2011 Bmw X3: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE IS HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, CAUSING A LAG IN ACCELERATION, PARTICULARLY ON HILLS OR WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398930 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 680. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE ONE TIRE AND TWO WHEELS. UPDATED 06/10/11 THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FOUND A BELT HAD SHIFTED AND PE…

Owner-reported narrative. 680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402509 at NHTSA ↗

2011 BMW X3. CONSUMER STATES MULTIPLE DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM FLASHED A WARNING SIGNAL WITH A HALF ENGINE ICON STATING: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVE TRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE. HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY YOUR SERVICE CENTER. THE DEALER HAD ISOLATED THE PROBLEM AND STATED A VACUUM TUBE SUPPLYING AIR TO THE ENGINE WAS CRIMPED. HOWEVER, THE NEXT WEEKEND, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR THOUGH LE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10409758 at NHTSA ↗

CAR VEERING TO THE RIGHT, INCREASED ON SUDDEN STOPS; HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE PROMINENT AND DANGEROUS CONDITION IS LAG IN ACCELERATION. SENT THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL TO DEALER& BMW ALONG WITH 3 SERVICE REPORTS FROM DEALER ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS: "THIS X3 3.5I WITH ALL IT IS ELECTRONIC ENGINE/DRIVE TRAIN CONTROLS IS A NIGHTMARE. IT?S A HUGE DESIGN FLAW THAT IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE EVENTUALLY. YET AGAIN, YESTERDAY, I FELT UNSAFE DUE TO THE HESITATION. THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE FOR ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN AN INTERSE…

Owner-reported narrative. 193 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416091 at NHTSA ↗

WE LEASED THE ABOVE BMW X3DRIVE 35I (SHIPPED ON 3.30.2011) FROM HUSKER AUTO GROUP, BMW OF LINCOLN, NE ON MARCH 30, 2011 FOR A 3-YEAR PERIOD. IN MID APRIL I NOTICED A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR HAD 567 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO BMW OF LINCOLN FOR REPAIRS ON APRIL 26, 2011. WE WERE TOLD THE MAIN CRANKCASE SEAL WAS CAUSING HIGH PRESSURES AND WAS THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY REPLACING THE VALVE COVERS WOULD RESULT IN IT BEING FIXED. WITHIN A WEEK, I NOTED THE EXACT SAME N…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424569 at NHTSA ↗

CAR REPORTS STEERING MALFUNCTION AND ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING ASSIST IS NOT PROVIDED. APPEARS SIMILAR TO ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEM COVERED BY RECALL 11V341000, HOWEVER BMWNA CONFIRMS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT IMPACTED BY RECALL 11V341000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427483 at NHTSA ↗

I PULLED MY CAR INTO MY FLAT GARAGE, PLACED IT IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. 1 HOUR LATER IT HAD ROLLED OUT INTO THE YARD. IT WAS OFF AND IN PARK. IT WAS TOWED AND EVALUATED BY A BMW "EXPERT" WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID THE CAR COULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT IN NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT ON AND THEN GONE OFF. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE TO HOLD THE PARK POSITION AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE!!! MY INSURANCE COVERED THE $3200 DAMAGE AND CAR RENTAL. IN THIS REGARD I MADE PROBABLY 2…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435410 at NHTSA ↗

POWER STEERING FAILED. VEHICLE REPORTED THAT STEERING MAY BE IMPACTED. A CURRENT CAMPAIGN EXISTS THOUGH THIS VIN WAS NOT REPORTED UNDER EXISTING CAMPAIGN # 11V341000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,035 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436440 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-06-29 (June 29, 2011)

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 27, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2011. A CONTROL MODULE IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) UNIT MAY MALFUNCTION, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE.

Consequence: SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Consequence: Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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.

Reported: 2023-10-20 (October 20, 2023)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.

Consequence: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.