10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,186 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #6

Apr 012022

X3

  • miles
When driving for more than 10 minutes I am noticing smoke coming from the near the engine compartment and strong smell of burning plastic. It smells and appears as if something will catch on fire if I don-??t shut off the vehicle. A similar issue was previously reported for older models, which had led to a recall. In that recall the problem stemmed from a manufacturing defect involving the PCV valve heater, which helps recirculate waste gases within the engine. The heater could short-circuit, overheat, and catch fire. This defect is now effecting my own vehicle, which is a 2015 BMW X3.

- Hoboken, NJ, USA

problem #5

Jun 012018

X3

  • 36,000 miles
I am writing this letter to complaint the ridiculous experience with BMW. I bought my BMW X3 2015 brand new from P & w BMW dealer on Dec 16, 2014. I do not have any problem until six months ago. My comfort access feature is broken. On 06/18/2018 I went to sewickley BMW to complaint about my comfort access not working properly, they did not do anything. Then again on 08/30/2018 I went to sewickley BMW again, this time they claim that it might be the key fob battery. So, I purchased battery from amazon and replaced them. They are still not working. On Nov 26 2018, I went to P & w BMW, they only gave some suggestions and no any repair attempt. On Dec 4 2018 I brought my car to P & w BMW again and still nothing. They are still not be able to fix it. I complaint to BMW customer relations many times. They claim that dealer is only place can do anything for me. I complaint to P & w BMW service director tony dave, they claim they can't do anything if BMW is not authorized. Basically, nobody wants to do anything to fix the problem. I tried to talk to technician to help them troubleshooting, nobody wants to talk to me. I am so amazed that they are hoping not doing anything will fix my problem or just blame user will work. I have attached my service invoice and video for your review.

- Sewickley, PA, USA

problem #4

Oct 212018

X3

  • 76,000 miles
BMW diesel recall - while driving on highway my vehicle caught fire and burned. The car is a total loss. There was no warning lights when the car was started to indicate anything was wrong. The car lost power at 72 mph and my husband was able to get the car to the shoulder of the highway.

- Twin Lake, MI, USA

problem #3

Mar 042018

X3

  • 90,000 miles
On March 4, 2018, while at a red light at an intersection in boca raton, fl, all of sudden, no warning, my BMW X3 started to smell of smoke, then smoke started to come out of the hood. I had to barely make it to the side of the road, leave it at an entrance of a plaza, which then began to smoke overwhelmingly. Once I made it out of the car, the flames came out of the hood and the car became fully engulfed within seconds.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #2

Feb 212015

X3

  • 112 miles
There were a total of 4 incidences. 2/21/15 took BMW X3 xdrive28I to dealer with 112 miles on car, after car engine revved higher as I was coming down a hill to a complete stop. I had to practically stand on the brake for car to stop. Acceleration lasted about 4 seconds after stopping. Had to keep my foot on brake during that time. It happened a second time on the way to dealer; going up a slight hill, while coming to a complete stop. Prior to the above date, on 2/16/15, car also accelerated by itself while driving about 55 mph on the highway. I had to step on break to slow down. Later that day the car accelerated by itself while rolling in a parking lot. I had to break hard to stop it. On 2/21/15 the dealer requested BMW na to send their engineers to check out the car. 2/24/15 BMW na advised me that "the car only does what you tell it to do with one of the controls.the engineers will be going to the dealership to check if anything is wrong with" my 2015 X3 xdrive. I advised them "they were looking for the wrong thing since there is something wrong with a car that accelerates when you are stepping on the break." They "should be looking for what is wrong with my X3." 3/4/15 BMW na advised that engineers had looked at the car at the dealership and it will take 7 to 10 business days for their decision. 3/10/15 BMW na advise me that the engineers checked out my X3 and the car is "performing as designed". I asked "is the X3 designed to accelerate when you are trying to stop the car"" the dealer also says there is nothing wrong with the car. When I told dealer "if it starts acting up again I will bring it right back" dealer said "that's up to BMW". since my BMW X3 sometimes accelerates when you are trying to stop and while at road speed, something is wrong with the car. Everything has to go through the computer. Might it be the computer program design"

- Huntington, NY, USA

problem #1

Nov 212014

X3

  • 9,003 miles
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3 diesel. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician was unable to duplicate and diagnose the cause of failure. Also, the contact mentioned that while driving 55 mph on an interstate, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed again to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,003.

- Waldorf, MD, USA