2011 BMW X3 Sav
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › BMW › X3 Sav › 2011
These records cover every 2011 BMW X3 Sav. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 2011 BMW X3 Sav. Newest first.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i…
Risk and remedy
Risk
If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
Owner complaints
13 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Steering
Steering IS "sticky" when trying to move from the center position in my 2011 BMW X3 35I-- during highway driving when the steering wheel IS used to keep the vehicle in the current lane of travel, higher than normal resistance to turning IS felt. Once the initial resistance IS overcome, the…
Steering IS "sticky" when trying to move from the center position in my 2011 BMW X3 35I-- during highway driving when the steering wheel IS used to keep the vehicle in the current lane of travel, higher than normal resistance to turning IS felt. Once the initial resistance IS overcome, the resistance lessens, resulting in a tendency to turn the wheel further than was intended. This makes it difficult to keep the car centered in my lane and results in the car jerking from side to side which makes it dangerous and stressful. Tires and alignment are all very good and wearing correctly.
- Air bags · Engine
Nothing happened (yet) but BMW service tells me there's no recalls that need to be taken care of on my vehicle
- Engine · Power train
The coolant system IS giving me many problems. The coolant expansion tank developed cracks in the seam and leaking. The thermostat was stuck, causing zero heat into the cabin on a cold day. The vehicle stalled on its own while driving in the highway. It would not re start the ignition kept trying…
The coolant system IS giving me many problems. The coolant expansion tank developed cracks in the seam and leaking. The thermostat was stuck, causing zero heat into the cabin on a cold day. The vehicle stalled on its own while driving in the highway. It would not re start the ignition kept trying, and after 20 minutes stalled it finally started, limp driving to my house from there. . The display reads drive moderately /drivetrain malfunction.
- Steering
Sudden loss of power steering
- Air bags · Electrical system · Exterior lighting
Only have my car for only a year. Taillight from passenger side: the running light defects when I hit the brake the brake light comes on. I was told I need to replace the whole assembly light and this IS well known for this car. yesterday, while I was driving. My driver restraint light came on…
Only have my car for only a year. Taillight from passenger side: the running light defects when I hit the brake the brake light comes on. I was told I need to replace the whole assembly light and this IS well known for this car. yesterday, while I was driving. My driver restraint light came on and my a/c or temperature control stopped working, and control display stopped working. I am not able to move the driver seat. just brought in to the dealer for the pcv valve heater recall service. Was told this may solve the issues and may not. If not, there should be a recall for the taillight, airbag and the control display issues.
- Air bags
Takata recall: the dealer had failed to obtain the part or parts necessary to fix the airbags problem for more than six months already since they claimed had ordered the parts. I called back, made appointment, confirmed appointment and when I went back to dealer, they said they did not have the…
Takata recall: the dealer had failed to obtain the part or parts necessary to fix the airbags problem for more than six months already since they claimed had ordered the parts. I called back, made appointment, confirmed appointment and when I went back to dealer, they said they did not have the part. they said they were ordering it and will call me back. weeks had passed and I have not heard from the dealer about this issue. I would not want to wait until an accident happens and then it would be too late.
- Structure › Body
In the summer of 2014, the panoramic moon roof exploded for no reason. while driving to work, with the moon roof shade closed,there was a very loud "bang". after safely pulling to the side of the road, an inspection revealed no evident damage to the vehicle. after pulling into the lot at…
In the summer of 2014, the panoramic moon roof exploded for no reason. while driving to work, with the moon roof shade closed,there was a very loud "bang". after safely pulling to the side of the road, an inspection revealed no evident damage to the vehicle. after pulling into the lot at work, a "raining' sound was coming from the roof. as soon as the shade was opened, shattered glass fell into the cab of the car. an internet search revealed that this was not an isolated case. it was driven to the dealer and the repair was done at no cost after some intense conversation with management. the most recent issue of consumer reports had extensive coverage of unexplained moon roof explosions. during the coverage, it was advised that incidents should be reported to you so follow ups could be done as needed. we have no issues with the repair, just that had we not been informed and insistent, we would have had to pay the repair bill because the car was out of warranty. We are not sure of the exact date.
- Unknown or other
As temperature gauge rises above first hash mark a warning comes on the screen car running hot drive slow and get serviced. Once temp reaches before the mid-point which IS 250 so at about 230 to 240 degrees the car looses all power. Putting the pedal to the floor it down shifts engine races and car…
As temperature gauge rises above first hash mark a warning comes on the screen car running hot drive slow and get serviced. Once temp reaches before the mid-point which IS 250 so at about 230 to 240 degrees the car looses all power. Putting the pedal to the floor it down shifts engine races and car goes no where slows down to 10 mph this IS really dangerous when there IS nowhere to pull over in traffic. Car should not be programmed to cut power in this condition had my wife all freaked out.
- Seats · Unknown or other
Vehicles have been equipped with lower anchor bars for use in attaching child restraint systems which, if specifically used with european-isofix-type rigid-style connector child restraint systems, could become damaged during vehicle operation. if the lower anchor bar(s) become damaged during…
Vehicles have been equipped with lower anchor bars for use in attaching child restraint systems which, if specifically used with european-isofix-type rigid-style connector child restraint systems, could become damaged during vehicle operation. if the lower anchor bar(s) become damaged during vehicle operation, this would increase the risk of injury to a child in a child restraint system attached to the lower anchor bars in a crash. a reinforcing bracket will be welded to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body.
- Engine
Bmw's use electric water pumps compared to mostly belt driven pumps used by other manufactures. In the BMW community it IS widely know that the pumps will fail after 60,000 miles, and some even sooner. BMW knows about this issue and has in fact changed the design and the vendor supplier for this…
Bmw's use electric water pumps compared to mostly belt driven pumps used by other manufactures. In the BMW community it IS widely know that the pumps will fail after 60,000 miles, and some even sooner. BMW knows about this issue and has in fact changed the design and the vendor supplier for this part. the company should voluntarily recall all vehicles that have the faulty pump design and reimburse those who have had to change it out of warranty on their own expense. BMW has not taken any responsibility but its a safety issue as one can loose all engine power that puts the car in a limp mode, imagine if that happens on a freeway where other cars might hit you for going at 25 mph in a 65-70 mph zone in california. that IS what happened to me on a freeway and it was scary and I was lucky enough to get to the side of the road as traffic was very light that day being christmas. blog after blog on BMW describes this issue and IS a known defect in their water pumps amongst all BMW enthusiasts.
- Power train
I feel this vehicle IS unsafe due to the configuration of the gearshift which IS electronic. I have been driving for 50 years and every car or truck I have owned or driven the shift lever when pushed forward on the center console or up on the column goes into park. In this BMW when you push the…
I feel this vehicle IS unsafe due to the configuration of the gearshift which IS electronic. I have been driving for 50 years and every car or truck I have owned or driven the shift lever when pushed forward on the center console or up on the column goes into park. In this BMW when you push the shift level all the way forward the vehicle IS in reverse not park, a separate button must be pushed to electronically put the vehicle in park.i believe this IS a safety hazard to both the driver (who can think the vehicle IS in park as I have on several occasions when dropping someone off or in a drive through) and then either the driver or passenger steps out and the vehicle IS in reverse not park and could be seriously injured or killed.it IS also a hazard to a person or vehicle behind the vehicle that the driver thought was in park. This setup IS not intuitive at all and goes against all logic. This vehicle has been owned for a short time and I cannot get used to this setup as I have other vehicles (including a 2004 BMW X3) that have the conventional shift pattern. This shift pattern and shifter IS very frustrating and I feel unsafe.
- Engine
Vehicle IS parked on driveway the engine started . Drivetrain malfunction shows with check engine light on. Engine starts but can not put it drive or reverse
- Steering
TL* the contact owns a 2011 BMW X3. The contact stated that while traveling 25 mph, the steering control malfunction light illuminated and the power steering assist failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were performed. The contact mentioned that the failure was experienced multiple times. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
- 10215024The engine?s intake charge-air duct limited warranty extension to 10 years/120,000 miles applies to ?eligible USspecification
Every BMW X3 Sav model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.