2010 BMW X3 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, 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
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2010 BMW X3. The contact stated that after the dealer had performed the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); the vehicle experienced a significant rough idle, and abnormal whistling and squealing sounds were coming from the engine while the contact was driving from the dealer parking lot. The contact drove back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the new PCV valve cover gasket had caused a vacuum leak. The dealer related the failure to the recall remedy. The dealer charged a fee for the repair. The contact declined to pay the fee because the recall repair was the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had not experienced a failure before the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 119,940.
The contact owns a 2010 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly on several occasions. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2010 BMW X3 THAT NEEDS A RIGHT FRONT SEAT MAT TO CORRECT AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH IS ON. DEALER TOLD ME PART IS ON ORDER AND NO PERSON SHOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL REPAIRED. WILL IT IS ALL MOST 1 YEAR WAITING ON SEAT MAT.(I HAD A RECALL FOR TAKATA AIR BAG ON STEERING WHEEL REPLACED. WITCH WAS DONE FASTER THAN THIS SEAT MAT.) I NEED TO KNOW HOW LONG BMW HAS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM???
I HAVE A RECALL ON PASSENGERS SEAT MAT REPLACE. HOW LONG DOES BMW HAVE TO REPLACE PART???CAR WAS CHECKED ON 5/31/2018 AND MAT ORDERED. AS OF TODAY 12/12/2018 THERE IS NO PART AND NO ONE CAN SEAT IN RIGHT FRONT SEATB UNTILL REPAIR IS MADE, THIS IS BS!!!!!! THAT IT IS TAKING THIS LONG AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER: This recall involves an engine component known as the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve heater. The PCV valve heater may not have been produced to specifications which could lead to a short circuit. Safety Risk: Should a short circuit occur, the PCV valve heater could overheat, lead to smoldering, and possibly start melting. In extremely rare cases, this could increase the risk of a fire. The recall has been going on for six months and still as of today there is no remedy. I refuse to drive a vehicle that I'm currently still paying for or put myself and family at risk at the expense of the manufacture causing this issue and not having a solution for such a long time period.
No warnings. The car started smoking while driving down the interstate. Lost electrical and brakes at around 30 mph while trying to stop. My daughter had to roll out of the car while moving because my brakes wouldn’t stop. Finally slammed in park. Car was totaled.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION. THE SEAT OVER HEATED AND A HOLE WAS CREATED AS A RESULT OF BURN ON TOP OF THE COIL.
I HAVE A 2010 BMW X3 THAT NEEDS A RIGHT FRONT SEAT MAT TO CORRECT AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH IS ON. DEALER TOLD ME PART IS ON ORDER AND NO PERSON SHOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL REPAIRED. WILL IT IS ALL MOST 1 YEAR WAITING ON SEAT MAT.(I HAD A RECALL FOR TAKATA AIR BAG ON STEERING WHEEL REPLACED. WITCH WAS DONE FASTER THAN THIS SEAT MAT.) I NEED TO KNOW HOW LONG BMW HAS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM???
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
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP/MOTOR AND RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,600. UPON INSPECTION NHTSA HAS 3 INCIDENTS OF THIS OCCURRING IN THE SAME VEHICLE. A BEIEF ONLINE SEARCH INDICATED MANY BMW X3 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP/MOTOR AND RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,600.
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
REAR DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED TWICE LEAVING WINDOW STUCK OPEN AND INOPERABLE. WINDOW WAS BEING OPENED TO VENT INTERIOR AFTER BEING PARKED AND VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. FIRST TIME REPAIR WAS MADE UNDER CPO WARRANTY WITH ~39K MILES. SECOND REPAIR MADE FOR $750 (CPO WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED). SECOND REGULATOR FAILED AFTER LESS THAN 10K MILES, AND ONLY 22 MONTHS, FROM FIRST FAILURE. BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAYS "IT HAPPENS." BMW DOES NOT HONOR THEIR 2-YR PARTS WARRANTY FOR PARTS REPLACED WHEN REPAIR IS DONE UNDER WARRANTY (AND THENCE EXPIRED). THE WINDOW REGULATOR(S) APPEAR TO BE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN TO BREAK SO FREQUENTLY. THE ACTUAL FAILURE APPEARS TO BE WITH THE "WINDOW REGULATOR DRIVING DOG"(ABOUT A $10 PART IF PURCHASED ONLINE) AND A TINY PLASTIC PIECE BREAKS OFF.
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 .