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 110 of 110 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 34 of 110 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.
Electrical system
35 complaint records1 fire report2 crash reports
"TAILGATE OPENED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. HAD TO STOP AND CLOSE THE TAILGATE FROM THE OUTSIDE (INTERIOR SWITCH DID NOT WORK)...."- 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 →
Engine & cooling
27 complaint records5 fire reports
"The lower radiator blinds had to be replace and was causing the engineer light to come. I feel that this is a big problem with the BMW and should be cover under warranty...."- 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 →
Power train
14 complaint records
"Was driving the vehicle home and while driving I heard a loud pop and a thump. Had the vehicle towed home to see that the real differential bolt had sheared off the head!..."- 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 →
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25V636000PARK OUTSIDE | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. | Normally free |
| 19V678000DO NOT DRIVE | Suspension | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, and X3 M40i vehicles, X4 xDrive30i, and X4 M40i vehicles. | Normally free |
| 24V764000 | Structure | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2022 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. | Normally free |
| 24V534000 | Structure | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2023 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. | Normally free |
| 23V211000 | Seats | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, 2020-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, 2021 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, and X4M vehicles. | Normally free |
| 21V598000 | Engine | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. | Normally free |
| 21V096000 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7... | Normally free |
| 20V601000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5... | Normally free |
Show 8 more recall campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V598000 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e... | Normally free |
| 20V490000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330e and X5 xDrive45e, 2020-2021 X3 xDrive30e, and 2020 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 vehicles. | Normally free |
| 20V443000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 sDrive40i, X3 xDrive40i and X3M40i vehicles. | Normally free |
| 20V355000 | Steering | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 Z4 sDrive30i, 2019-2020 330i xDrive, M340i and M340i xDrive, 2020 X3M and X4M, and Toyota Supra vehicles. | Normally free |
| 20V164000 | Seat Belts | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, X4M, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, M8 Gran Coupe, X3... | Normally free |
| 20V152000 | Electrical System | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i, and 2018-2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3M vehicles. | Normally free |
| 19V738000 | Steering | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 BMW X3 M40i and X4 M40i vehicles. The steering rack pinion teeth may break under load, resulting in a loss of steering control. | Normally free |
| 19V684000 | Back Over Prevention | BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i,... | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025499 2025-09-23 | Electrical | 17,761 | Issue: On certain vehicles, water could leak into the starter relay and cause it to corrode. If this happens, the relay could short circuit and the starter could overheat. |
| 2024609 2024-10-15 | Structure | 557 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the recall repairs completed by a BMW dealer during recall 51 84 24RC (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-410) may not be effective. As a result, a second repair is required. |
| 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". |
| 2024410 2024-07-17 | Structure | 13,830 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the cargo area tie down rails could detach in a rear crash. Safety Risk: A cargo rail that detaches in a crash could create a risk of injury to rear passengers. |
| 2021596 2021-09-24 | High Voltage | 170 | Issue: On certain plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), debris may have entered the high-voltage battery during production. As a result, the battery could short circuit. |
Show 7 more Canadian recalls
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021479 2021-08-03 | Brakes | 3,506 | Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the vacuum pump to be damaged during engine starting. If this happens, there could be a loss of brake assist. |
| 2021078 2021-02-18 | Visual System | 2,263 | Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to appear correctly in the central display. |
| 2020464 2020-09-30 | High Voltage | 194 | Issue: On certain plug-In hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), debris may have entered the high-voltage battery during production. As a result, the battery could short circuit. |
| 2020116 2020-03-19 | Seats And Restraints | 573 | Issue: On certain vehicles, there may be a problem with the front seat belt buckle sensors. This could cause the seat belt warnings to turn on, even if the front seat belts are buckled. |
| 2019521 2019-10-16 | Steering | 7 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the steering pinion gear was manufactured incorrectly. As a result, the gear could break and cause a loss of steering. Safety Risk: A loss of steering could create the risk of a crash. |
| 2019480 2019-10-01 | Visual System | 14,323 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera does not return to the default settings when it turns on. This could make the rearview image difficult to see if a driver had previously adjusted the camera display brightness at or near the... |
| 2019470 2019-09-25 | Steering | 71 | Issue: On certain xDrive models, the front axle swivel bearing(s) (steering knuckles) may break due to a manufacturing defect. This could affect handling and cause reduced steering control. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010821 Dec 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The NVLD limited emission related warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date |
| B010921 Dec 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The NVLD limited emission related warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| B011524 Dec 2024 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | the NVLD limited emissionrelated warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| B650122 Jan 2025 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Air Bags | The limited warranty for the Knee Air Bag wire harness repair cable procedure for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date. |
| B010324 May 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| B010226 May 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Structure | SHARK FIN ROOF ANTENNA SEALING SETTLEMENT Extended Warranty |
| B010324 Jun 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date. |
| B010921 Aug 2026 | WARRANTY EXTENSION | Engine | The NVLD limited emissionrelated warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
Show 52 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010226DCS Aug 2026 | Structure | BMW Notice of the Court’s Final Approval for Shark-Fin Antenna Settlement (X3, X4, X5, X6, X7) | |
| B010226 Aug 2026 | Structure | Rear Roof Antenna Shark Fin Cover Sealing Issue | |
| B110426 Jul 2026 | Electrical System | The manual starting of electronic engine oil level measurement from inside the vehicle, usually afterperforming an engine oil service task, is inoperative or it may lock up at between a 15% to 30% completionrate. | |
| B840226 Jul 2026 | SERVICE CAMPAIGN | Electrical System | Once the Telematics Module (TCB2) enters sleep mode, a BMW Data Services trigger for Remote Services(remote engine start, lock/unlock/climate conditioning) will not be able to reactivate the TCB2. |
| B630418 Jul 2025 | Visibility/Wiper | One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored. | |
| B661719 Apr 2025 | Service Brakes | The vehicle applies the brakes on its own when reversing onto an inclined roadway or driveway. This appliesonly to the situation where the Active PDC option is activated via the iDrive. | |
| B063025 Apr 2025 | Engine | Coolant Pump Return | |
| B062525 Mar 2025 | Engine | Bearing Shell Return | |
| B660923 Oct 2024 | Steering | The customer states that one or more of the following situations may occur: 1. The availability of the Steering and Lane Control Assistant is deteriorating, and/or that the function allows thevehicle to move from side to side within the lane markings. 2. | |
| B512824 Oct 2024 | SERVICE CAMPAIGN | Unknown Or Other | DELIVERY STOP: REAR CARGO RAILS |
| 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. | |
| B630418 Mar 2024 | Exterior Lighting | One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored. | |
| B310122 Mar 2024 | Suspension | During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/o router CV boots. | |
| B640422 Feb 2024 | Electrical System | An interference noise (groaning noise) can be heard from within the heating and air-conditioning unit in thecenter of the instrument panel. | |
| B170122 Jan 2024 | Engine And Engine Cooling | The Check Control message below appears even though the coolant level is not below minimum when theengine is cold. Check Control message (ID 166): Top up coolant. | |
| B510819 Jan 2024 | Electrical System | 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. | |
| B310124 Jan 2024 | Suspension | With the vehicle is on a lift and the front struts are in the extended position, there may be a cracking and orclicking type noise when turning the steering wheel left/right. See attached video V31 01 24. | |
| B360121 Jan 2024 | Steering | At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. | |
| B541119 Jan 2024 | Structure | This bulletin outlines known areas of possible water entry, operational noise, or wind noise for the vehicles listed above. It serves only as a diagnostic resource in troubleshooting complaints from the roof area. | |
| B160123 Jan 2024 | Fuel System | A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system(NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). | |
| B610524 Jan 2024 | Electrical System | The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 ÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂHU-H: ResetÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂàwill be stored in the HU-H3. | |
| 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. | |
| B650122 Nov 2023 | Air Bags | A check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears. In the instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. | |
| B540421 Oct 2023 | Visibility | This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry | |
| B513019 Sep 2023 | Structure | A groaning noise is present from the door frame of any door, most commonly when driving over rough roadsor during body flex. This situation may be worse in vehicles which are regularly waxed in the area of the door jamb. | |
| B652823 Sep 2023 | Equipment | Customers may be experiencing one or more of these following issues with Bluetooth operation: Bluetooth cannot be switched on or off in the head unit (HU-H4) Paired mobile devices cannot be deleted Customer is unable to make phone calls or stream music with mobile device... | |
| B660923 Sep 2023 | Lane Departure | The customer states that one or more of the following situations may occur: 1. The availability of the Steering and Lane Control Assistant is deteriorating, and/or that the function allows thevehicle to move from side to side within the lane markings. 2. | |
| B650122 Aug 2023 | Air Bags | A check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears. In the instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. | |
| B120423 Aug 2023 | Structure | ?An unapproved nut was used for the ground point for the chassis ground. | |
| B310223 Aug 2023 | Suspension | ?Disturbing noises (thump/pop) when reversing slowly near the steering wheel limit position; for example, when leaving a parking space. | |
| B410722 Aug 2023 | Structure | While driving the vehicle on normal roads at 10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard. | |
| B540123 Aug 2023 | Structure | ?Water leaking into the vehicle from the headliner/microphone area. | |
| B610220 Aug 2023 | Visibility | ?When driving over uneven pavement or cobblestones, a knocking noise is present from the passenger side front area (A pillar). Once the vehicle is driven on a flat, even surface; the noise is no longer present. | |
| B090221 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service Pack 15 vehicles may receive new functionality or modifications in their features. | |
| B120323 Jun 2023 | Equipment | BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023 - 2024 BMW vehicles that were produced between October 26, 2022 and May 8, 2023. | |
| B160123 Jun 2023 | Fuel System | A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system (NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). | |
| B630821 Jun 2023 | Electrical System | Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed. The following fault codes are stored during a vehicle test: 80419A - Left high-beam headlight: Short circuit and/or 8041A5 - light outputs: Number of permitted short circuit cycles exceeded | |
| B340223 May 2023 | Service Brakes | Brake squeak may occur with cold brakes and driving slowly or reversing | |
| B510823 May 2023 | Visibility | Upon opening or closing (i.e., folding in or out) the exterior mirror assembly, a creaking sound is heard from either the driver and/or passenger side. | |
| B511722 May 2023 | Visibility | Due to the semiconductor supply, the Local Interconnect Network module in either of the exterior mirrors was switched to another controller. That one provides an imprecise voltage measurement, which the main controller interprets as a fault. | |
| B514616 May 2023 | Structure | Upon opening and closing the tailgate, a creaking/groaning sound can be heard from tailgate actuator. | |
| B610123 May 2023 | Electrical System | Due to a software error, the vehicle sporadically does not achieve sleep mode. As a result, the 12-volt battery becomes discharged and may cause a no-start condition. | |
| B640523 May 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Check Engine Light is illuminated, check control message indicates ""bring in for service"". The faults themselves and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) have no functional effect on the vehicle. | |
| B651523 May 2023 | Electrical System | After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails. | |
| B651921 May 2023 | Electrical System | BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective October 15, 2021) on certain Model Year 2022 BMW vehicles that were produced between September 28, 2021 and October 8, 2021. The issue involves the Active Crash Safety Module (ACSM) sensor. | |
| SIB120123 Apr 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | In hot ambient conditions, if the engine was running for a prolonged time while the vehicle is stationary, a jolt may be experienced while lightly accelerating. | |
| SIB310223 Apr 2023 | Steering | Disturbing noises (thump/pop) when reversing slowly near the steering wheel limit position; for example, when leaving a parking space. | |
| SIB511722 Apr 2023 | Visibility | Due to the semiconductor supply, the Local Interconnect Network module in either of the exterior mirrors was switched to another controller. | |
| SIB660823 Apr 2023 | Electrical System | Issues with the various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (KAFAS system) can possibly lead to following customer complaints: KAFAS camera system deactivates itself, due to system restrictions that are not clear to the customer KAFAS camera system cannot be... | |
| B260422 Mar 2023 | Engine And Engine Cooling | There is a howling or whistling noise from under the vehicle at 30 -37 mph (50 -60 km/h) when driving after a cold start, when the outside temperature is 32 F (0 C) or lower. | |
| B410722 Mar 2023 | Structure | While driving the vehicle on normal roads at 10mph and above, a cracking sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard. |
Showing 60 of 280 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.
- 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.
- 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 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 16 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.
- Do not drive it home until the do-not-drive recall is confirmed repaired.At least one campaign on this vehicle carries a federal do-not-drive advisory. Confirm the repair with the dealer, by VIN, before taking delivery.
- Ask the dealer whether the warranty extension on file still applies to this VIN.The manufacturer issued 8 warranty extensions for this vehicle (see the service bulletins section). Extended coverage often runs by years or miles from the original sale, and a repair the seller paid for may have been free.
- 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 →