2012 BMW X3 Engine Problems

I emailed BMW of Arlington on [XXX] detailing the critical safety issue I experienced with my BMW X3 2012 on Sunday [XXX]. I was driving on the tollway northbound from [XXX] in Grand Prairie in the pouring rain with my wipers on, and the car suddenly started braking and decelerating from the 70 mph cruising speed to 40 mph in seconds. The car behind me nearly hit my vehicle, and since it kept doing that, I had to turn on my hazard lights till I exited. The car was doing that irrespective of whether it was on cruise control or my driving speed. I discovered by googling it that this is a known defect in BMWs since their shop foremen and certified technicians who know more than me think I am dreaming this up [XXX] -. Driving this car on the highways in Dallas regularly is extremely dangerous as I could end up in a major multivehicle MVA pileup. Also, the previous time I had this issue before I brought it in on [XXX], it wasn't raining, and it started with the car not even moving when I put it in reverse and pressed the gas. Then it suddenly started decelerating on the road, backfired, and shook violently at normal speeds. The car overheated as the radiator coolant leaked, and I had to replenish it. CarShield, the Auto Warranty company, and I paid approximately $7,000 to BMW Mini of Arlington between June 2023 and today (see attached invoices_receipts_diagnosis reports). The last two times ([XXX] and [XXX]), their multi-point diagnosis on my vehicle identified no issues that need attention. Two of their service advisors who worked on my car in June and October 2023 quit immediately after completing it. The dealership does not respond to the BBB or my calls, emails, faxes, etc. BMW USA advised me to contact NHTSA. On June [XXX], while driving on city streets, the brakes were squealing even without engaging, and the car overheated/ backfired again/ almost caught fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) The dealer finally responded stating their diagnosis did not d

NHTSA ID

11592023

Incident

May 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was driving rough before stalling with the drivetrain malfunction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fault code variable camshaft timing control. The dealer made other repairs to the vehicle, and the fault codes disappeared. However, the contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and a local mechanic who confirmed a failure with the VANOS system. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,669.

NHTSA ID

11569246

Incident

Jan 9, 2021

Mileage

92,669 mi

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and hesitating during acceleration. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11467813

Incident

Jun 6, 2022

Mileage

89,000 mi

ENGINE FAILURE AT 70155 MILES. CONNECTING ROD BEARING IS SPUN.

NHTSA ID

11350252

Incident

Aug 18, 2020

Mileage

70,155 mi

SITUATION WHEN STARTING A COLD ENGINE, A 'PLUME OF BLUE SMOKE' CAN BE SEEN EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST TAILPIPE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-20 SECONDS. THERE IS NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED (NO' TURBOCHARGER BOOST FAULTS ARE STORED) AND NO DRIVABILITY ISSUES ARE DETECTED. CAUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OVERNIGHT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WILL EQUALIZE, THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK PAST THE TURBOCHARGER 'EXHAUST SIDE' TURBINE SEAL DUE TO CARBONIZATION OF THE TURBOCHARGER SEALING RING. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE IMPACTING BMW N20 ENGINES THAT BMW HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND EXTENDED WARRANTY 10 YEARS/ 100,000 MILES. THE N55 ENGINE (6 CYLINDER, TURBO) HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY ALTHOUGH DEFECT IS THE SAME AND MAY IMPACT EMISSIONS.

NHTSA ID

11337907

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

Mileage

84,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLT HOUSING FOR THE CAM SHAFT DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11081361

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

I WAS HAVE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE HESITATING AND JERKING, AND GENERALLY NOT OPERATING AS EXPECTED. I TOOK IT IN TO BE CHECKED AS I WAS CONCERNED FOR OPERATING IT SAFELY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT REQUIRES A SOFTWARE PATCH, AS THEIR IS A CODE ERROR, BUT THEY WILL ONLY FIX IT IF I PAY FOR THE PATCH. I TOLD THEM THAT IF IT IS A PATCH THAT SEEMS LIKE A RECALL - SOFTWARE IS NOT HARDWARE, SOFTWARE DOES NOT JUST STOP WORKING IF IT IS GOOD TO BEGIN WITH. IF WE ALLOW CAR DEALERS TO MAKE US PAY FOR PATCHES WHEN THEY MESS UP SOFTWARE WE WILL ALL BE PAYING HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THEIR CODING ERRORS GOING FORWARD AS THE TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO INNOVATE. I AM ALL FOR INNOVATION, BUT I SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR THEIR CODING ERROR. MY CAR WORKED A FEW MONTHS AGO, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY FOR A DIFFERENT ISSUE, THEY DID WORK TO THE ONBOARD SOFTWARE THAT LIKELY CAUSED THIS ISSUE, AND NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT IS MY PROBLEM TO FIX WHAT THEY BROKE. THIS IS A PRECEDENT THAT I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW AUTO MAKERS TO SET. A CAR IS NOT A PC THAT WE REPLACE IN 4 YEARS - IT COST EXPONENTIALLY MORE. WHEN MICROSOFT REQUIRES US TO UPGRADE OR THEY WILL NOT PATCH ANYMORE IT IS ON A PC THAT COST $1-2K AT MAX, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A MUCH LARGER INVESTMENT AND BMW SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO JUST STOP FIXING THEIR CODE AND CHARGING CONSUMERS FOR ERRORS THAT ARE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS. I DO NOT CARE IF THE CODE IS ORIGINAL OR INSTALLED AT MY LAST SERVICE VISIT. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENT IF I HAD SOME CUSTOM MODIFICATION, THEN I THINK THEY COULD BLAME ME FOR HACKING IT, BUT I DID NOT DO SO, THEREFORE I SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED.

NHTSA ID

11071681

Incident

Feb 8, 2018

Mileage

60,300 mi

SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE WHILE PARKED ON A CITY STREET. COOLANT PUMP REPLACED THE MORNING OF NOV 8TH 2017. ONE HOUR AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND A FEW SHORT TRIPS, VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHUT OFF AND LOCKED. IT DROVE NORMALLY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. 15-20 MIN LATER ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11045098

Incident

Nov 8, 2017

Mileage

48,130 mi

ENGINE FAILURE AT 55K MILES WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID

10990932

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

550,000 mi

WE STOPPED FOR A LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHILE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THE RPM GAUGE WENT UP TO AROUND 3500 AND THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO KEEP FROM GOING FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT HAPPENED RECENTLY AND WE ARE TAKING THE CAR IN AGAIN TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508349

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

10,000 mi