Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jun 17, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 103 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 BMW X3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming engine
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED ON MAY 28, 2019. LEITH PORSCHE (700 AUTOPARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511) DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,700.
NHTSA ID
11220637
Incident
Jun 3, 2019
Mileage
104,700 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2015
MY CAR HAS HAD A ROUGH ILDE FOR A FEW MONTHS, OFF AND ON. I TOOK MY CAR, 78000 MILES, FOR A CV AXLE REPAIR. MY MECHANIC LET ME KNOW THAT I HAD MORE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH MY ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS BEING BROKEN OFF. ITS BEEN MAKING A ROUGH NOISE ALSO AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60..I TRAVEL WITH MY CHILD IN THIS CAR.
NHTSA ID
10788528
Incident
Jan 20, 2015
Engine
Filed May 7, 2015
THE BOLT HOLDING THE TIMING CHAIN TOGETHER BROKE CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK WHICH RESULTED IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $8322. BMW WAS CONTACTED TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR COSTS BUT REFUSED TO HELP REPAIR THE DAMAGED ENGINE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER BMW ENGINES AND MINI COOPER ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY BMW WHICH ARE HAVING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WITH CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS ENGINE AND BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND DISCLOSE THE NUMBER OF ENGINE FAILURES RELATED TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR
NHTSA ID
10715063
Incident
Aug 21, 2014
Mileage
61,233 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 29, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported
URGENT URGENT URGENT - TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT AND MAJOR INJURY SUSTAINED 2005 BMW X3 ? PICKED UP ON JANUARY 7, 2015, FROM TORONTO USED CAR DEALERSHIP MAJOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 8, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 AM. HAD NOT OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 24 HOURS OR PUT MORE THAN 160 KM ON IT. THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ACCIDENT RESULTED IN MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. HORRIFIC RESIDUAL EFFECT. AT STOP POSITION THE VEHICLE REVVED LIKE AN F1 CAR COMING DOWN THE STRAIGHT AWAY. X3 BEGAN TO SHAKE AND A SPLIT SECOND LATER BOLTED/ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE FROM A FULL STOP I WENT CRASHING THROUGH A LARGE STEEL OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR, THROUGH A CONCRETE BARRICADE AND STEEL RAILING AND INTO A STEEL DUMPSTER. AIR BAG DEPLOYED, I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. TRAPPED FOR OVER AN HOUR. EMS COULD NOT EXTRACT DUE TO POSITIONING OF VEHICLE BEING AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND COMPLETELY LODGED AGAINST THE DUMPSTER THAT WAS LOCATED IN A LOADING DOCK AREA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DRIVE. PRELIMINARY ONLINE INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME BMW HAS HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT. CONTACTED BMW TO RESPOND THEY ARE DENYING CULPABILITY. HAVE READ ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON LINE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. SUBMITTED REQUEST TO TRANSPORT CANADA FOR ACTION AND INVESTIGATION. NO REPLY AS OF JANUARY 29, 2015. ANY PEOPLE IN CANADA OR THE USA WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ARE ASKED TO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I BEG YOU. THIS WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC ACCIDENT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN ANOTHER BMW AS LONG AS I LIVE. THE NIGHTMARES ARE HORRIFIC AND CAUSING MENTAL TRAUMA. I AM STILL SORE AND DAMAGED PHYSICALLY. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH ASAP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR
NHTSA ID
10679755
Incident
Jan 8, 2015
Mileage
182,400 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 30, 2014
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON CAME ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOLLOWING TWO NEED REPLACED 1) VALVE COVER GASKET TO FIX ENGINE OIL LEAK 2) DMTL PUMP I CANNOT COMPREHEND THESE FAILURES FROM A BRAND KNOWN FOR QUALITY AT SUCH LOW MILEGAE. GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS MANY BMWS HAVE HAD THESE FAILURES BUT SURPRISINGLY THERE ARE NO RECALLS. *JS
NHTSA ID
10668992
Incident
Dec 24, 2014
Mileage
68,611 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2011
ON DECEMBER 26TH, 2010 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 BMW X3 WHEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET ABOUT A BLOCK FROM OUR HOUSE. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE AND FOR A MOMENT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. WE GOT IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION THAT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS HYDRO-LOCKING. THEY CLEANED IT UP BUT DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I CALLED MOTORWERKS BMW IN MINNEAPOLIS AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD I WILL GET A CALL BACK. I DIDN'T HEAR BACK AND CALLED AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. I WAS ASKED TO BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT WAS JANUARY 24TH, 2011. ON JANUARY 20, 2011, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK AT 11:30 PM WHEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY AND DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS -22F. SHE MUST HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 2 MILES WHEN SHE SAW A HUGE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. WE GOT IT TOWED TO THE SAME SERVICE STATION AS BEFORE AND CALLED MY INSURANCE AGENT THE NEXT MORNING. THE AGENT DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND ADVISED US TO GET IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE STATION IN MOORHEAD MN THAT WORKS MOSTLY ON IMPORTS. THIS SERVICE STATION KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AS THEY HAD FIXED FIVE TO SIX OTHERS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THEY GOT THE PARTS FROM THE MOTORWERKS BMW DEALERSHIP, FIXED THE PROBLEM AND I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK ON 1/27/2011. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT SOMEBODY HAD TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM EARLIER BUT DID NOT QUITE FINISH IT. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF IT AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN IT TO MOTORWERKS BMW IN MINNEAPOLIS FOR ALL WORK. THE TOTAL WITHOUT THE TWO TOWING WAS $1028. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER BWM OWNERS LIVING IN COLD PLACES WITH HIGH HUMIDITY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM SCARED TO HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HAVE OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN? WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR
NHTSA ID
10389957
Incident
Dec 24, 2010
Mileage
41,500 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER HOSE THREE TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSES BUT THEY CONTINUED TO BURST. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE BEING DONE TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
NHTSA ID
10362900
Incident
May 10, 2006
Mileage
10,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2009
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ENGINE STALLED; FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE RISK FOR FIRE AND VEHICLE CRASH WERE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER THE TECHNICIANS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 72 DAYS TO REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
NHTSA ID
10285024
Incident
May 31, 2009
Mileage
505,000 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own