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

2015 BMW X3

Typical pattern

7.6% of complaints about the 2015 BMW X3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2015 vehicle — around the middle of the 195 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (29 complaints), typically at 7.5 yr or about 76,000 miles.

Complaints
158
Median age at failure
7.5 yr
Median mileage
58,451 n=77
Crash / fire / tow
19.6% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
29 reports · 76,000 mi
7.5 yr
17.2%
Electrical system
22 reports · 63,000 mi
10.1 yr
22.7%
Engine cooling
15 reports · 76,000 mi
10.1 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V608000 2024-08-13
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

21V907000 2021-11-19
Fuel system, diesel

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.

A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

21V586000 2021-07-29
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

18V755000 2018-10-25
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.

The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

16V683000 2016-09-21
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 BMW X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, X3 xDrive28d, X4 xDrive28i and X4 xDrive35i vehicles, and model year 2014-2015 X5 xDrive35i, X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, and 2014 X5 xDrive35d vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

16V333000 2016-05-23
Child seat:latch strap

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.

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

14V648000 2014-10-16
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 X3 and X4 Sports Activity Vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014 to July 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been produced with a driver's side exterior rearview mirror that was designed to meet non-US market requirements. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

The driver may not notice that vehicles viewed in the mirror are closer than they appear, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 9,003 mi 2 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X3 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,003.
Electrical system 90,000 mi 3.5 yr in service crash / fire / tow
ON MARCH 4, 2018, WHILE AT A RED LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION IN BOCA RATON, FL, ALL OF SUDDEN, NO WARNING, MY BMW X3 STARTED TO SMELL OF SMOKE, THEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE HOOD. I HAD TO BARELY MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LEAVE IT AT AN ENTRANCE OF A PLAZA, WHICH THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE OVERWHELMINGLY. ONCE I MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR, THE FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE HOOD AND THE CAR BECAME FULLY ENGULFED WITHIN SECONDS.
Electrical system 76,000 mi 4.1 yr in service crash / fire / tow
BMW DIESEL RECALL - WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED TO INDICATE ANYTHING WAS WRONG. THE CAR LOST POWER AT 72 MPH AND MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY.
Engine 33,400 mi 1.7 yr in service
WHEN RAINY DAY , MY CAR SOMETIMES CAME OUT SMOKE ON A CITY STREET. I TOOK INTO DIFFERENT BMW DEARLER, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT IS THE DESIGN OF THE CAR, BECAUSE THE AVIATOR TOO CLOSE WHEN RAINING IT WILL CAME OUT SMOKE. I RECORDED AND SHOW TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE SHOW IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IS WHAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM.

Other X3 model years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

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