2012 BMW X3

Recalls

2 recalls name the 2012 BMW X3. Newest first.

• Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

  Aug 8, 2017NHTSA 17V4950006,785 vehicles

  BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.

  Risk and remedy

  Risk

  In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy

  BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  Full recall details →

• Child seat › Latch strap

  May 23, 2016NHTSA 16V333000188,668 vehicles

  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…

  Risk and remedy

  Risk

  Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

  Remedy

  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.

  Full recall details →

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Air bags18
2. Engine8
3. Power train7
4. Steering7
5. Vehicle speed control6
6. Service brakes5
7. Unknown or other5
8. Seats4
9. Engine and engine cooling2
10. Electrical system2

Latest complaints

• Mar 27, 2026TX
  Power train
  Over about seven years and roughly 70,000 miles of ownership, this 2012 BMW X3 generated repeated “Drivetrain malfunction” warnings and loss of drivability despite extensive repairs by multiple authorized BMW dealers. I paid approximately $15,000–$20,000 out of pocket for dealer repairs, and my…

  Over about seven years and roughly 70,000 miles of ownership, this 2012 BMW X3 generated repeated “Drivetrain malfunction” warnings and loss of drivability despite extensive repairs by multiple authorized BMW dealers. I paid approximately $15,000–$20,000 out of pocket for dealer repairs, and my third‑party service contract (CarShield) paid an additional roughly $15,000–$20,000 directly to these BMW dealers during this period. In December 2025, an authorized BMW dealer diagnosed a drivetrain malfunction as failure of the fuel pump control module, allegedly caused by a small water spill on the rear seat, charged me $1,690.71 to replace the module, and returned the vehicle as repaired. Shortly afterward, while driving normally, the same “Drivetrain malfunction” warning reappeared, and drivability issues returned, indicating the defect was not corrected and raising serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the drivetrain and related electronic controls. The dealer’s attribution of the failure to minor interior water exposure also caused the service‑contract administrator to void coverage for the fuel system, leaving me with this large repair bill for an unresolved safety‑related condition that ultimately forced me to dispose of the vehicle at a significant loss.

• Dec 21, 2024CT
  Air bags

  Front passenger seat occupancy mat defect causes disabling of passenger airbag. Recalls have been issued for the same issue in other models. Issue confirmed by dealership. Persistent warning lamp alert.

• Jun 2, 2024TX
  Engine · Service brakes · Vehicle speed control
  I emailed BMW of Arlington on [XXX] detailing the critical safety issue I experienced with my BMW X3 2012 on Sunday [XXX]. I was driving on the tollway northbound from [XXX] in Grand Prairie in the pouring rain with my wipers on, and the car suddenly started braking and decelerating from the 70 mph…

  I emailed BMW of Arlington on [XXX] detailing the critical safety issue I experienced with my BMW X3 2012 on Sunday [XXX]. I was driving on the tollway northbound from [XXX] in Grand Prairie in the pouring rain with my wipers on, and the car suddenly started braking and decelerating from the 70 mph cruising speed to 40 mph in seconds. The car behind me nearly hit my vehicle, and since it kept doing that, I had to turn on my hazard lights till I exited. The car was doing that irrespective of whether it was on cruise control or my driving speed. I discovered by googling it that this is a known defect in BMWs since their shop foremen and certified technicians who know more than me think I am dreaming this up [XXX] -. Driving this car on the highways in Dallas regularly is extremely dangerous as I could end up in a major multivehicle MVA pileup. Also, the previous time I had this issue before I brought it in on [XXX], it wasn't raining, and it started with the car not even moving when I put it in reverse and pressed the gas. Then it suddenly started decelerating on the road, backfired, and shook violently at normal speeds. The car overheated as the radiator coolant leaked, and I had to replenish it. CarShield, the Auto Warranty company, and I paid approximately $7,000 to BMW Mini of Arlington between June 2023 and today (see attached invoices_receipts_diagnosis reports). The last two times ([XXX] and [XXX]), their multi-point diagnosis on my vehicle identified no issues that need attention. Two of their service advisors who worked on my car in June and October 2023 quit immediately after completing it. The dealership does not respond to the BBB or my calls, emails, faxes, etc. BMW USA advised me to contact NHTSA. On June [XXX], while driving on city streets, the brakes were squealing even without engaging, and the car overheated/ backfired again/ almost caught fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) The dealer finally responded stating their diagnosis did not d

• Feb 1, 2024CT92,669 mi
  Engine and engine cooling
  The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was driving rough before stalling with the drivetrain malfunction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fault code variable camshaft timing control.…

  The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was driving rough before stalling with the drivetrain malfunction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fault code variable camshaft timing control. The dealer made other repairs to the vehicle, and the fault codes disappeared. However, the contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and a local mechanic who confirmed a failure with the VANOS system. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,669.

• Aug 3, 2023MI115,000 miCrash
  Power train
  The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that after his wife parked the vehicle, she shifted the gear into the park (p) position however, after his wife exit the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently rolled and crashed into a post without warning. No injuries were sustained. No medical…

  The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that after his wife parked the vehicle, she shifted the gear into the park (p) position however, after his wife exit the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently rolled and crashed into a post without warning. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The contact notified AAA and upon inspection, the contact was informed that the was shifted to the park (p) position. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

• Jan 31, 2023CA
  Air bags · Seats

  A malfunction of the front seat occupancy mat will prevent the passenger air bag from deploying in the event of an accident and displays a malfunction warning. This malfunction has been the subject of several BMW NHTSA recalls but so far none have been issued for this vehicle.

• Jun 6, 2022SC89,000 mi
  Engine and engine cooling
  The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and hesitating during acceleration. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number…

  The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and hesitating during acceleration. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

• May 3, 2022NY
  Air bags

  I am reporting a common issue I’ve seen a lot of BMWs have with the seat occupancy sensor. I just wanted to report this to see if it could be a potential recall, since it is a safety concern.

• Mar 28, 2022CT
  Air bags · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
  OC3 mat in passenger seat malfunctions and disables passenger-side airbag. BMW is aware of this problem with OC3 sensors affecting different models. See, e.g., https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V428-3205.pdf pertaining to various E Series vehicles that have the same part. BMWNA…

  OC3 mat in passenger seat malfunctions and disables passenger-side airbag. BMW is aware of this problem with OC3 sensors affecting different models. See, e.g., https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V428-3205.pdf pertaining to various E Series vehicles that have the same part. BMWNA claims the recall and extended warranties that covered the OC3 part in these other vehicles has not been extended to cover my vehicle (2012 BMW X3). There is a long documented history of problems with the OC3 sensor: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10142910-9999.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V428-3205.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCMN-17V605-2124.pdf (X3 OC3 mat from 2006-2010) https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/SB-10056703-9690.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2013/MC-10150131-9999.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10179827-9999.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/SB-10056096-7046.pdf

• Jul 29, 2021FL
  Service brakes

  As I drive and stop, my brakes stick, when I try to accelerate it struggles to go. On the highway it began slowing me down. I was scared it was going to get me rear ended because my brake lights do not come on when this happens. I brought it to my garage and they diagnosed it to be the DSC pump. They put in a used pump and fixed the issue. Please take this seriously, it is a dangerous problem.

• Dec 21, 2020MI78,000 mi
  Steering

  My wife was driving the vehicle on the highway, and the power steering failed causing a loss of control of the vehicle. Luckily she was not injured and the vehicle drifted to the right hand lane and off onto the shoulder. After the vehicle was brought home, the electronic steering unit later reset itself after the ignition had been turned off and back on again.

• Dec 17, 2020FL112,000 mi
  Air bags
  TL* the contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag and chassis warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed about an air bag replacement and was provided a print out of recalls. The local…

  TL* the contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag and chassis warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed about an air bag replacement and was provided a print out of recalls. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 112,000.

• Aug 19, 2020MA70,155 mi
  Engine

  Engine failure at 70155 miles. Connecting rod bearing IS spun.

• Jul 7, 2020CA84,100 mi
  Engine
  Situation when starting a cold engine, a 'plume of blue smoke' can be seen emitting from the exhaust tailpipe for approximately 10-20 seconds. there IS no engine malfunction light illuminated (no' turbocharger boost faults are stored) and no drivability issues are detected. cause when the…

  Situation when starting a cold engine, a 'plume of blue smoke' can be seen emitting from the exhaust tailpipe for approximately 10-20 seconds. there IS no engine malfunction light illuminated (no' turbocharger boost faults are stored) and no drivability issues are detected. cause when the vehicle IS parked overnight the engine oil pressure will equalize, this may cause engine oil to leak past the turbocharger 'exhaust side' turbine seal due to carbonization of the turbocharger sealing ring. this IS the same issue impacting BMW N20 engines that BMW has issued a technical service bulletin and extended warranty 10 years/ 100,000 miles. the N55 engine (6 cylinder, turbo) has not been included in this extended warranty although defect IS the same and may impact emissions.

• Jun 27, 2020OH71,000 mi
  Air bags
  Restraint system intermittently malfunction. Getting malfunction notification after vehicle start moving and sometimes when it's stationary. Some time message on display says 'passenger restraint system' and sometimes additionally to passenger, 'driver restraint system' comes up. When check with…

  Restraint system intermittently malfunction. Getting malfunction notification after vehicle start moving and sometimes when it's stationary. Some time message on display says 'passenger restraint system' and sometimes additionally to passenger, 'driver restraint system' comes up. When check with dealer and after paying for diagnostic, verdict was that main airbag control module must be replace because at the time when malfunction message IS displaced, all airbags are turn off and if this were to occur during accident there will be no active safety future (airbags) which will increase the risk of bad injury or death. *tr

• May 17, 2020TX137,000 mi
  Air bags · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification · Electrical system · Seats

  My front passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat will intermittently malfunction. At times, the front passenger airbag will turn off, even with a passenger in the seat. If this were to occur, during and accident, with deactivation of the front passenger airbag there IS increased the risk of injury or death.

• May 10, 2020NY65,036 mi
  Fuel/propulsion system

  2012 X3 F25 engine - vehicle runs out of fuel when gas gauge IS between 1/2 and 3/4. further investigation shows obc test of left tank sensor with a static reading @97 ohms and 42.2 l of fuel (aka "tank = full") when in fact the left side tank IS completely void of fuel. this situation IS unsafe and could cause an unexpected stalled vehicle @ high speed on the highway. *tr

• Dec 4, 2019KS123,467 mi
  Unknown or other
  December 4TH at approximately 6:45 am, temp in the 30'S, clear day. I was driving on the highway traveling at 65-70 mph, no cars in front of me or behind and I hear a loud explosion sounding like a gunshot. I do not see any debris in the road. I did not pass under any bridges. I exit highway…

  December 4TH at approximately 6:45 am, temp in the 30'S, clear day. I was driving on the highway traveling at 65-70 mph, no cars in front of me or behind and I hear a loud explosion sounding like a gunshot. I do not see any debris in the road. I did not pass under any bridges. I exit highway asap and take a look at the car to find the sunroof shattered with a large area of glass missing (the shade inside was closed so no glass had come in the car).

• Aug 14, 2019FL100,000 mi
  Power train
  The vehicle suddenly loses power and stops.the engine does not stop. This vehicle has had a recall for this problem but my vin number was not included. the variable camshaft timing adjustment loosen and the bolts may break. the dealer listed 5 things that needed to be repaired at a cost of $4000.…

  The vehicle suddenly loses power and stops.the engine does not stop. This vehicle has had a recall for this problem but my vin number was not included. the variable camshaft timing adjustment loosen and the bolts may break. the dealer listed 5 things that needed to be repaired at a cost of $4000. none were related to the issue. While driving on a 5 lane road the car just stopped moving. when I shut the engine off and restarted the car, it moved again. recall number 14v176000. Date 04/10/14. this has happened twice and IS very dangerous.this has happened twice.

• Apr 24, 2019IL105,000 mi
  Air bags · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification · Seats · Unknown or other

  I am receiving a "passenger restraint malfunction" warning. This means that if I have any passengers in my car and an accident occur the air bag will not deploy on that side. This IS a very unsafe situation that should be covered by BMW 10 year warranty.

• Dec 6, 2018CA
  Air bags · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification · Seat belts

  Passenger seat occupancy sensor mat IS defective. Car cannot properly tell if the seat IS occupied. Unknown if airbags would properly deploy in a crash. Sensor IS intermittent and deploys while driving or stationary, most typically when no-one in passenger seat.

• Aug 6, 2018CA
  Air bags · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification · Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger · Seats

  Passenger restraint system malfunction message due to bad seat pad sensor which turned of the passenger side air bag incase of an accident.

• Jul 4, 2018CT62,000 mi
  Steering

  Steering IS sticky and difficult to control when driving straight on the highway in warmer weather.

• Mar 26, 2018IL95,000 mi
  Engine · Power train
  TL* the contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the bolt housing for the cam shaft detached and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not…

  TL* the contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the bolt housing for the cam shaft detached and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. The vin was not available.

• Feb 8, 2018TX60,300 mi
  Engine · Vehicle speed control
  I was have issues with the vehicle hesitating and jerking, and generally not operating as expected. I took it in to be checked as I was concerned for operating it safely. The dealership indicated that it requires a software patch, as their IS a code error, but they will only fix it if I pay for…

  I was have issues with the vehicle hesitating and jerking, and generally not operating as expected. I took it in to be checked as I was concerned for operating it safely. The dealership indicated that it requires a software patch, as their IS a code error, but they will only fix it if I pay for the patch. I told them that if it IS a patch that seems like a recall - software IS not hardware, software does not just stop working if it IS good to begin with. If we allow car dealers to make us pay for patches when they mess up software we will all be paying hundreds and thousands of dollars for their coding errors going forward as the technology continues to innovate. I am all for innovation, but I should not be paying for their coding error. My car worked a few months ago, I took it in for service under warranty for a different issue, they did work to the onboard software that likely caused this issue, and now that it IS out of warranty they have decided that IS my problem to fix what they broke. This IS a precedent that I do not think we should allow auto makers to set. A car IS not a pc that we replace in 4 years - it cost exponentially more. When microsoft requires us to upgrade or they will not patch anymore it IS on a pc that cost $1-2K at max, we are talking about a much larger investment and BMW should not be allowed to just stop fixing their code and charging consumers for errors that are potential safety concerns. I do not care if the code IS original or installed at my last service visit. Something IS seriously wrong with this picture. I would feel different if I had some custom modification, then I think they could blame me for hacking it, but I did not do so, therefore I should not be penalized.

Defect investigations

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open
  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…

  From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10253326While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard.
• 10249437The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
• 10249027The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle discharged battery complaints.
• 10247574A noise can be heard from underneath the seat while the seat is being moved either forwards or backwards. This can occur to the drivers and/or the passengers front seat.
• 10244239This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry
• 10238090After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.
• 10235205The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose, the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration. The Connected Drive voice services (Concierge Call, BMW Assistance, and emergency call voice) can no longer be used regionally in the US in vehicle with telematics control units ATM-1 and TCB-4G. Voice control of the vehicle and all other telephone (paired mobile devices) functions are not affected. Emergency call location data is unaffected.
• 10230717For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date.
• 10227568According to the customer, the airbag warning light was on, but it may not be illuminated when the vehicle arrives in the workshop. 1. ACSM fault code "930A60 - Seat occupancy detection, front passenger; malfunction" is stored. The fault may or may not currently be present. Or 2. ACSM fault code "930A1C - Front passenger seat occupancy detection transmitting fault(moisture)" is stored. The fault may or may not currently be present.
• 10225126Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.
• 10225114The front sunroof glass seal has shrunk, creating a gap which can cause wind noise or excess water entry.
• 10224186Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Radiator Grille Upper and Lower Active Air Flaps to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. 1. Air flap control (link) active, upper (G12, G30 and G32) 2. Air flap control (drive), active, upper 3. Air flaps, upper (assembly) 4. Air flaps, lower (assembly) For eligible MY 2017 BMW 530i (B460) vehicles that are currently registered in the State of California (CA) or a State that has fully adopted the State of California PZEV/SULEV regulation (CT, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI, and VT), the standard emission-related coverage for the Radiator Front Grille Air Vent Flaps is15 years/150,000 miles. This component-specific limited warranty extension applies to defects in materials or workmanship.' This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusions that apply to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. A check control message or MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) may be illuminated with faults stored related to the upper and/or lower active air flap(s). Potential causes include: Faulty upper air flap link (G12, G30, G32) Faulty upper air flap actuator (G01, G02, G12, G30, G32) Faulty upper flap assembly (G01, G02, G12, G30, G32) Faulty lower air flap assembly (G01, G02, G12, G30, G32) Software error in the DME affecting the upper flap (G01, G02 only) Or: Upon visual inspection, the passenger side upper active air flaps are either stuck open or closed, and they will not move and there are no faults stored for the active air flaps (With no check control message or check engine light or displaying)
• 10224185Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Leak Diagnosis Module with hose assembly (NVLD, shown) to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. For eligible MY 2017 BMW 530i Sedan and xDrive (B460) vehicles that are currently registered in the State of California (CA) or a State that has fully adopted the State of California PZEV/SULEV regulation (CT, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI, and VT), the standard component-related coverage for the NVLD is 15 years/150,000 miles. This component-specific limited warranty extension applies to defects in materials or workmanship. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusions that apply to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. Over time, the Leak Diagnosis Module (NVLD) (with connected hose) component material may fail, this can create a fine leak to develop in the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP). Should this occur, corresponding fault codes will be stored in the DME memory and the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) will illuminate.
• 10218420The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a production error, the telematics control units were delivered without an IMS configuration. The Connected Drive voice services (Concierge Call, BMW Assistance and emergency call voice) can no longer be used regionally in the US in vehicle with telematics control units ATM-1 and TCB-4G. Voice control of the vehicle and all other telephone (paired mobile devices) functions are not affected. Emergency call location data is unaffected.
• 10218413BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective March 28, 2022) on certain Model Year 2022 BMW vehicles that were produced between March 1, 2022 and March 8, 2022 because the torsion struts may not have been installed at the plant. Do not deliver to a customer, a New, Certified Pre-Owned or Used vehicle subject to a Delivery Stop, until the vehicle is repaired. Do not use or sell replacement equipment/parts subject to a Delivery Stop.
• 10218384Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. Note: Opening, closing and starting via the BMW Digital Key or the Digital Key Card are not affected.
• 10218381A check control message for the restraint system appears. In the instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. One of the following fault codes is stored in the ACSM (air bag control unit): 930949 - Knee airbag, driver: short circuit to negative terminal 93094F - Knee airbag, front passenger: short circuit to negative terminal.
• 10215746Component specific limited warranty extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Sensor(s) to: 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle original in-service date.
• 10215025Shipping specific non-deployed vehicle safety devices to lighting resources, llc. This service Information bulletin provides information on shipping "specific" noin-deployed vehicle safety devices that are classified as Dangerous Goods (DG) to Lighting resources, LLC
• 10215024The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification
• 10214990The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014. This uses map North America EVO. The Headunit High 4 (HU-H4, also called MGU21) superseded the MGU starting with certain MY2021 vehicles with option code 6U3 Live Cockpit Professional. This uses map North America JOY. The ENTRY Media/Navigation (HU-B) is the low line business version of the navigation system and was introduced in 3/2014. This uses map North America ROUTE. The ENTRY NAV EVO (HU-B2) replaced Entry Media/Navigation as the low-line business version and was introduced in certain MY2018 vehicles. This uses map North America WAY.
• 10204660The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. The Headunit High 2 (HU-H2), also called NBT-EVO, superseded the NBT HU and was introduced in 3/2014. This uses map North America EVO. The Headunit High 3 (HU-H3, also called MGU) superseded the NBT-EVO starting with certain MY2019 vehicles with option code 6U3 Live Cockpit Professional or 6U2 Live Cockpit Plus. This uses map North America LIVE. The ENTRY Media/Navigation (HU-B) is the low line business version of the navigation system and was introduced in 3/2014. This uses map North America ROUTE. The ENTRY NAV EVO (HU-B2) replaced Entry Media/Navigation as the low-line business version and was introduced in certain MY2018 vehicles. This uses map North America WAY.
• 10200489TELEMATICS UNIT RETROFIT TO 4G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022.
• 10200487TELEMATICS UNIT DEACTIVATION DUE TO 3G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY DISCONTINUATION: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022.
• 10200249The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022. The decision to phase out 3G network technology was made at the discretion of the respective cellular carriers and lies beyond the control of BMW. Due to the phase-out, BMW Assist and ConnectedDrive services will no longer be supported after this date.
• 10199287CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N54/N54T/N55 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT PUMP . With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Oliver, et al v. BMW NA, et al
• 10198894CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N54/N54T/N55 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT PUMP . With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Oliver, et al v. BMW NA, et al
• 10179009NAVIGATION SYSTEM - REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROADMAP DATA: Do not replace parts and do not program the vehicle. Roads can change by up to 15% every year. To ensure the best navigation experience, we do everything in our power to create the best maps. Your reports help us to detect changes in your area and keep future versions of our maps as accurate as possible. Therefore, a road map error or missing data must be reported directly to the map supplier.
• 10179003VEHICLE DOES NOT START BATTERY TOTALLY DISCHARGED: The customer's vehicle does not start due to a totally discharged battery.
• 10178996TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: Ticking noise coming from front wheel while cornering without brakes applied, noticeable at low speeds. The vehicle must be moving.
• 10177628VEHICLE DOES NOT START BATTERY TOTALLY DISCHARGED: The customer's vehicle does not start due to a totally discharged battery.
• 10174320CONNECTEDDRIVE/BMW ASSIST SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 7) replaces SI B84 02 14 dated May 2019. ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist features are partially or completely inoperative. This Service Information Bulletin: Is being published because vehicles are down for an extended period of time when researching system failures with ConnectedDrive or BMW Assist. Will assist you both in identifying the issue and providing technical support. CAUSE Not enough information is available for BMW NA engineers to assist the technician in diagnosing the root cause.
• 10174032AUTOMATED ACTIVATION OF NAVIGATION SYSTEM DURING PDI/QC1: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 2) replaces SI B65 22 14 dated October 2015. The INITIAL NAV enabling code no longer needs to be pre-ordered through the Parts department! When the vehicle is connected to the diagnostic system ISTA to perform PDI/QC1 the step to activate the navigation system (part of Delete Transport Mode) will automatically request the INITIAL NAV enabling code (VIN-specific) without pre-ordering the enabling code. This enabling code will be automatically delivered through ISTA and it then activates the navigation system.
• 10174024THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS VARIOUS CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS VARIOUS CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 7) replaces SI B61 21 15 dated October 2018. The instrument cluster displays various check control messages.
• 10174015TAILGATE UNINTENTIONALLY OPENS: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 4) replaces SI B51 30 16 dated March 2018. Trunk/tailgate may open when vehicle is locked Trunk/tailgate may open while the vehicle is in motion usually after stopping such as a traffic light etc. Vehicle key trunk/tailgate button may be accidentally pressed thus opening the tailgate.
• 10174009TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 3) replaces SI B34 05 17 dated September 2017. Ticking noise coming from front wheel while cornering without brakes applied noticeable at low speeds. The vehicle must be moving. See attached video V34 01 20 Note: For a similar noise heard when parking with the brakes applied refer to SIB 31 01 12. Microscopic movement of the contact interface between the inner brake disc and the wheel bearing flange on vehicles equipped with lightweight brake discs.
• 10172490Fault Code 1D2008 Stored in DME: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 5) replaces SI B12 33 14 dated February 2016. The Service Engine Soon light is on. There may also be a complaint of low heat output with lower outside temperatures. CAUSE During the engine warm-up the engine coolant does not reach operating temperature within the DME's allowable time limits. This is caused by either a faulty thermostat inside the transmission oil heat exchanger or a faulty engine characteristic map thermostat.
• 10169471SERVICE ACTION: OPTIMIZING THE WATER DRAIN. The water drain in the engine compartment's passenger side cowl near the firewall may be inadequate during exceptionally high water volumes. Water can accumulate and not drain out quickly enough. This can result in various Check Control messages and the failure of various systems such as: Park Distance Control (PDC) Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Windshield washer This may be caused by one or more parts: Lack of a cowl drainage shaft cover Lid on the ventilation microfilter housing lacks water drainage channels (only on vehicles prior to July 2013 production).
• 10166384RATTLE NOISE FROM SUNROOF AREA: There is a rattle noise present from the area of the sunroof most commonly when driving over rough road surfaces.
• 10166232RATTLE/POPPING FROM TAILGATE AREA: There are two related but separate complaints (only one may be present at a time) during driving especially on uneven surfaces. Clicking noises or squeaking noises from the area of the tailgate. Or a popping sound coming from the area of the tailgate.

Every BMW X3 model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.