BMW X3 2016

Complete listing of complaints and recalls for this vehicle

105
Complaints
6
Recalls

Complaints & Recalls

105 Complaints 6 Recalls

Official Safety Recalls - Important!

6 Recalls

These are official manufacturer recalls ordered by NHTSA for safety defects. If you own this vehicle, contact your dealer immediately for free repairs.

Bmw Of North America, Llc
NHTSA Campaign: 24V608000 SAFETY RECALL
720.8K Vehicles Affected
Recall Date: Aug 13, 2024
Safety Issue:

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Potential Risk:
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
FREE Recall Solution:
Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Additional Details:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Action Required: Contact your local BMW dealer to schedule your FREE recall repair.
Manufacturer: BMW
Notice Date: Mar 28, 2025
Recall Date: Aug 13, 2024
Bmw Of North America, Llc
NHTSA Campaign: 21V907000 SAFETY RECALL
50.4K Vehicles Affected
Recall Date: Nov 19, 2021
Safety Issue:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.

Potential Risk:
A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
FREE Recall Solution:
Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Additional Details:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Action Required: Contact your local BMW dealer to schedule your FREE recall repair.
Manufacturer: BMW
Notice Date: Jul 6, 2022
Recall Date: Nov 19, 2021
Bmw Of North America, Llc
NHTSA Campaign: 21V586000 SAFETY RECALL
11.2K Vehicles Affected
Recall Date: Jul 29, 2021
Safety Issue:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.

Potential Risk:
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
FREE Recall Solution:
Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Additional Details:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Action Required: Contact your local BMW dealer to schedule your FREE recall repair.
Manufacturer: BMW
Notice Date: Jan 14, 2022
Recall Date: Jul 29, 2021
Bmw Of North America, Llc
NHTSA Campaign: 18V755000 SAFETY RECALL
44.4K Vehicles Affected
Recall Date: Oct 25, 2018
Safety Issue:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.

Potential Risk:
The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
FREE Recall Solution:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Additional Details:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Action Required: Contact your local BMW dealer to schedule your FREE recall repair.
Manufacturer: BMW
Notice Date: May 13, 2019
Recall Date: Oct 25, 2018
Bmw Of North America, Llc
NHTSA Campaign: 16V333000 SAFETY RECALL
188.7K Vehicles Affected
Recall Date: May 23, 2016
Safety Issue:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Potential Risk:
Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
FREE Recall Solution:
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Additional Details:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Action Required: Contact your local BMW dealer to schedule your FREE recall repair.
Manufacturer: BMW
Notice Date: Jul 13, 2016
Recall Date: May 23, 2016

Consumer Complaints

105 Complaints
Bmw Of North America, Llc
Campaign: 10926927 Other
Nov 18, 2016
Defect Description:

SERVICE BRAKES

Potential Consequences:

I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE BRAKES IN MY X3 FAILED. INSTEAD OF SLOWING THE CAR DOWN - IT SPED UP AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. THERE IS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER BUT I AM SCARED TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN.

Corrective Action:

I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE BRAKES IN MY X3 FAILED. INSTEAD OF SLOWING THE CAR DOWN - IT SPED UP AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. THERE IS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER BUT I AM SCARED TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN.

Additional Notes:

I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A VERY BUSY STREET AND THE BRAKES IN MY X3 FAILED. INSTEAD OF SLOWING THE CAR DOWN - IT SPED UP AND CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. THERE IS MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER BUT I AM SCARED TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN.

Manufacturer: BMW
Mfg Campaign: 10926927
Notice Date: Nov 18, 2016
Recall Date: Nov 18, 2016
Bmw Of North America, Llc
Campaign: 10908077 Other
Sep 20, 2016
Defect Description:

WHEELS

Potential Consequences:

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SIGNALS LOW AIR PRESSURE EVERY WEEK ON INSTRUMENTATION. RUN-FLAT TIRES LOSE AIR WEEKLY. TIRE HAS TO BE TOPPED-UP WITH AIR THEN TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR TEST PERFORMED. OWNED VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY, 2016 AND FREQUENT, ANNOYING, EMBARRASING TIRE AIR FILLING HAS TO BE DONE WEEKLY.

Corrective Action:

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SIGNALS LOW AIR PRESSURE EVERY WEEK ON INSTRUMENTATION. RUN-FLAT TIRES LOSE AIR WEEKLY. TIRE HAS TO BE TOPPED-UP WITH AIR THEN TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR TEST PERFORMED. OWNED VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY, 2016 AND FREQUENT, ANNOYING, EMBARRASING TIRE AIR FILLING HAS TO BE DONE WEEKLY.

Additional Notes:

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SIGNALS LOW AIR PRESSURE EVERY WEEK ON INSTRUMENTATION. RUN-FLAT TIRES LOSE AIR WEEKLY. TIRE HAS TO BE TOPPED-UP WITH AIR THEN TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR TEST PERFORMED. OWNED VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY, 2016 AND FREQUENT, ANNOYING, EMBARRASING TIRE AIR FILLING HAS TO BE DONE WEEKLY.

Manufacturer: BMW
Mfg Campaign: 10908077
Notice Date: Sep 20, 2016
Recall Date: Sep 20, 2016
Bmw Of North America, Llc
Campaign: 10905931 Other
1 Vehicles Affected
Sep 12, 2016
Defect Description:

SEAT BELTS

Potential Consequences:

SEATBELT PRETENSIONER FAILING TO HOLDBACK PASSENGER ON DECCELLERATION ON EXIT RAMP AT 4 DEGREES INCLINE OR DECLINE FROM 65 TO ZERO ON CONTROLLED DECCELERATION

Corrective Action:

SEATBELT PRETENSIONER FAILING TO HOLDBACK PASSENGER ON DECCELLERATION ON EXIT RAMP AT 4 DEGREES INCLINE OR DECLINE FROM 65 TO ZERO ON CONTROLLED DECCELERATION

Additional Notes:

SEATBELT PRETENSIONER FAILING TO HOLDBACK PASSENGER ON DECCELLERATION ON EXIT RAMP AT 4 DEGREES INCLINE OR DECLINE FROM 65 TO ZERO ON CONTROLLED DECCELERATION

Manufacturer: BMW
Mfg Campaign: 10905931
Notice Date: Sep 12, 2016
Recall Date: Sep 12, 2016
Bmw Of North America, Llc
Campaign: 10819810 Other
Jan 12, 2016
Defect Description:

SERVICE BRAKES

Potential Consequences:

THIS ALL HAPPENED THE SAME DAY BEGINNING ABOUT 10AM ON 12/29/15. THE CAR IS A 2016 BMW X3 THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN AUGUST 2015. 1.SLOWED TO BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS THE FIRST CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE TO COME TO A FULL STOP, THE CAR LURCHED INTO THE INTERSECTION. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR IN DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC. I SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED WITH MY ERRAND. 2. I STOPPED AT A BUSINESS WITH A PARKING LOT. I SLOWLY DROVE THROUGH THE LOT AND FOUND A OPEN SPOT. EACH PARKING SPOT HAD A CONCRETE "STOP BAR". I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE SPOT. WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE FOR A FULL STOP, IT LURCHED FORWARD OVER THE "STOP BAR" AND HIT THE CAR PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO GET BACK OVER THE "STOP BAR". I LOOKED CAREFULLY AT BOTH CARS AND COULD FIND NO DAMAGE ON EITHER ONE. 3. I DROVE SLOWLY DIRECTLY TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR ON AUGUST 13, 2015. TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE TECHS DROVE IT AND THEY RAN ALL POSSIBLE SYSTEM TESTS ON IT. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. 4. I WAS SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, I TRADED IN THE 2016 X3 FOR A 2016 X1 THE SAME DAY - 12-29-15. BOTH WERE NEW WHEN I BOUGHT THEM. THE X3 HAD 2,500 MILES ON IT WHEN I TRADED IT IN. I DROVE 139 DAYS. 5. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE X3 WILL BE SOLD AS A USED CAR WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. 6. THE NHTSA REPORTED THAT 88,000 BMWS (VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE X3) WERE RECALLED IN 2014 FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM. I GAVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER #14V627000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE13030. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. NHTSA COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE: 4 OUT 8 COMPLAINTS FOR 2014 X3 4 OUT 8 COMPLAINTS FOR 2015 X3 0 OUT OF 1 COMPLAINT FOR 2016 X3

Corrective Action:

THIS ALL HAPPENED THE SAME DAY BEGINNING ABOUT 10AM ON 12/29/15. THE CAR IS A 2016 BMW X3 THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN AUGUST 2015. 1.SLOWED TO BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS THE FIRST CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE TO COME TO A FULL STOP, THE CAR LURCHED INTO THE INTERSECTION. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR IN DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC. I SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED WITH MY ERRAND. 2. I STOPPED AT A BUSINESS WITH A PARKING LOT. I SLOWLY DROVE THROUGH THE LOT AND FOUND A OPEN SPOT. EACH PARKING SPOT HAD A CONCRETE "STOP BAR". I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE SPOT. WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE FOR A FULL STOP, IT LURCHED FORWARD OVER THE "STOP BAR" AND HIT THE CAR PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO GET BACK OVER THE "STOP BAR". I LOOKED CAREFULLY AT BOTH CARS AND COULD FIND NO DAMAGE ON EITHER ONE. 3. I DROVE SLOWLY DIRECTLY TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR ON AUGUST 13, 2015. TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE TECHS DROVE IT AND THEY RAN ALL POSSIBLE SYSTEM TESTS ON IT. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. 4. I WAS SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, I TRADED IN THE 2016 X3 FOR A 2016 X1 THE SAME DAY - 12-29-15. BOTH WERE NEW WHEN I BOUGHT THEM. THE X3 HAD 2,500 MILES ON IT WHEN I TRADED IT IN. I DROVE 139 DAYS. 5. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE X3 WILL BE SOLD AS A USED CAR WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. 6. THE NHTSA REPORTED THAT 88,000 BMWS (VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE X3) WERE RECALLED IN 2014 FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM. I GAVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER #14V627000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE13030. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. NHTSA COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE: 4 OUT 8 COMPLAINTS FOR 2014 X3 4 OUT 8 COMPLAINTS FOR 2015 X3 0 OUT OF 1 COMPLAINT FOR 2016 X3

Additional Notes:

THIS ALL HAPPENED THE SAME DAY BEGINNING ABOUT 10AM ON 12/29/15. THE CAR IS A 2016 BMW X3 THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN AUGUST 2015. 1.SLOWED TO BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS THE FIRST CAR AT THE INTERSECTION. AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE TO COME TO A FULL STOP, THE CAR LURCHED INTO THE INTERSECTION. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR IN DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO CROSS TRAFFIC. I SLOWLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED WITH MY ERRAND. 2. I STOPPED AT A BUSINESS WITH A PARKING LOT. I SLOWLY DROVE THROUGH THE LOT AND FOUND A OPEN SPOT. EACH PARKING SPOT HAD A CONCRETE "STOP BAR". I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE SPOT. WHEN I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE FOR A FULL STOP, IT LURCHED FORWARD OVER THE "STOP BAR" AND HIT THE CAR PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO GET BACK OVER THE "STOP BAR". I LOOKED CAREFULLY AT BOTH CARS AND COULD FIND NO DAMAGE ON EITHER ONE. 3. I DROVE SLOWLY DIRECTLY TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR ON AUGUST 13, 2015. TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE TECHS DROVE IT AND THEY RAN ALL POSSIBLE SYSTEM TESTS ON IT. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. 4. I WAS SO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, I TRADED IN THE 2016 X3 FOR A 2016 X1 THE SAME DAY - 12-29-15. BOTH WERE NEW WHEN I BOUGHT THEM. THE X3 HAD 2,500 MILES ON IT WHEN I TRADED IT IN. I DROVE 139 DAYS. 5. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE X3 WILL BE SOLD AS A USED CAR WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM. 6. THE NHTSA REPORTED THAT 88,000 BMWS (VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING THE X3) WERE RECALLED IN 2014 FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM. I GAVE THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER #14V627000, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE13030. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. NHTSA COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE: 4 OUT 8 COMPLAINTS FOR 2014 X3 4 OUT 8 COMPLAINTS FOR 2015 X3 0 OUT OF 1 COMPLAINT FOR 2016 X3

Manufacturer: BMW
Mfg Campaign: 10819810
Notice Date: Jan 12, 2016
Recall Date: Jan 12, 2016
Bmw Of North America, Llc
Campaign: 10736180 Other
Jul 24, 2015
Defect Description:

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Potential Consequences:

THE REAR HATCH CAME DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS LOADING ITEMS INTO THE BACK CARGO SPACE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 2 OR 3 WEEKS EARLIER. AT THAT TIME BMW RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT.

Corrective Action:

THE REAR HATCH CAME DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS LOADING ITEMS INTO THE BACK CARGO SPACE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 2 OR 3 WEEKS EARLIER. AT THAT TIME BMW RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT.

Additional Notes:

THE REAR HATCH CAME DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS LOADING ITEMS INTO THE BACK CARGO SPACE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 2 OR 3 WEEKS EARLIER. AT THAT TIME BMW RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I PLAN TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT.

Manufacturer: BMW
Mfg Campaign: 10736180
Notice Date: Jul 24, 2015
Recall Date: Jul 24, 2015

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