2011 BMW X3 Sav

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. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

STEERING IS "STICKY" WHEN TRYING TO MOVE FROM THE CENTER POSITION IN MY 2011 BMW X3 35I-- DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS USED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE CURRENT LANE OF TRAVEL, HIGHER THAN NORMAL RESISTANCE TO TURNING IS FELT. ONCE THE INITIAL RESISTANCE IS OVERCOME, THE RESISTANCE LESSENS, RESULTING IN A TENDENCY TO TURN THE WHEEL FURTHER THAN WAS INTENDED. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR CENTERED IN MY LANE AND RESULTS IN THE CAR JERKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL. TIRES AND ALIGNMENT ARE ALL VERY GOOD AND WEARING CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

11207189

Incident

May 12, 2019

Mileage

79,000 mi

NOTHING HAPPENED (YET) BUT BMW SERVICE TELLS ME THERE'S NO RECALLS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ON MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11202531

Incident

Apr 25, 2018

THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS GIVING ME MANY PROBLEMS. THE COOLANT EXPANSION TANK DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE SEAM AND LEAKING. THE THERMOSTAT WAS STUCK, CAUSING ZERO HEAT INTO THE CABIN ON A COLD DAY. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. IT WOULD NOT RE START THE IGNITION KEPT TRYING, AND AFTER 20 MINUTES STALLED IT FINALLY STARTED, LIMP DRIVING TO MY HOUSE FROM THERE. . THE DISPLAY READS DRIVE MODERATELY /DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

11184363

Incident

Mar 3, 2019

Mileage

64,000 mi

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING

NHTSA ID

11132038

Incident

Sep 27, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

ONLY HAVE MY CAR FOR ONLY A YEAR. TAILLIGHT FROM PASSENGER SIDE: THE RUNNING LIGHT DEFECTS WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. I WAS TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY LIGHT AND THIS IS WELL KNOWN FOR THIS CAR. YESTERDAY, WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY DRIVER RESTRAINT LIGHT CAME ON AND MY A/C OR TEMPERATURE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, AND CONTROL DISPLAY STOPPED WORKING. I AM NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE DRIVER SEAT. JUST BROUGHT IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE PCV VALVE HEATER RECALL SERVICE. WAS TOLD THIS MAY SOLVE THE ISSUES AND MAY NOT. IF NOT, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE TAILLIGHT, AIRBAG AND THE CONTROL DISPLAY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11097235

Incident

May 21, 2018

Mileage

68,900 mi

TAKATA RECALL: THE DEALER HAD FAILED TO OBTAIN THE PART OR PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX THE AIRBAGS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS ALREADY SINCE THEY CLAIMED HAD ORDERED THE PARTS. I CALLED BACK, MADE APPOINTMENT, CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART. THEY SAID THEY WERE ORDERING IT AND WILL CALL ME BACK. WEEKS HAD PASSED AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WOULD NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS AND THEN IT WOULD BE TOO LATE.

NHTSA ID

11082458

Incident

Mar 16, 2018

IN THE SUMMER OF 2014, THE PANORAMIC MOON ROOF EXPLODED FOR NO REASON. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, WITH THE MOON ROOF SHADE CLOSED,THERE WAS A VERY LOUD "BANG". AFTER SAFELY PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AN INSPECTION REVEALED NO EVIDENT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER PULLING INTO THE LOT AT WORK, A "RAINING' SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ROOF. AS SOON AS THE SHADE WAS OPENED, SHATTERED GLASS FELL INTO THE CAB OF THE CAR. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT NO COST AFTER SOME INTENSE CONVERSATION WITH MANAGEMENT. THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS HAD EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF UNEXPLAINED MOON ROOF EXPLOSIONS. DURING THE COVERAGE, IT WAS ADVISED THAT INCIDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU SO FOLLOW UPS COULD BE DONE AS NEEDED. WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THE REPAIR, JUST THAT HAD WE NOT BEEN INFORMED AND INSISTENT, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR BILL BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE ARE NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE.

NHTSA ID

11056921

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

AS TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISES ABOVE FIRST HASH MARK A WARNING COMES ON THE SCREEN CAR RUNNING HOT DRIVE SLOW AND GET SERVICED. ONCE TEMP REACHES BEFORE THE MID-POINT WHICH IS 250 SO AT ABOUT 230 TO 240 DEGREES THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER. PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IT DOWN SHIFTS ENGINE RACES AND CAR GOES NO WHERE SLOWS DOWN TO 10 MPH THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THERE IS NOWHERE TO PULL OVER IN TRAFFIC. CAR SHOULD NOT BE PROGRAMMED TO CUT POWER IN THIS CONDITION HAD MY WIFE ALL FREAKED OUT.

NHTSA ID

10970843

Incident

Apr 2, 2017

Mileage

80,120 mi

Replace the driver’s air bag module (generation 10, PSDI-X).

Update - Recent F25 Air Bag Module Service Actions

Update - Recent F25 Air Bag Module Service Actions

BMW AG is conducting a Voluntary Service Action involving certain Model Year 2010 – 2013 vehicles.This Service Action involves the replacement of the driver’s air bag module.

BMW AG is conducting a Voluntary Service Action involving certain Model Year 2010 – 2013 vehicles.This Service Action involves the replacement of the passenger’s air bag module.

While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard.