The rear hatch door opens unexpectedly. This has occurred about 6 times in the last 1-1/2 years. It last occurred on Aug. 3 and our dog -- who was sitting in the rear of the car -- fell out of the car as we were driving. This is the second time our dog has abruptly fallen or jumped out of the car due to the hatch unexpectedly opening while we were driving. The problem: 1) my wife and I both have keys to the car. The keys electronically lock & unlock the doors. 2) we parked the car on the street, and I locked the car successfully with my set of keys. 3) my wife left her keys in the car. The car remained locked. 4) after an hour, we arrived back at the car and I opened the back hatch with my keys in my pocket. 5) after the dog hopped into the back of the car, I pressed the "lock" button on the hatch. The hatch successfully closed. 6) I walked to the driver's side and unlocked the doors, got in, started the car and began driving away. 7) after moving about 20 feet and preparing to merge onto a major artery, people on the street started yelling that the back hatch of the BMW had opened and our dog had fallen out of the car. There was no beep or alarm indicating that the hatch had automatically opened. 8) the diagnosis: BMW explained that if a set of keys is left in the car, the BMW is programmed to not lock. 9) the danger: Instead of simply not locking, the rear hatch automatically opens. The locking/unlocking is inconsistent and there is no alarm to indicate that the hatch will open. This hatch is heavy, so if this behavior occurs in a parking lot, for example, it can easily injure a passerby. More importantly, anything in the back of the car -- dog, child, groceries -- can easily fall out. 10) takeaway: Doors and hatches should not open automatically. An alarm indicating that a second set of keys has been left in the car is a safer solution.

- Seattle, WA, USA

On February of 2013 while I was backing out of a parking lot, the rear windshield wiper started by itself and sprayed all the wash fluid until the tank drained and kept making a loud noise (audible from inside and outside of the car) even after I turned off the car engine. I took the car to a dealer and I was told the problem is due to faulty junction box. It took them two weeks to get a new junction box & replace it. After one year, on February 7 2014, the same problem occurred but this time it is the front windshield wiper that started by itself, drained the wash fluid tank and kept making a loud noise. Took the car to a dealer the same day & I'm still waiting for my car to be fixed. I was told BMW is aware of the problem with the junction box with X3 cars and yet they don't notify owners and replace the faulty junction box until after the problem occurs (it usually takes more than a week to get a replacement junction box). In my opinion this could be a safety issue; for instance if the wash fluid tank is drained while the car is being driven in a bad weather day ( such as heavy snow) which requires to frequently clean the windshield, it prevents the drivers ability to clean the windshield and could impair his/ her vision and could lead to an accident. BMW should recall all affected cars and replace the junction box before someone get injured.

- Schaumburg , IL, USA

Cpsc: I1410202A. 2012 BMW X3. Consumer stated the heated steering wheel heats up to 105 degrees which is unsafe and has to be turned off manually. The dealer informed the consumer, there was nothing wrong with heated steering wheel.

- West Chester, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the rear windshield wiper would not stop and it drained the electrical system. The dealer stated that there were parts sent out to correct this failure but that the manufacturer was still looking into correcting the problem. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage and current mileages were 740.

- Howell, MI, USA