9.3

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,500 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 2018 BMW X3:

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

problem #4

Oct 042023

X3

  • miles
My 2018 BMW X3 xdrive30i G01 series has been experiencing persistent overheating issues, even in cold temperatures as low as 40 degrees. The coolant reservoir boils vigorously while driving, but the temperature gauge does not indicate overheating, and no warning lights appear. The only alert displayed is a low coolant warning instructing to refill coolant or to top off. Recently, I noticed coolant and other fluids leaking from underneath the vehicle, along with a strong burning smell coming from the engine. Adding BMW brand antifreeze/coolant did not resolve the issue. Despite these ongoing issues, the authorized BMW dealership has refused to inspect the cooling system further because no fault codes appear. Independent repair shops have also been unable to diagnose the root cause. This presents a serious safety risk. The vehicle is overheating without warning, which could result in sudden engine failure while driving. The boiling coolant, burning smell, and fluid leaks also raise concerns about a potential fire hazard. This vehicle is now undrivable and unsafe. I urge NHTSA to immediately investigate potential cooling system and sensor defects in this model.

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 082024

X3

  • miles
The oil filter housing, which is made of plastic, cracked while the vehicle was running on the highway, leading to sudden loss of the all the coolant and engine overheating.

- Metairie, LA, USA

problem #2

Jul 172022

X3

  • miles
* Components: Per dealership, Heat exchanger (metal) and oil filter housing (plastic), oil filter housing supports the heat exchanger, vehicle inspected by dealership and available for further inspection. *Vehicle unexpectedly overheated while driving on interstate risking the safety of driver/passengers and others. Dealer's (manufacturer) technician stated that the heat from the metal exchanger warped the plastic oil filter housing causing coolant to leak from heat exchanger, thus not allowing coolant to circulate to engine (leaking out) and causing vehicle to overheat. Metal warping (or potentially melting) plastic seems hazardous *Dealer's technician (manufacturer) inspected and identified the problem and quoted a cost of $3,140.80 to repair (this is seemingly a manufacturer's design flaw). Vehicle's warning system displayed an alert that coolant level was low while driving on interstate and recommended adding coolant soon. Driver pulled over within 5 min of warning light and added coolant. Within 5 min of driving away, Vehicle's onboard warning system displayed warning that vehicle coolant was low and engine temperature was elevated but it was safe to drive a low speed and consult nearest dealership, 2 min afterwards, vehicle alerted driver that engine overheated and to stop vehicle and contact nearest dealership. Vehicle towed to nearest dealership.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #1

Jan 012019

X3

  • 6,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 80 mph, the coolant level low, drive at a moderate speed warning message had appeared on her instrument panel. The contact's husband continued to drive at a moderate speed as advised, soon after, the pull over, stop the car warning message also illuminated on the instrument panel and her husband proceeded as advised. Due to the failure, the contact's husband had the vehicle towed to the automaster BMW (3328 shelburne rd #3, shelburne, vt 05482). The dealer informed the contact that they discovered a coolant leak and that a part needed to be ordered to repair the vehicle. Prior to the failure, the contact stated that the same coolant level warning message had appeared on the instrument panel. The contact had twice taken the vehicle to South shore BMW(1040 hingham St, rockland, MA 02370) where they never discovered a coolant leak and would top off her coolant levels each time she visited the dealer for the same matter. The dealer was then notified again of the latest failure and the contact was informed that the failure was due to normal vehicle operation, they offered no further assistance with the failure. The vehicle remained in the possession of the automaster BMW(3328 shelburne rd #3, shelburne, vt 05482) and had yet to be repaired. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

- Hingham, MA, USA