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U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw X3 SAV problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

274 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

67,699 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 182 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 274 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting3211.7%
Engine operation228.0%
Steering behavior155.5%
Braking behavior124.4%
Electrical and battery issues114.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
97
Seats
46
Engine
37
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
31
Electrical System
28
Power Train
21
Steering
11
Unknown Or Other
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags97
Seats46
Engine37
Power Train:Automatic Transmission31
Electrical System28
Power Train21
Steering11
Unknown Or Other8

Air Bags: 97; Seats: 46; Engine: 37; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 31; Electrical System: 28; Power Train: 21; Steering: 11; Unknown Or Other: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
34
25,000 to 49,999
33
50,000 to 74,999
40
75,000 to 99,999
44
100,000 to 149,999
30
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00034
25,000 to 49,99933
50,000 to 74,99940
75,000 to 99,99944
100,000 to 149,99930
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 33; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 44; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 1

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 92 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2007
9
2008
18
2009
6
2010
9
2011
8
2012
18
2013
24
2014
30
2015
15
2016
84
2017
30
2018
19
2019
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20079
200818
20096
20109
20118
201218
201324
201430
201515
201684
201730
201819
20194

2007: 9; 2008: 18; 2009: 6; 2010: 9; 2011: 8; 2012: 18; 2013: 24; 2014: 30; 2015: 15; 2016: 84; 2017: 30; 2018: 19; 2019: 4

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10196373 · 2007-07-14 (July 14, 2007)

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND, MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. VEHICLE ALSO HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, CAUSING IT TO ROLL FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196373 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208127 · 2007-11-07 (November 7, 2007)

THIS IS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. 1)THERE IS A DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE THROUGH THE 1-2 UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. 2)THERE IS A LACK OF POWER OR HESITATION WHEN REAPPLYING THROTTLE, DURING EITHER A 4-3 OR 3-2 TIP-IN DOWNSHIFT. THIS MAY OCCUR AFTER SLOWING WITH A CLOSED THROTTLE. 3)HARSH DOWNSHIFTS WHEN SLOWING ON A ROADWAY WITH A RISING GRADIENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AS IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, OR CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION SINCE THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLS AT SOME POINTS UPON TAK…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208127 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208745 · 2007-11-12 (November 12, 2007)

TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE GEARS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. BETWEEN GEAR 1 AND GEAR 2. IT SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL AT THE START. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,030 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208745 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10249190 · 2008-11-18 (November 18, 2008)

ON 10/27/08 I PURCHASED AND DROVE A 2007 CPO BMW X3 3.0SI SAV FROM BMW ENCINITAS IN CALIFORNIA. FROM THE TIME I DROVE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT TO MY HOME THE X3 PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ON 11/06/08 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO BMW ENCIITAS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE TO ME. DURING DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME THE CAR STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ON 11/13/08 I TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AGAIN, AND ADJUSTED THE CAMBER TO FAVOR THE LEFT SIDE. …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10253940 · 2009-01-06 (January 6, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 (NA) BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AUTOMATICALLY SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, BUT THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESET THE SYSTEM BY TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND REMAINED LIT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO A CURVE AND CRASHED INT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10253940 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10470696 · 2012-08-15 (August 15, 2012)

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SINCE IT WAS A BIT CHILLY, TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER. WITHIN SECONDS I FELT A PAINFUL BURNING IN MY LEFT REAR "CHEEK" AND SMELLED SMOKE AND SOMETHING BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE SMOKE AND SMELL CLEARED. WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP AND ASSESS THE DAMAGE, THERE IS A BURNED SPOT ON MY LEATHER SEAT AND I HAVE A BURN ON MY BACKSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATES THAT I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE BECAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE HEATING ELEMENT/WIRING…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470696 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2007
2
2008
2
2009
2
2010
3
2011
1
2012
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20072
20082
20092
20103
20111
20120

2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 0

Year-by-year records

Bmw X3 SAV model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20071602Not available
20085620
20091620
2010233+1
2011131-2
201260-1