10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,750 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 2009 BMW X3:

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

problem #4

Nov 182018

X3 6-cyl

  • 99,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAGIC, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, WENT TO PULL OUT OF TRAGIC AND FELT MY [XXX] ON FIRE, THE HEAT SEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND MELTED SEAT COVER TO MY PANTS CAUSING MUCH DISCOMFORT AND RUINED JEANS. REPORTED IT TO BMW AND THEY OFFERED TO DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICITY TO THE SEAT. NOT SATISFIED, NOT IMPRESSED. VERY DANGEROUS. VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY WHEN INCIDENT HAPPENED. WAS LUCKY TO GET OUT OF TRAGIC TO EXIT. WHILE DRIVING PUT MY HAND TO FEEL PROBLEM AND BURNED FINGER TIP. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Milford, MA, USA

problem #3

May 182018

X3

  • miles
Received a safety recall notice in October 2017 and BMW has yet to have a remedy/solve for the issue. We are over 6 months since the recall and this is far past a reasonable amount of time to address a safety issue.

- San Bruno, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 072015

X3

  • miles
NHTSA investigations PE07045 and EA08001 determined micro-cracks could develop in the side flanks of the front occupancy sensor mat causing a broken circuit and deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air bag light. When both of the lights are illuminated, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy in a frontal crash. NHTSA recall campaign number 08V384000 was issued however only covers model years 2004-2006 of the BMW X3 sav. Request NHTSA conduct further investigations to expand the existing recall to cover all 2004-2009 model years of the first generation BMW X3 sav which many owners online can concur exhibit the same symptoms of this serious manufacturing defect that poses a severe safety risk.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #1

Jan 252016

X3

  • miles
There is an active recall campaign 08V-384 for defective front passenger airbags that will not deploy and protect the passenger occupant in the event of a severe accident. The active recall campaign which is extended for 10 years only covers model years 2004-2006 of the BMW X3 despite the first generation of the vehicle being produced from 2003 - 2010 and vehicles from all other years exhibiting the same symptoms. For instance my own vehicle is model year 2009 and exhibits all symptoms of the air bag issue as described in the recall campaign notice however I have no matter of recourse and have been unable to petition the dealership or BMW North America llc to remedy the issue as they have refused citing the recall campaign makes them liable only for those specific model years which is ridiculous since this is a serious safety issue and is not receiving as much attention due to the massive takata recall. I would like to petition the NHTSA to have BMW expand the airbag recall campaign to cover additional model years of the same production generation of the X3.

- Olney, MD, USA