Engine
2.0L 4-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 86 of 86 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 49 of 86 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
38 complaint records1 fire report
"The contact owns a 2014 BWM X3. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the engine was running rough. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and noticed that the timing chain was stretched. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not diagnosed...."- 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 →
Electrical system
30 complaint records1 fire report
"ANIMAL CHEWED ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS RENDERING THE CAR NOT DRIVABLE. HAD TO BE TOWED THREE TIMES. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE THE FIRST TWO TIMES AND THE THIRD TIME IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE ALL INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION...."- 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 electrical system parts in the directory →
Brakes
11 complaint records4 crash reports
"DRIVING ON 3 LANE ROAD TRAVELING APPROX 20-30 MILES PER HR CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED AND I APPLIED THE BREAKS AND NOTHING HAPPENED, CAR KEPT GOING AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SEEMED LIKE THE CAR DIDN'T EVEN SLOW DOWN...."- 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 brakes 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. |
| PE13030 opened Sep 2013 | closed Oct 2013 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Loss of power assist braking - led to recall 13V454000 In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series,... |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24V608000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | 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,... | Normally free |
| 24V527000 | Air Bags | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series... | Normally free |
| 23V797000 | Air Bags | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive35i, and 2015 X4 xDrive35i vehicles. | 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 |
| 14V627000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan,... | Normally free |
| 13V454000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans,... | 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". |
| 2024468 2024-08-13 | Engine | 78,381 | Issue: On certain vehicles, fluid from the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system could leak on the intake air hose. As a result, the fluid could enter the electrical connector for the water pump and cause a short circuit. |
| 2024402 2024-07-11 | Airbag | 312 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the driver-front airbag inflator could rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash. If this happens, the airbag may not properly inflate and fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants. |
| 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. |
| 2023634 2023-11-24 | Airbag | 7 | Issue: On a small number of vehicles, the driver-front airbag inflator could rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash. If this happens, the airbag may not properly inflate and fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants. |
Show 4 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. |
| 2014435 2014-10-03 | Powertrain | 1,279 | On certain vehicles, a defect in manufacturing could result in a loss of oil supply to the vacuum pump. If this were to occur, the vacuum pump could fail, causing a loss of power assist to the braking system. |
| 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. |
| 2013330 2013-09-27 | Brakes | 9,406 | On certain vehicles, a defect in manufacturing could result in a loss of oil supply to the vacuum pump. If this were to occur, the vacuum pump could fail, causing a loss of power assist to the braking system. |
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. | |
| B010520 Jan 2024 | Engine And Engine Cooling | The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on. The following fault codes may be stored in the DDE: 24CE00 Hot film air mass meter: Ratio of measured to calculated air mass too high 27F000 Charge air hose monitoring in idle: Charge air hose... | |
| 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. |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B540421 Oct 2023 | Visibility | This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry | |
| 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 | Air Bags | 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. | |
| B662719 Sep 2022 | Lane Departure | The Lane Change Warning (LCW) yellow triangle symbol on either one, or both the exterior side view mirrors does not illuminate to alert the driver when it should. | |
| 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 | 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. 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 | 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 Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Sensor(s) to: 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle original in-service date. | |
| B110317 Oct 2021 | Engine And Engine Cooling | For the above-referenced vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules to: 7 years/70,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. | |
| B110317 Sep 2021 | Engine And Engine Cooling | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules to: 7 years/70,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date | |
| B110221 Sep 2021 | Equipment | With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Gelis, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC. | |
| 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. | |
| B110221 Jul 2021 | Equipment | With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Gelis, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC. | |
| SIB110317 Jul 2021 | Engine And Engine Cooling | BMW of North America, LLC BMW NA is extending the limited warranty for the engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules to: 7 years/70,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date | |
| B040221 Jun 2021 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | Distribution of the following tool will be through the Automatic Tool Shipment Program | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| B110317 Dec 2020 | Equipment | N20 AND N26 ENGINE TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP DRIVE CHAIN: Whining noise from the lower engine area near the engine oil pump that increases frequency when increasing the engine RPM. Wear on the engine oil pump chain drive and timing chain sprockets. | |
| B120115 Aug 2020 | Power Train | N20 and N26 Differential Pressure Sensor Fault: 195002 Stored in DME: The Service Engine Soon (MIL) light is on with the following differential pressure sensor fault stored: 195002 - Differential pressure sensor, tank vent valve, electrical: Short circuit to ground During engine... | |
| 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 | Equipment | 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 | Parking Brake | 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. | |
| B122319 Jul 2019 | Equipment | 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. | |
| B662317 May 2019 | Equipment | 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. |
Showing 60 of 321 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.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 6 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 →