3.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,406 miles

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problem #5

Mar 022016

X3

  • 108,000 miles
I bought a BMW X3 in 2005 and noticed that when the motor is off the horn does not sound. My husband bought a BMW 3 series in 2007, and my daughter/son in law bought an X1 two months ago. And I have asked friends who own BMW's and they say the same thing - when the motor is off, the horn does not sound. This is not necessarily a safety issue but it certainly can be. My brother drives a Ford SUV in the Chicago area. Last month his car slipped off a very icy road and was covered by snow almost immediately! he was really stuck and told me that if he could not sound the horn when a police officer was passing, he would have really been in trouble (cell phone was at home - of course). And then there is my not too big problem -- waiting in the car for hubby to come out and can not sound the horn. Last week I was parked in a line waiting for a train to come when the truck in front of me began to back up. My motor was off (been waiting awhile) and I had to figure out where I had put the keys, get the motor engaged and then beep at the truck -- just inches from him hitting me!

- Alamo, CA, USA

problem #4

Jan 052016

X3

  • miles
Bought used with 105,378 miles. Husband drove 55 miles a week for 16 weeks. Parked in lot for 5 months (20 weeks). I drove it to the dealership it had 107 K on it. In an 8 hour period it gained over 2500 miles on an 8th of tank of gas. When I got it back it had 110K on it. Dealership blamed the key. Different mechanic checked nothing wrong with odometer or computer. That was January of 2015. He drove it from January to April, then parked it for the rest of the year. Got in it in December, drove 11miles round trip and odometer jumped to 115,187 from an estimate of 111K (when it was parked.) dealership can't explain, mechanics can't explain and bmwusa can't explain how this vehicle has gained over 6K on the odometer while it has been parked.

- Peoria Heights, IL, USA

problem #3

Oct 282015

X3

  • 30 miles
Air bags started blinking last week and now it just stays on. BMW website states my car is not cover in recent takata air bags recall. Also, yesterday when I was driving in rain car's windshield wipers started getting jerky, sticky and not working properly creating a dangerous driving. The cabin lights also started to go on & off during my drive home... when I reach home the radio stayed on when the car ignition was off and only turned off when I turn-off the radio. Check fuse and air bag wiring but so signs of loose wires and bad fuse. Cause of problems unknown. Problems remains unchanged today.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #2

Aug 012007

X3

  • 35,000 miles
Airbag warning light illuminated and will not turn off. BMW diagnosed problem as failure of passenger seat mat sensor. Now passenger airbag status lamp will not turn off.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #1

Mar 302010

X3

  • 39,000 miles
I was in a unsafe area so I locked the doors an closed all the windows with my keys inside with me to wait for my husband to return. When he returned a few mintues later I could not open the car to let him in. I was locked inside my car with keys in hand. Power windows would not open, sunroof would not open, door locks would not open. The car would not manually open even when tried on all doors many times using the "2 pull" method. I could drive the car and drove to the dealer where I bought it at. They could not figure out how to unlock the car and they had me crawl to the back hatch to try to use a release but there was none. I had been in the car a few hours aat this point and began to feel panicked. At that point they had to break a window to get me out. The car is still at dealer and I was told they are looking into why and no response is yet as to why the manual unlock would not work when all the electric stopped working. I had paid for a extra warrenty on the car and it is currently covered.

- Irvine, CA, USA