Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

117 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
57

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

sudden stalling 14transmission slipping 8
A recent report: I had my car towed into bmw dealership for a vanos recall repair,it went in for the repair the repair was "done" but before picking it up they told me they were unable to qc/start my engine to verify…
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I had my car towed into bmw dealership for a vanos recall repair,it went in for the repair the repair was "done" but before picking it up they told me they were unable to qc/start my engine to verify the repair claiming that because my camshaft position sensor was removed (it was removed to ultimately figure out it was the vanos system that failed)and that my car had no battery at the time of the repair they could and would not start my engine to verify the repair and that they turned it over by hand only,upon them releasing the car back to me I brought a battery and started my car and left the dealership within ten miles my engine failed and locked up due to oil starvation,I had it towed back immediately and explained what happened,and they refuse to take any responsibility for my car failing on the road while driving cause my engine to smoke and push the smoke into the cab mid traffic,this happened In July of 2025 and I am still going back and forth trying to get them to take responsibility and replace my engine,they did not follow proper procedures to ensure my vehicle was safe for pickup violating safety standards

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11719278 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
23

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 4electrical shorts 3
A recent report: The fuse box in trunk caught fire There are tons of these incidences if you search the web Bmw has done nothing I willhope your “ safety “ agency will. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…
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The fuse box in trunk caught fire There are tons of these incidences if you search the web Bmw has done nothing I willhope your “ safety “ agency will. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11668102 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
1

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 1
A recent report: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH DURING HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY DECELERATED TO 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH DURING HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY DECELERATED TO 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10794363 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
22

Most reports here involve loss of steering.

loss of steering 21software faults 1
A recent report: Electronic power control issue caused the vehicle to loose power steering. After starting and driving the vehicle an alert message showed up saying chassis malfunction and power steering issues…
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Electronic power control issue caused the vehicle to loose power steering. After starting and driving the vehicle an alert message showed up saying chassis malfunction and power steering issues. Vehicle was stopped and re-started but the issue didn't go away. BMW confirmed there was a malfunction with the EPS similar to the NHTSA bulletin 11V341000. Vehicle was manufactured during the period the recall covers and experience the same issues. BMW advised to contact NHTSA to have the VIN added to the recall so they can complete the repair, as otherwise it will not be covered.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11754567 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
5

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying.

airbags not deploying 2software faults 1
A recent report: The passenger side weight sensor that indicates whether it is safe for the airbag to fire is failing, giving a repeat error. It has put individuals sitting in the passenger side in potential harm's…
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The passenger side weight sensor that indicates whether it is safe for the airbag to fire is failing, giving a repeat error. It has put individuals sitting in the passenger side in potential harm's way if we were to get in an accident. It is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been reproduced by the dealer. They want an exorbitant amount of money to fix it. Prior models had the same defect, and were subject of recalls/repairs/warranty extensions. Not so for this model-year. The dashboard warning lamp indicating that the passenger airbag sensor is defective has lit intermittently.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11447887 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
6

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 6
A recent report: FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DROPPED AND WILL NOT ROLL UP. WAS ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION WHEN OCCURRED.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11395637 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
3

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 3
A recent report: See attached document for complaint.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11618016 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 117 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2011 and 2026, roughly 8 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.