Equipment Problems of BMW X3 - part 1

I own a 2024 BMW X3 that has developed a recurring and unpredictable safety issue with the tailgate. Without any input from me — and without pressing the key fob, tailgate button, or any switch — the rear tailgate will open on its own. This has occurred multiple times while the vehicle was parked, locked, and unattended, and it has also happened shortly after driving and parking. I brought the vehicle to an authorized BMW dealership for diagnosis under warranty. The dealership inspected the vehicle but was unable to identify the cause and returned the vehicle without repairing the problem. Despite my request for further escalation (such as opening a technical case with BMW’s engineering team), the issue remains unresolved. This defect poses a significant safety risk. An uncommanded tailgate opening could result in the vehicle’s contents falling out, create a road hazard, or lead to injury to people nearby. It also increases the risk of theft or water intrusion into the cargo area. The problem is intermittent and unpredictable, but it continues to happen. I am submitting this report because the issue remains unresolved by the manufacturer and could endanger both occupants and the public.

See all problems of the 2024 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.

See all problems of the 2019 BMW X3 🔎.

Rear view camera can be obstructed entirely by other full screen elements when interacting with hard of soft buttons. This 100% reproducible effect results in the need to occasionally shift back into park and then reverse to restart the rvc process and have the video appear on top of other on screen content. This appears to violate fmvss rules for reverse cameras.

The sunroofs on Bmws are known to have issues with leaking, can be a distraction while driving in bad weather when conditions arent great to begin with. I have read where this is a constant problem and when brought to the dealership they are looking for upward of $2000 to repair for somethig that is a manufacturers defect.

See all problems of the 2020 BMW X3 🔎.

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. .

See all problems of the 2022 BMW X3 🔎.

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.

The windshield on my BMW X3 has cracked 3 times and required replacement each time, in the past 3 years. I have owned it 4-1/2 years and driven it less than 35,000 miles. I have only had 3 other cracked windshields in the 58 years I have been driving so I am suspicious about the quality of the BMW glass.

See all problems of the 2021 BMW X3 🔎.

Nhtsa recall number24v608 it is been a year already and there is no remedy available for the recall yet. Scheduled multiple appointments with dealer and they don't have a remedy yet. I am concerned to drive the vehicle as I drive daily and can feel excessive heating in engine.

See all problems of the 2017 BMW X3 🔎.

We have had 3 windshields crack in exactly the same spot with little or no signs of impact. The first incident we heard something impact the windshield and within 1/2 hour a crack developed at the top of the windshield and spread straight down to the base. The second no impact was heard but the crack showed the same pattern as the first. The third time there was a slight impact sound, the crack began showing 5 days later. These are all oem windshields, the dealer says there have been no other reports like this.

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.

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).

Within 2 months of buying the new vehicle this year in February 2025, a rodent entered the vehicle through the air suction vent, reached the cabin air filter and damaged it. The vehicle tech told me that it was good that the rodent didn't damage the car wiring. Else it could have cost me thousands of dollars. But I think, it is a safety concern as well. If the rodent would have chewed the wiring insulation, shorting of two wires or broken wires can cause safety risk while driving by causing sudden malfunctioning. So, I told BMW that it is manufacturing defect, and they should 1) put a mesh barrier to prevent from future access of any rodent. 2) pay for the repair because my car is covered by bumper-to-bumper warranty. They didn't accept any of my above requests. So, I had to pay for the repairs, and the defect still remains which can cause similar or worse damage.

I was entering 4-lane highway from a side street. While accelerating, the engine suddenly stopped. The dashboard went black, except for a red outline of the car. In the second or two that I was looking for a place to get off the highway, the car restarted, and all indicators returned to normal on the dash. I completed my errands without incident. Since the original incident on Monday, [xxx], I have driven the car on several short errands without incident. I believe this incident may be related to your recall 25v-202. Thank you [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

See all problems of the 2016 BMW X3 🔎.

I am a [xxx] male who has been driving for [xxx]. I am very familiar with cars. I recently experienced a situation which could be catastrophic for anyone, especially children. I was sitting in the car on a moderately cool day with the sun shining very bright. I was in a parking lot parked in a remote location. My wife, who was driving went into a store to shop. She took the fob with her. She shopped longer than expected. The car's interior started to heat up and eventually I realized I was in a very dangerous situation. I could not open the doors or windows without the fob. I was considering kicking out a window when my wife returned to the car and opened a door. She later went to the dealership and was told there is a special procedure one most follow to unlock the doors without the fob being present and someone in the car. This is a ridiculous situation which could become tragic if a child was involved. The simple remedy would be to have the interior locking pin for each door extend far enough beyond the door panel so one can unlock the door in an emergency like they did in the "old" days. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am writing regarding my 2019 BMW X3 which has suffered catastrophic electrical damage due to premature sunroof seal shrinkage. The failure has resulted damage to the amplifier damage to the auto system non-functioning park assist warning tones and signal integrity of panoramic sunroof stability the dealership has identified seal failure as the root cause. This is particularly concerning given that: these seals are designed and expected to last 20 years this is a documented issue affecting multiple BMW vehicles my vehicle is only 5 years old, far short of the expected seal lifespan the premature seal failure clearly indicates a manufacturing defect, not normal wear and tear. The systemic nature of this defect which causes a significant gap between actual and expected seal performance the extensive consequential damage caused by this manufacturing issue is highly concerning snd should be immediately investigated and addressed.

I cannot take the vehicle to the dealership to have the recall performed. I have spoken with the closest dealership and they will not provide a driver or towing services unless I pay for it. The letter I received from BMW indicates if my "BMW center is unable to remedy the defect without charge or a reasonable period of time", I should notify the NHTSA. Unless BMW follows federal guidelines, I cannot have the recall remedied. I would like some options or relief so that the recall can be performed.

See all problems of the 2018 BMW X3 🔎.

The car has keyless ignition and was accidentally left on/idling in the garage despite no one in the car and the key fob not present. The car was on for 8. 5 hours in the closed garage and filled the house with exhaust, which includes dangerous carbon monoxide fumes, known to be lethal and nearly ended in tragedy. Luckily, my wife woke up for an unrelated reason to check on our daughter and smelled the fumes in the house and found the car running in the garage. Multiple carbon monoxide detectors were in the home and did not go off, so presumably the fumes had not yet reached toxic concentrations by the time the car was turned off. 2 days later, I took the car to the BMW dealership to be inspected for defects and was told by the technician that it was functioning properly and I should assume the engine is running if the keyless ignition button is not turned off. The lack of an auto-shutoff safety feature to prevent this occurrence is completely unsafe and unacceptable. This is a known issue of keyless ignition cars for over a decade and is an easy mistake to make given how quietly the cars run. Many other car manufacturers have already implemented this feature, so it was shocking that such a well-respected car brand like BMW did not include this safety control as a default feature.

The passenger restraint system malfunction error came out several times since last month.

The malfunction involves the collision warning system and sudden braking functionality. The dealership inspection identified a problem with the kafas (camera) unit, specifically its housing being deformed from heat, which affected the functionality of the collision sensor and caused the system to malfunction intermittently. The component is still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection if required. The system triggered sudden braking without an actual threat, creating a serious risk of being rear-ended by vehicles behind me. This issue has occurred twice in the last month, with no warning or actual collision risk present. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, the problem was confirmed by the dealership. Their inspection found that the kafas camera housing is deformed due to heat exposure, causing malfunction warnings and erroneous braking behavior. They stated this is not a covered warranty issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? the dealership performed an inspection and provided an inspection report, but no other entities (e. G. , manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives) have inspected the component or vehicle. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes, the malfunction indicator light for the collision sensor appeared intermittently. The dealership’s report attributes this to the deformation of the kafas camera housing due to heat exposure.

I was driving car on clear roadway and received a warning to go to service. I smelled burning and saw smoke coming from front hood. Got onto shoulder, got out of car and flames started - falling to ground first and then entire engine was consumed.

My 2019 BMW X3 posted this error on the instrument display "emergency call system malfunction". BMW service informed me that the shark fin roof mounted antenna is leaking. It causes issues with the sos feature, navigation (reporting wrong location). There are numerous complaints on BMW owners message boards with the same problem. There is at least one BMW service information bulletin (sib) that applies to this issue for my vehicle. It is number b65 12 22. I was told this issue is not covered under my certified pre-owned warranty. This is a safety issue affecting thousands of BMW owners. BMW should do the right thing, issue a recall on the affected models and repair this problem. Thank you.

The battery safety terminal deployed while I was driving down the mountain, causing unsafe conditions for myself and drivers around me. Car turned completely off and unable to turn it back on. Lost power steering and braking capabilities. No accidents or airbags were deployed to cause the battery safety teminal to deploy.

See all problems of the 2009 BMW X3 🔎.

During rain this evening, water intruded from sunroof area. Learned this is extremely common problem alleged to be due to shrinking sunroof seals. This dripping water can potentially cause loss of control of the vehicle due to falling water intrusion causing foot controls to become wet. In addition, electrical malfunctions may occur possibly causing fire or other problems. I am also including a stranger’s video of his car at BMW dealer with tech explaining this is a very common problem, obtained from facebook.

There is no remedy to fix the recall. This vehicle is a part of my income and I haven't been able to operate on any ride-share platforms. -rear cargo rails -BMW na has declined my request to buy back my car. They don't provide loaners or alternative vehicles. -BMW na ignored my request to speak with someone in regard to lost wages.

My complaint is that the safety recall was issued nearly 3 months ago on a 2021 model, and no remedy has been provided for it. This is an unsafe situation and are wondering when they will provide a remedy?.

There was a recall back in October 2024 and there still is no remedy as of yet and it can cause a fire risk.

See all problems of the 2014 BMW X3 🔎.

BMW has a safety recall on my vehicle for over two months now with no fix available. I am in the process of moving to japan and need to sell the vehicle. BMW is prohibiting a lease transfer or sale until the vehicle is fixed, but they cannot fix it. Meanwhile I lost a potential buyer and BMW wants to charge me an early lease termination fee of over $6000 but they will not fix the vehicle and they will not allow me to sell or complete a lease transfer. BMW should accept this vehicle back without charging me extra money for a lease termination fee on a defective vehicle.

I have reached out to the manufacturer for a solution and they said to wait till there is a remedy. I’m scared to drive this car for fear that something could happen to me or my family.

A long overdue recall without remedy.

My car has a water pump recall and BMW notified me on August 13. BMW said they will send a letter out to take my car in to service by October 4th 2024. I called BMW and they sent a letter out saying they still don't have a remedy for my car yet. It's been 5 months and still haven't fixed my car yet and when I call they still don't have an answer. I am highly upset. It shouldn't take this long.

I have take out cargo on left side by self.

This complaint is not due/regarding an accident. It is a complaint about the response time to remedy a recall which has been months long now. In July 2024, BMW recalled 291,112 X3 models from 2018 to 2023 due to a risk of the interior cargo rail detaching in a crash. The attachment bolts for the rail could become damaged, increasing the risk of injury to passengers. What is taking so long to get this fixed? seems the remedy is to simply replace bolts. I am unable to use this car while it has a safety recall outstanding. Please expedite this fix, it has been several months and in the meantime this car sits being unproductive.

I am attempting to file a complain due to the manufacture of my car, not addressing the recall. The recall was initiated on July 17, 2024, and it has now been more than 30 days. I use my car and also had it on a rental platform to help me with my monthly payments. Now it has been removed from the platform due to it being unsafe to drive on the road and it is also unsafe for me to drive it on the road. I am hoping that through this complaint I can get a resolution.

2021 BMW X3- recall 24v534---interior rear cargo rails--we have contacted BMW dealer several times and no remedy as of (9. 3. 24) the cargo rails and the vehicle body could separate from the vehicle body. The bolts are what need to be changed out and the dealer says they have no remedy. We want to make sure that we are safe. Please help! thank you for your attention to this very time sensitive issue.