What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2004 BMW X3

Typical pattern

6.7% of complaints about the 2004 BMW X3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is seats (33 complaints), typically at 8.3 yr or about 78,000 miles.

Complaints
179
Median age at failure
7.2 yr
Median mileage
72,440 n=131
Crash / fire / tow
25.1% of reports
Safety recalls
1

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Seats
33 reports · 78,000 mi
8.3 yr
54.5%
Air bags
33 reports · 65,000 mi
6.8 yr
18.2%
Electrical system
20 reports · 74,568 mi
8.3 yr
25%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

08V384000 2008-08-05
Air bags:frontal

BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.

IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 120 mi 11 mo in service
MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY OF PURCHASE. FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS/AIR CONDITIONING SHUT DOWN AND SLOWING/DASHBOARD MALFUNCTIONED, CUMULATING IN FAILURE OF IGNITION. 3 DAYS LATER, BATTERY INDICATED A GREEN SENSOR, THEREFORE ASSUMPTION ELECTRONIC FAILURE OCCURRED ELSEWHERE. *AK
Electrical system 120 mi 11 mo in service
MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS FROM DAY OF PURCHASE. FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS/AIR CONDITIONING SHUT DOWN AND SLOWING/DASHBOARD MALFUNCTIONED, CUMULATING IN FAILURE OF IGNITION. 3 DAYS LATER, BATTERY INDICATED A GREEN SENSOR, THEREFORE ASSUMPTION ELECTRONIC FAILURE OCCURRED ELSEWHERE. *AK
Electrical system 74,568 mi 5.8 yr in service
STARTED THE CAR AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE AIRBAG HAS NOT BEEN DEPLOYED AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP IS ALSO ON ALL THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING. THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. *TR
Seats 19,500 mi 1.2 yr in service crash / fire / tow
HEATED DRIVER'S SEAT IN BMW 745I HAD ELECTRICAL SHORT AND CAUSED SMALL FIRE, BURNING HOLE IN THE SEAT. DEALER REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS BUT DID NOT ISSUE RECEIPT IDENTIFYING SOURCE OF DEFECT AND WORK PERFORMED.*AK

Other X3 model years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

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