle at the dealer overnight. 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 vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

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.

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 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 24v534000 (structure) and 25v636000 (electrical system); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were 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.

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, smoke was noticed leaking from under the hood. The contact stated that after she opened the hood, the vehicle caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that she and a neighbor had extinguished the fire utilizing a fire extinguisher. No police report was filed. The fire department did not arrive on scene. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was not deemed a total loss. The contact was burned on her hand however, she did not seek medical attention. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that spark plug wires and other unknown parts were burned. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously seen by a local dealer for recall repair; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed with any recall-related failures and was diagnosed as needing a timing change replacement. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

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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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The contact's daughter owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 24v608000 (engine and engine cooling, electrical system). The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer found no signs of contamination and installed a water pump connector cap. The contact stated that a month after the repair, the engine was overheating while idling, and there was while smoke coming from the engine with an unknown warning light on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the water pump and the battery were replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the water pump connector cap was faulty and had caused the failure. The contact was reminded by his wife of the water pump recall and that the connector cap was replaced due to the recall. Despite the repair, the vehicle shut off soon after starting the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a BMW specialist, who discovered that an antifreeze leak had caused corrosion of several electrical wires inside the engine. The specialist informed the contact that the vehicle needed two engine wiring harnesses, an engine computer, and an ivm (integrated supply module). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact filed paperwork online to be reimbursed for the repairs made to the vehicle. The manufacturer denied the reimbursement because the vehicle had been serviced by an independent mechanic and not a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

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. .

Beginning in July–August 2025, my 2019 BMW X3 (VIN [xxx] ) began experiencing multiple safety?critical system failures affecting federally regulated components. The rearview camera intermittently failed to activate and later stopped functioning entirely, resulting in loss of rear visibility required under fmvss 111. The emergency call (ecall) system displayed repeated malfunction warnings, indicating loss of automatic crash notification capability. The vehicle also displayed “driver assistance restricted,” “collision warning malfunction,” and pedestrian detection failure messages, showing that forward collision warning and related adas functions were not operating properly. During the same period, the telematics control unit (tcu) lost functionality. This caused loss of connecteddrive services, backend communication, remote diagnostics, remote status reporting, and safety?related over?the?air updates. These failures match known BMW defect patterns involving water intrusion into the antenna/telematics module and backend provisioning issues. I submitted a detailed written escalation to BMW of north America. BMW issued two brief responses on February 11–12, 2026 that did not address any of the safety issues, did not provide the engineering basis for excluding my VIN from the applicable recall, and redirected me to a dealer, which has no authority over recall determinations. BMW closed the case without providing any investigation results, defect determination, or technical explanation, contrary to obligations under 49 cfr § 573. These failures materially impair federally regulated safety functions, including rear visibility, collision avoidance, emergency crash notification, and telematics?based safety communication. The pattern suggests a potential broader defect affecting additional vehicles. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

One cell in the hybrid battery failed causing the car to go into safety mode. Battery assistance to the engine stopped and gas engine was the only source of power. Was told the car could be a fire hazard in this condition and required repairing the hybrid system.

I have tried to set up an appointment with my local dealer for a recall notice several times, but they never have the part needed. One time they said they had the part and after dropping the car off my wife returned to find out they still did not have the part the date below is approximate.

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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.

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 🔎.