2010 Bmw X3 SAV: complaints, problems and recalls

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING POWER WHILE DRIVING, UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TURN IN MAJOR INTERSECTION. HEAVY ROAD TRAFFIC HERE IN FT LAUDERDALE, ALMOST CRASHED WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD ON WAY TO SCHOOL. THIS IS 3RD ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM, CAR WAS RETURNED BUT NOT PROPERLY FIXED, TOOK BACK TO DEALER NEXT DAY WITH SAME ISSUE & ITS STILL THERE AFTER 14 DAYS, CONCERNED & FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AND SECURITY WHILE DRIVING THIS BMW DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WHILE TURNING & DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC! *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 28,888 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482523 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE HEARD A CLINKING SOUND, IT WAS THE SUN ROOF GLASS THAT SHATTERED. MY WIFE STOPPED AT A HARDWARE STORE TAPED THE GLASS, AND COVERED IT WITH PLASTIC. THE GLASS COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF AND DAMAGES CARS( INCLUDING OURS) AND INJURED PEOPLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500707 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE MUFFLER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532937 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSES THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537497 at NHTSA ↗

RECEIVED NOTICE IN JUNE 2014 REGARDING RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 14V-176: VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS. AFTER AN INITIAL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER. A TELEPHONE CALL TO/FROM THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I BE PATIENT AND WAIT TO BE CONTACTED WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER, BMW OF SARASOTA IS A SUPERIOR DEALERSHIP - I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH THEM, ONLY COMPLIMENTS. HOWEVER, AN E-MAIL SENT TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AT THE ADDRESS CONTAINED IN THE RECALL NOTICE, WAS NOT RESPONDED TO. I W…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618907 at NHTSA ↗

MANY DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO BMW OF ROCKVILLE MD. THEY DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF "FAULTY STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND COIL SPRING." THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING WE DID THAT CAUSED IT-- IT WAS A FAULTY PART. AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES, TO HAVE A CRITICAL PART FAIL, SEEMS SERIOUS TO ME. THEY CHARGED US $2080.76 TO FIX, BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE WARRANTY DUE TO AGE OF CAR. TO MY MIND IF A PART FAULT OR FAILURE OCCURS, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL ISSUE, NOT A WARRANTY I…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763124 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10782371 at NHTSA ↗

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10893940 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Consequence: If the bolts loosen or break the engine may have reduced power or stall. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

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.