Engine
3.0L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 113 of 113 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 66 of 113 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Engine & cooling
55 complaint records2 fire reports
"2011 BMW X3 XDRIVE28I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL NO. 17V-683 PCV VALVE HEATER AND INQUIRES IF REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE ISSUED. *AS *JS..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Steering
23 complaint records
"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..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse steering parts in the directory →
Power train
23 complaint records2 crash reports
"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...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA21002 opened Sep 2021 | OPEN | Air Bags | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V707000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | 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,... | Normally free |
| 17V683000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | 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... | Normally free |
| 16V333000 | Child Seat | 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... | Normally free |
| 11V341000 | Steering | BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 27, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2011. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024544 2024-08-15 | Label | 587,250 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". |
| 2024392 2024-07-03 | Airbag | 44,131 | Issue: This recall applies to vehicles that may be equipped with a replacement sport or M-sport steering wheel that has a Takata airbag. |
| 2023568 2023-10-20 | Engine | 21,475 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the variable camshaft timing (VANOS) adjustment unit housing bolts could loosen or break. |
| 2017470 2017-09-28 | Engine | 79,616 | On certain vehicles equipped with the N52 6-cylinder engine, an electrical short could occur in the PCV valve heater due to manufacturing irregularities. |
| 2017388 2017-08-09 | Airbag | 886 | On certain vehicles, the housing of the driver's frontal airbag inflator may have been incorrectly welded during manufacturing and could separate from the base plate during an airbag deployment. |
Show 6 more Canadian recalls
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016242 2016-05-20 | Seats And Restraints | 30,023 | On certain vehicles, the lower anchor bars that are used for installing child seats using the European-ISOFIX-type rigid-style connector may become damaged during vehicle operation. |
| 2014170 2014-05-13 | Engine | 21,811 | On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would revert to "limp home mode", limiting available engine power. |
| 2014127 2014-04-10 | Engine | 20,022 | On certain vehicles, housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate. If this occurs, the engine would revert to "limp home mode", limiting available engine power. |
| 2013405 2013-11-14 | Airbag | 2 | On certain vehicles, a manufacturing defect in the dashboard could result in improper deployment of the passenger front airbag in a crash. This could increase the risk of injury to the front passenger. |
| 2012129 2012-04-12 | Label | 67,771 | Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Specifically, the compliance label does not indicate the wheel rim size, as required by the Standard. |
| 2011242 2011-06-29 | Steering | 9 | On certain vehicles, the control module for the Electric Power Steering (EPS) unit may not function properly and could switch off while driving. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B410722 Apr 2024 | Structure | While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard. | |
| B510819 Jan 2024 | Visibility | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. | |
| B611305 Jan 2024 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. | |
| B521823 Dec 2023 | Seats | A noise can be heard from underneath the seat while the seat is being moved either forwards or backwards. This can occur to the driverâÂÂs and/or the passengerâÂÂs front seat. | |
| B540421 Oct 2023 | Structure | This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B651523 May 2023 | Electrical System | After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails. | |
| B840822 Mar 2023 | Electrical System | The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. | |
| B010919 Dec 2022 | Fuel System | For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Fuel Injectors to 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. | |
| B650414 Oct 2022 | Unknown Or Other | According to the customer, the airbag warning light was on, but it may not be illuminated when the vehicle arrives in the workshop. 1. ACSM fault code "930A60 - Seat occupancy detection, front passenger; malfunction" is stored. The fault may or may not currently be present. | |
| B540421 Sep 2022 | Visibility | The front sunroof glass seal has shrunk, creating a gap which can cause wind noise or excess water entry. | |
| B662419 Sep 2022 | Equipment | Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. | |
| SIB010921 Aug 2022 | Equipment | Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Leak Diagnosis Module with hose assembly (NVLD, shown) to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's... | |
| SIB011219 Aug 2022 | Structure | Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Radiator Grille Upper and Lower Active Air Flaps to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original... | |
| SIB510522 Jul 2022 | Suspension | BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective March 28, 2022) on certain Model Year 2022 BMW vehicles that were produced between March 1, 2022 and March 8, 2022 because the torsion struts may not have been installed at the plant. | |
| SIB840622 Jul 2022 | Electrical System | The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. | |
| SIB650122 Jun 2022 | Electrical System | A check control message for the restraint system appears. In the instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. | |
| SIB662419 Jun 2022 | Electrical System | Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. Note: Opening, closing and starting via the BMW Digital Key or the Digital Key Card are not affected. | |
| SIB651312 May 2022 | Electrical System | The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. | |
| SIB011918 May 2022 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Component specific limited warranty extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Sensor(s) to: 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle original in-service date. | |
| B651312 Sep 2021 | Equipment | The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map North America NEXT. | |
| B840221 Jun 2021 | Equipment | The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022. | |
| B011321 May 2021 | Fuel System | CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N54/N54T/N55 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT PUMP . With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Oliver, et al v. BMW NA, et al | |
| B840121 May 2021 | Equipment | TELEMATICS UNIT DEACTIVATION DUE TO 3G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY DISCONTINUATION: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022. | |
| B840221 May 2021 | Equipment | TELEMATICS UNIT RETROFIT TO 4G CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY: The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting February 2022. | |
| B340517 Jul 2020 | Service Brakes | TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: Ticking noise coming from front wheel while cornering without brakes applied, noticeable at low speeds. The vehicle must be moving. | |
| B610419 Jul 2020 | Electrical System | VEHICLE DOES NOT START BATTERY TOTALLY DISCHARGED: The customer's vehicle does not start due to a totally discharged battery. | |
| B650709 Jul 2020 | Electrical System | NAVIGATION SYSTEM - REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROADMAP DATA: Do not replace parts and do not program the vehicle. Roads can change by up to 15% every year. To ensure the best navigation experience, we do everything in our power to create the best maps. | |
| B610419 Jun 2020 | Electrical System | VEHICLE DOES NOT START BATTERY TOTALLY DISCHARGED: The customer's vehicle does not start due to a totally discharged battery. | |
| B340517 Apr 2020 | Wheels | TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 3) replaces SI B34 05 17 dated September 2017. Ticking noise coming from front wheel while cornering without brakes applied noticeable at low speeds. The vehicle must be moving. | |
| B513016 Apr 2020 | Air Bags | TAILGATE UNINTENTIONALLY OPENS: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 4) replaces SI B51 30 16 dated March 2018. Trunk/tailgate may open when vehicle is locked Trunk/tailgate may open while the vehicle is in motion usually after stopping such as a traffic light etc. | |
| B612115 Apr 2020 | Electrical System | THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS VARIOUS CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS VARIOUS CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 7) replaces SI B61 21 15 dated October 2018. The instrument cluster displays various check control messages. | |
| B652214 Apr 2020 | Equipment | AUTOMATED ACTIVATION OF NAVIGATION SYSTEM DURING PDI/QC1: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 2) replaces SI B65 22 14 dated October 2015. The INITIAL NAV enabling code no longer needs to be pre-ordered through the Parts department! | |
| B840214 Apr 2020 | Electrical System | CONNECTEDDRIVE/BMW ASSIST SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 7) replaces SI B84 02 14 dated May 2019. ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist features are partially or completely inoperative. | |
| B123314 Feb 2020 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Fault Code 1D2008 Stored in DME: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 5) replaces SI B12 33 14 dated February 2016. The Service Engine Soon light is on. There may also be a complaint of low heat output with lower outside temperatures. | |
| B641019 Nov 2019 | Electrical System | SERVICE ACTION: OPTIMIZING THE WATER DRAIN. The water drain in the engine compartment's passenger side cowl near the firewall may be inadequate during exceptionally high water volumes. Water can accumulate and not drain out quickly enough. | |
| B310514 Sep 2019 | Suspension | Front Suspension Ride Height Has Dropped: The front suspension ride height has dropped on one or both sides due to overload. This is caused by driving over obstacles (e.g. | |
| B512716 Sep 2019 | Structure | RATTLE/POPPING FROM TAILGATE AREA: There are two related but separate complaints (only one may be present at a time) during driving especially on uneven surfaces. Clicking noises or squeaking noises from the area of the tailgate. | |
| B541219 Sep 2019 | Visibility | RATTLE NOISE FROM SUNROOF AREA: There is a rattle noise present from the area of the sunroof most commonly when driving over rough road surfaces. | |
| B651519 Aug 2019 | Equipment | SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR CONNECTEDDRIVE. Security patches for non-safety critical vulnerabilities in BMW head units Entry Nav Entry Media NBT and NBT EVO. | |
| 651512 Jul 2019 | Equipment | Service Action: CIC - Install Navigation Road Map Database 2013. Before delivering affected vehicles to the customer, the Car Information Computer (CIC) road map database 2013 must be installed onto the CIC internal Hard Disc Drive (HDD). | |
| 130512 Jul 2019 | Engine | N20 Engine: Ticking Noise from High-pressure Fuel Pump. The customer complains of a high-frequency ticking noise from the engine compartment. The noise can be heard inside and outside the vehicle. Mechanical vibrations inside the high-pressure fuel pump. | |
| 340212 Jul 2019 | Electrical System | "Service Action: Programming Update for Condition Based Service (CBS) Data. Due to a software error, the remaining distance to a brake service may be incorrectly displayed in the instrument cluster and/or control display. | |
| 121412 Jul 2019 | Engine And Engine Cooling | N55 Engine: Various Faults Stored in DME Related to VANOS and Camshaft Position. A rattling noise can be heard from the engine compartment; the engine has a loss of power; and the Service Engine Soon lamp is illuminated. One or more of the following faults may be stored. | |
| 121712 Jul 2019 | Engine And Engine Cooling | N52T / N55 with 8HP45: Delay in Engine Response. A customer may complain of a delay in engine response after decelerating at low road speeds and then reaccelerating. This can occur when the transmission remains in a high gear due to a delay in the transmission downshifting. | |
| B122319 Jul 2019 | Engine And Engine Cooling | DIAGNOSTIC HINT: CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSPECTION AFTER LOSS OF CRANKSHAFT SIGNAL. In certain situations when the crankshaft position signal is lost while driving the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and an engine malfunction check control message (CCM #29) may be displayed. | |
| B110119 Jun 2019 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE VIBRATIONS OR NOISE This Service Information bulletin replaces SI B11 01 19 dated February 2019. | |
| B110919 Jun 2019 | Engine | N55 ENGINE: FC 28A0 OR 101F01 THROTTLE VALVE OPENING ANGLE. The engine malfunction warning is illuminated and one of the following fault codes are stored in the DME shortly after programming the vehicle or with a customer complaint. | |
| B662317 May 2019 | Structure | Service Information March 2018 Drivers Assistance Remote Control Systems B66 23 17 Technical Service This Service Information bulletin replaces SI B66 23 17 dated February 2018 CONTACTLESS TAILGATE (SMART OPENER) IS TOO SENSITIVE. | |
| B840214 May 2019 | Equipment | INFORMATION New information provided by this revision is preceded by this symbol. This Service Information bulletin replaces SI B84 02 14 dated September 2018. | |
| B840311 May 2019 | Equipment | TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT ACTIVATION VIA DCSNET FOR BMW ASSIST. | |
| B610419 Apr 2019 | Electrical System | VEHICLE DOES NOT START BATTERY TOTALLY DISCHARGED This Service Information bulletin replaces SI B61 04 19 dated March 2019. | |
| B610419 Mar 2019 | Electrical System | THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START BATTERY TOTALLY DISCHARGED. The customer's vehicle does not start due to a totally discharged battery. | |
| B520818 Jan 2019 | Seats | FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SPORADIC MOVEMENT. Occasional stopping of seat adjustability movement in the driver and front passenger seats when occupied. | |
| B621118 Jan 2019 | Electrical System | BLACK SPOT IN THE CENTRAL INFORMATION. This Service Information bulletin replaces SI B62 11 18 dated January 2019. Whats New: â?¢ Warranty section - Programming information added. | |
| B512518 Nov 2018 | Structure | RATTLE NOISE FROM LOWER A-PILLAR. A rattle noise is present from the lower area of the A-Pillar. Due to a manufacturing error, the bolt securing the front door brake/stop to the A-Pillar may have loosened over time. | |
| B540818 Oct 2018 | Visibility | SUNROOF REPAIR KIT COMPONENTS. Based on feedback from technicians, it can be difficult to identify the individual components included with sunroof repair kits. In some cases complete sunroofs are replaced, when a sunroof repair kit could have been used. | |
| B613017 Oct 2018 | Electrical System | RAIN/LIGHT SENSOR (RLS): OIL LEAKAGE FROM GEL PAD. ??Oil leaking from the Rain/Light Sensor (RLS). Note: This oil serves as a separation medium between the RLS mounting gel pad and the windscreen. The oil ensures damage free disassembly in case of repair. | |
| B840214 Sep 2018 | Electrical System | ?CONNECTEDDRIVE/BMW ASSIST SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION. ConnectedDrive/BMW Assist features are partially or completely inoperative. | |
| B840616 Sep 2018 | Electrical System | ?BMW ONLINE NON-FUNCTIONAL: CHECK ICC-ID IN ACCOUNT. BMW Online/BMW ConnectedDrive not functional. Vehicle and service cockpit have different ICC-ID's (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier). | |
| B612115 Sep 2018 | Electrical System | THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS VARIOUS CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES. The instrument cluster displays various check control messages. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS VARIOUS CHECK CONTROL MESSAGES. The instrument cluster displays various check control messages. |
Showing 60 of 358 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Drive one straight highway stretch and one slow parking lot.Wander or a shimmy over bumps at speed, and heavy or dropped assist at low speed, are the two faces of this vehicle's steering cluster. A clunk on turn-in points at the linkage.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 4 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this BMW X3 →