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

2017 BMW X3

Typical pattern

12.4% of complaints about the 2017 BMW X3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2017 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (30 complaints), typically at 8.1 yr or about 88,000 miles.

Complaints
137
Median age at failure
7.1 yr
Median mileage
20,441 n=55
Crash / fire / tow
22.6% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
30 reports · 88,000 mi
8.1 yr
10%
Engine cooling
22 reports · 88,000 mi
8.1 yr
4.5%
Engine
17 reports · 7,000 mi
7.8 yr
23.5%

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.

16V704000 2016-10-03
Steering:electric power assist system

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2017 BMW X3 xDrive 28i vehicle manufactured on June 7, 2016. This vehicle has electronic power steering (EPS), and the contact pins on the EPS control unit may not have been welded properly resulting in increased resistance.

An increase in pin contact resistance can increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.

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.

In owners’ own words

Engine 1,800 mi 10 mo in service crash / fire / tow
ENGINE SEIZED AT 65MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING COMMUTE TO WORK ON BUSY BOSTON HIGHWAY. NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL COLLISIONS AS VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A BMW DEALER THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER ADVISES AN "OVERSIZED BEARING WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE". ENGINE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE, ELECTRONICS AND COOLING SYSTEM DAMAGE ARE SUSPECTED BY THE DEALER TECH AND WILL REQUIRE MONITORING.
Engine 20,000 mi 4.1 yr in service
WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE REVS UP AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. I NEED TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR PERSON IN A CRESS WALK. EVEN WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES HARD, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT BMW DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR, BUT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC AND MAY ONLY OCCUR ONCE A MONTH, IT DOES NOT DO IT WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR.
Engine mileage not reported 8.2 yr in service
Service due light keeps coming on, Brakes are squeaking, AC not blowing out properly check both front and rear, Back up camera is staying on even when she is in park, light on usb port are not working, emergency SOS call doesn't work, driver side door lock not working properly. Tires keep going down. Symptoms: Service due light keeps coming on, Brakes are squeaking, AC not blowing out properly check both front and rear, Back up camera is staying on even when she is in park, light on usb port are not working, emergency SOS call doesn't work, driver side door loc A/C EVACUATE AND
Electrical system 37,900 mi 4.2 yr in service
ALTERNATOR OVERCHARGING PRODUCING 16V AND CAUSING SYSTEM TO GO TO FAIL SAFE MODE. IT WILL SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND SWITCH IT IN PARK MODE. WHILE DRIVING ANY MODE THEN ECO AND AUTO SHUTOFF TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, SOMETIME WHEN BREAK RELEASED IT WILL START AND YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING, OTHER TIMES WILL NOT START AND WILL DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION AND SWITCH TO PARK MODE. WITH WARNING THAT "TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING " "DO NOT TURN OFF ENGINE OR CONTINUED DRIVING MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER

Other X3 model years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

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