2008 Bmw X3 SAV: complaints, problems and recalls

MY BMW X3 2008 WAS 'BOUGHT BACK' BY BMW AFTER THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP IN DEC 2008 DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AT RANDOM TIMES. IT HAPPENED ONCE AFTER PULLING AWAY FROM AN EZPASS BOOTH - THE CAR JUST FROZE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS SO SERIOUS THAT BMW RECOGNIZED IT AS A PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIX IT DESPITE REPLACING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PARTS. THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS NOT A GENERAL PROBLEM IN X3'S SO I ALLOWED THEM TO REPLACE THE 200…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10306300 at NHTSA ↗

OWN A 2008 BMW X3 3.0 SI AWD. WE HAD AN ENGINE CRANKING ISSUE AND TOOK TO VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE TSB SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : SIB-12-17-07/NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10028464 PERFORMED. SINCE THIS WAS PERFORMED, THERE IS VERY POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE IN THE NORMAL TRANSMISSION MODE. THE TRANSMISSION WILL STALL TO ENGAGE WITH VERY ERRATIC AND HARD UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. THE CONCERN IS WITH THE DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, WHEN YOU GIVE IT THROTTLE, IT IS DELAYED TO RESPOND, PRESENTING A TRUE SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE HAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314764 at NHTSA ↗

THIS VEHICLE IS A BMW X3 3.0SI. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN FIRST GEAR, THERE IS A SEVERE HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION "THINKS" ABOUT WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN. THE VEHICLE HESITATES, STALLS SLIGHTLY, AND CREEPS ALONG SLOWLY BEFORE SECOND GEAR CATCHES. THE RPMS ARE ERRATIC WHEN ACCELERATING. VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE HESITATION IS THE MAIN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT OF AN INTERSECTION ACROSS TRAFFIC. IT CAN BECOME A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN YOU WANT TO ACCE…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347033 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN ALL FOUR TIRES INDICATED A MAJOR MALFUNCTION OF TIRE PRESSURE WARNING. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE 2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS, BECAUSE OF INTERIOR DETERIORATION FROM WITHIN THE TIRE WALLS. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE NITROGEN USED TO FILL THE TIRES, THAT ARE RUN FLATS, CAUSES THIS. THE COST TO REPLACE EACH TIRE WAS $274.01. MIND YOU THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS AND THE DEALER AND TIRE MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO RECTIFY THIS …

Owner-reported narrative. 47,011 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454669 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE LATCH UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK INTO PLACE AND MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. UPDATED 05/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 12, 2012. UPDAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455371 at NHTSA ↗

I LEFT MY CAR PARKED ON THE CORNER OF ELMHURST AVENUE AND ITHACA STREET IN ELMHURST, QUEENS NY. ANOTHER CAR BY THE LICENSE PLATE OF [XXX] A VOLKSWAGEN WAS PARKED LITERALLY ON MY CAR. THERE WAS A CLEAR IMPACT AND THE CAR WAS LEFT LITERALLY TOUCHING THE BACK OF MY CAR. I HAVE PLENTY OF PICTURES AS EVIDENCE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 80,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501878 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET, FELT AN UNUSUAL "BUMP", CONTINUED DRIVING HOME WITH NO APPARENT PROBLEM. STARTED CAR NEXT MORNING AND FELT AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION AND NOISE WHICH DISAPPEARED WHEN DRIVING. VIBRATION AT IDLE CONTINUED, TWO DAYS LATER, AFTER DRIVING ON FREEWAY, I FOUND A BROKEN BOLT UNDER THE CAR IN GARAGE, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK CAR TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WAS TOLD THAT SEVERAL MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS HAD SHEARED AND WAS LUCKY NO SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. QUICK INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED SHEARED MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS …

Owner-reported narrative. 58,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508062 at NHTSA ↗

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AND SHUT OFF. THE CAR WAS ALSO HESITATING ON ACCELERATION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS A NEEDED THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, ONCE UNDER THE CAR, THE TECHNICIAN NOTED 3 OF 4 ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS WERE "BROKEN" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAID IT WAS CONSIDERED "WEAR AND TEAR" AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE BOLT WAS NOW HOLDING THE ENGINE FROM FALLING OUT. THIS REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $400. UPON INVESTIGAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534197 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2022-03-02 (March 2, 2022)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.