2008 Bmw X3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
66 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
119,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 66 complaints (48.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 7.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 32 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 15 |
| Seats | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Air Bags: 32; Engine: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Seats: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 39 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 19; 2018: 15; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 12; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10992876 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
SHEARED ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS ON VEHICLE WITH NO ACCIDENTS, NO OFF ROAD USE AND ONLY 60K MILES. BMW DID HAVE A SERVICE NOTICE ON THIS, BUT WE ARE TOLD IT HAS EXPIRED. IT APPEARS TO BE MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IN WHICH CASE BMW SHOULD FIX, BUT THEY SAY TOO LATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10994565 · 2017-06-12 (June 12, 2017)
I AM A 2008, BMW X3 DRIVER. I HAD MY AIR BAG FIXED (I THINK) YET, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. THIS DRAMA IS OVER A YEAR OLD. I HAVE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS, VOICEMAILS AND EMAILS TO SUPPORT MY EFFORTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10994565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001493 · 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11001493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001639 · 2017-06-27 (June 27, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL. BMW HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL. IT HAS NOW BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED AND EVERY TIME I CALL BMW TO ASK FOR DETAILS THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IF BMW CANT PROVIDE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS FAST ENOUGH TO FIX THEIR CARS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE, THEN THEY NEED TO PROVIDE LOANER CARS OR A BUY-BACK PROGRAM. HAVING TO WAIT 18 MONTHS WITHOUT EVEN GETTING AN UPDATE AS TO WHEN MY CAR WILL EVEN BE FIXED IS RIDICULOUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11001639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002847 · 2017-07-03 (July 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA (LOCATED AT 4171 JONESBORO ROAD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, TEL: [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED FOR PART AVAILABILITY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO PART TO REMEDY THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11002847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002887 · 2017-07-03 (July 3, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BEVERLY HILLS BMW (5070 WISHIRE BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90036, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11002887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003177 · 2017-07-05 (July 5, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). 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 DEALER WAS CONTACTED (AUTOPLEX BMW IN AMARILLO, TEXAS) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003315 · 2017-07-06 (July 6, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG INFLATOR; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (BMW SEATTLE, LOCATED AT 1002 AIRPORT WAY S, SEATTLE, WA, 98134) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE CONTACT FAXED OVER THE FINAL REMEDY LETTER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003315 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V605000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2017-09-28 (September 28, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
Reported: 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V017000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗