2010 BMW X3 Sav Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 BMW X3 Sav, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1557.7%
- Engine311.5%
- Steering311.5%
- Body & structure27.7%
- Electrical27.7%
- Visibility13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON MAY 31 2018 I TOOK MY X3 IN TO ROSEVILLE BMW FOR AIR BAG RECALL #B651617 PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT THEY TOLD MW PART ON ORDER AND DO NOT HAVE ANY PERSON SEATING IN THAT SEAT UBTILL RECALL IS COMPLEITED. IT IS NOW OCT 4 2018 AND NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE. I JUST GOT 2 MORE RECALL NOTICES FROM ROSEVILLE BMW STATING TO CALL THEM ABOUT RECALL #B651617 PAAS SEAT MAT. SO I CALLED SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME NO PARTS HAVE COME IN AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE SHIPPED!!!!!, ALSO ON ANOTHER NOTE ON THIS X3 I HAVE ALSO REPLACED WINDOW REGULATORS ALL 4 AND NOW BOTH REAR REGULATORS BROKE AGAIN #5 AND #6 THAT IS NOT CHEAP WHY??????
TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR HAS BEEN ON THE RECALL LIST FOR YEARS AND THE DEALER NEVER SEEMS TO HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE THE PASSENGER REMAINED INSIDE. ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT, AND CAUSED IT TO CRASH INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO THE BACK, SHOULDER, AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VANOS HOUSING BOLTS WERE SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAD NOT CALLED THE CONTACT BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANY DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO BMW OF ROCKVILLE MD. THEY DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF "FAULTY STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND COIL SPRING." THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING WE DID THAT CAUSED IT-- IT WAS A FAULTY PART. AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES, TO HAVE A CRITICAL PART FAIL, SEEMS SERIOUS TO ME. THEY CHARGED US $2080.76 TO FIX, BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE WARRANTY DUE TO AGE OF CAR. TO MY MIND IF A PART FAULT OR FAILURE OCCURS, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL ISSUE, NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND THE CARMAKER SHOULD FIX AND REPORT IT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSES THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN MOTION WHEN IT STARTED SMOKING. STATIONARY WHEN IT WENT UP IN FLAMES
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE HEARD A CLINKING SOUND, IT WAS THE SUN ROOF GLASS THAT SHATTERED. MY WIFE STOPPED AT A HARDWARE STORE TAPED THE GLASS, AND COVERED IT WITH PLASTIC. THE GLASS COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF AND DAMAGES CARS( INCLUDING OURS) AND INJURED PEOPLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON MAY 31 2018 I TOOK MY X3 IN TO ROSEVILLE BMW FOR AIR BAG RECALL #B651617 PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT THEY TOLD MW PART ON ORDER AND DO NOT HAVE ANY PERSON SEATING IN THAT SEAT UBTILL RECALL IS COMPLEITED. IT IS NOW OCT 4 2018 AND NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE. I JUST GOT 2 MORE RECALL NOTICES FROM ROSEVILLE BMW STATING TO CALL THEM ABOUT RECALL #B651617 PAAS SEAT MAT. SO I CALLED SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME NO PARTS HAVE COME IN AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE SHIPPED!!!!!, ALSO ON ANOTHER NOTE ON THIS X3 I HAVE ALSO REPLACED WINDOW REGULATORS ALL 4 AND NOW BOTH REAR REGULATORS BROKE AGAIN #5 AND #6 THAT IS NOT CHEAP WHY??????
MANY DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO BMW OF ROCKVILLE MD. THEY DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF "FAULTY STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND COIL SPRING." THEY CONFIRMED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT IT WAS NOTHING WE DID THAT CAUSED IT-- IT WAS A FAULTY PART. AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES, TO HAVE A CRITICAL PART FAIL, SEEMS SERIOUS TO ME. THEY CHARGED US $2080.76 TO FIX, BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE WARRANTY DUE TO AGE OF CAR. TO MY MIND IF A PART FAULT OR FAILURE OCCURS, THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL ISSUE, NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND THE CARMAKER SHOULD FIX AND REPORT IT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE HEARD A CLINKING SOUND, IT WAS THE SUN ROOF GLASS THAT SHATTERED. MY WIFE STOPPED AT A HARDWARE STORE TAPED THE GLASS, AND COVERED IT WITH PLASTIC. THE GLASS COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF AND DAMAGES CARS( INCLUDING OURS) AND INJURED PEOPLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .