5.2

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,375 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 BMW X3:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

Oct 172016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Uniondale, NY, USA

problem #18

Oct 102016

X3

  • miles
As of today, Oct 10th 2016, the recall repairs has not been done.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #17

Oct 052016

X3

  • miles
I received a notice the start of the year, called BMW and was told that I had an option to have a replacement vehicle which I declined as I was informed parts would be in soon. I called back in the summer and was told parts are slowly being shipped and that because I lived in a cold part of the usa those parts with water climates would have the repairs completed first and that I'm to call back in the fall. I called today Oct 5th,2016 to be told that my vehicle could not currently be repaired and BMW are waiting on a governmental solution and in the meantime I must driver a loan vehicle until the final decision or solution is found. My complaint is that I was never called about the issue since receiving the notice in January 2016 and if I'd not called today I'd have never known.

- Uniondale, NY, USA

problem #16

Oct 052016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall...received recall notice months ago. BMW has no idea when the part will be available to fix

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #15

Feb 052016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Kihei, HI, USA

problem #14

Feb 012016

X3

  • 72,000 miles
Takata recall: After being notified that my X3 was under recall earlier this year, I still have not received any updates to the recall or alternative options to make my car safe again. I have reached out to niello BMW here in sacramento and they are unwilling to put me in a rental or otherwise accommodate my safety needs. I need BMW to aggressively provide a solution so I can drive my family around without risking our lives by an airbag explosion. I am making a car payment and insurance payment for a car that has been dangerous to drive for 6 months. It cannot keep sitting in my garage. I need answers. Thanks.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #13

Mar 142016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the part do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was unavailable. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Vienna, VA, USA

problem #12

Feb 052016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Gloucester, MA, USA

problem #11

Mar 012016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the parts for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Columbus, NC, USA

problem #10

Jun 182016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the remedy was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #9

Mar 072016

X3 6-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags). The part was not available within a reasonable time frame to receive the repair. The dealer and the manufacturer were unable to provide a specific date and only indicated a general time frame, indicating that the parts may be available mid fall of 2016. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available....updated 06/30/16

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #8

Apr 132016

X3 6-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags),but the remedy for the recall was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 04/05/17 updated 10/11/2017

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #7

Apr 012016

X3 6-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall -- BMW sent me a letter for the recall, but says they have no parts and by summer may have limited parts. They quoted NHTSA when I called saying they are probably safe. What is the point if there are no parts?

- Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #6

Feb 052016

X3

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3 sav. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V071000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #5

Jan 162016

X3

  • 116,800 miles
Vehicle was stationary. I was changing a fuse and was leaning over from the driver seat on to the passenger seat. After changing the fuse, I started the car and the airbag light illuminated. Upon driving the car later with my wife, I noticed that the passenger airbag off light was illuminated as well. I then had the code diagnosed and it indicated a malfunctioning passenger seat sensor. I have sport comfort seats in my car.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 152014

X3

  • 90,000 miles
I bought my car at 88,000 miles and shortly after (5 days) my airbag light came on. I took it back to the dealer and they figured out what was wrong with it, then replaced the driver side curtain airbag. About a month later my light came on again and has been on since. Since the second time the light has come on I took it to a different dealer (because I moved) and they said it is something to do with the passenger airbags but they would have to plug it up to a computer to figure out exactly what it is.

- Windsor, VT, USA

problem #3

Jan 212009

X3

  • 7,285 miles
The seat occupancy detection mat failed at 7,285 and was replaced, then was failing again at 31,592 and BMW did not repair/replace when serviced but did confirm the problem. Know the seat occupancy mat is in total failure at 59,000. BMW will not address the problem. This problem is part of a recall for most vehicle of this age but for some reason not the X3.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #2

Jun 152010

X3

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 BMW X3. The contact stated that the front passenger's seat belt warning chime activated independently without the seat being occupied. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician stated that the seat sensor mat in the front passenger's seat would need to be replaced. The failure recurred after the repair. Additionally, the engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician stated that the dmtl pump would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.

- Oil City, PA, USA

problem #1

Aug 022011

X3 6-cyl

  • 12,000 miles
Passenger seat alarm would go off constantly without anyone or anything in the seat. BMW replaced sensor under warranty. Problem appeared to be fixed until the following summer 2012 when alarm on seat would go off again on a regular basis. BMW refused to replace until complaint filed and I stated it was a driving hazard due to attempting to fumble with belt while driving to stop alarm by securing belt. BMW offered to replace alarm sensor I had to pay $300 for labor. This was late Sept 2012. Shortly after due to cold weather alarm did not go off any longer.I did not have alarm sensor replaced because it was now working properly until April of 2014 when alarm again began to sound and continued throughout this past summer. According to internet and forums on the internet this is a problem that has existed on X3S from the first year the car was sold. BMW apparently avoids doing anything to prevent this from occurring even in the newer models.this is an annoying and dangerous situation which should be addressed.in my complaint they stated I didn't accept their offer even though the alarm was no longer going off and that my warranty was over. Someone needs to make them accountable and their cars safer..

- Oil City, PA, USA