Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 104 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 BMW X3. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 104 · page 1 of 5
The engine mounts on my BMW X3 have failed. It is a known national issue with the car, it can be exacerbated by the star/stop feature. There are no warnings or recalls and the repair is several thousand dollara.
I am writing to report a known safety-related defect on my 2021 BMW X3, VIN [XXX]. 1 The vehicle was diagnosed at BMW of Manhasset, an authorized BMW dealer, with a coolant leak originating from the heat management module and oil filter housing. This is not ordinary wear and tear. BMW's own service bulletin SIB 11 10 25 identifies this failure mode as a known issue affecting B46/B48/B58-equipped vehicles, which includes my X3. 3 4 5 The same defect is also the subject of an active U.S. class action, XXX. v. BMW of North America, LLC (D.N.J.), covering the same engine families. This defect presents a genuine safety risk, not merely a cost issue. The oil filter housing's internal wall structures, which separate the oil and coolant passages, are prone to failing or warping, and the gaskets sealing those passages are prone to premature failure. When this occurs, coolant can leak into the oil sump or drain externally, which can cause sudden engine overheating and/or engine failure, sometimes within minutes of the leak developing. If oil escapes and contacts the hot exhaust, it can also create a fire risk. A vehicle experiencing this failure is not safe to continue driving, and the risk of sudden, catastrophic engine damage or fire warrants a recall rather than leaving affected owners to discover and pay for this known defect on their own. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
There is an open safety recall for the engine starter on this vehicle. I contacted the local BMW dealer on 7/10/26 to have the recall fixed they advised me that they cannot address the recall because BMW North America has not sent the parts out for them to do so. I would like this on record in case there is any future damage to my vehicle due to the recall.
2021 BMW X3 M40i VIN# [XXX] Starter failed with the following BMW codes: [XXX] Starter Malfunction was displayed on the Dash and car took multiple attempts or waiting 10 seconds to start. I had the starter replaced by the Dealer, who confirmed the starter required replacing. I was told it was not part of the recall based upon VIN of car? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Lane keep assist performance has been degrading to the point that it very quickly disables itself when overcorrecting or an oscillation of the steering wheel is developed while system is trying to keep the car inside the lane (which eventually also disables the system). System always had a bit of “bounce” between the two sides of the lane and struggled to keep the vehicle exactly in the middle of the lane. But it is much worse now and I am now more often than not disabling it. System feels unsafe now. The KAFAS (camera) module is having random faults now that disable the system but go away and Lane Assist can be re-engaged without any change in the performance I described above. As an engineer I would simply call the Lane Assist control algorithm unstable with an oscillation that gets amplified. I’ve done simple tests where I center the vehicle inside the lane, engage the feature, and take my hands off the steering wheel (vehicle has some limited hands free capability—goal is to eliminate any disturbance from my hands to be the potential trigger for the oscillation). I used to be able to do this and now it rarely works and forces me to quickly take over. Another observation has been that the camera is also used to follow a vehicle ahead of me (in lieu of centering in the lane) and this rarely works now to the point of trusting it. Nothing recent has changed on the vehicle. At first I thought it may be a wheel alignment problem but when the camera module started to have sporadic errors I eliminated that root cause (recall that Lane Assist system always oscillated when engaged, but was definitely usable before). Seems like both problems originate at the camera module. Vehicle did have a windshield replacement and camera was recalibrated many months before this problem developed. Performance was the same immediately before and after replacement.
The contact’s wife owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle on several occasions, the vehicle failed to start. The message "Vehicle Failed to Start - Contact Dealer" was displayed. The contact stated that for the vehicle to start, the contact had to turn the power off in the vehicle power, lock and unlock the doors using the key fob, and then, after several attempts, the vehicle eventually started. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V056000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Car suffered a complete electrical failure when stopped at a traffic light. No warnings on dash, wipers made one swipe then vehicle completely shut down. Hazards did not work. Car was towed to dealership
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure.
Explosion, fires while the vehicle was off and parked
The driver's seat frame is loose, it has a play and a when accelerating or reducing speeds. The frames produce a click and some noise is heard coming from the seat frame when accelerating or reducing speed. I am the original owner of this BMW 2021 X3.at 34,500 miles. as of this date.
Filing regarding NHTSA Recalls 25V-636 and 26V-056. My 2021 BMW X3 M40i (VIN: [XXX] , built September 2020) contains the recall-affected starter part number ending in 997 — confirmed by a BMW Level 1 certified technician — not the non-recall part number ending in 505. BMW denied coverage based solely on manufacture date, with no consideration of the actual components installed. My vehicle displays an active fire risk. On April 30, 2026, my dashboard displayed Engine cannot be started, Starter system fault. Call Roadside Assistance, and Repeat start attempt — all photographed and timestamped. Fault codes 216119, 35AE00, and 8040A9 were confirmed by diagnostic scan. BMW of Catonsville (Work Order XXX) attributed the fault to the battery and charged me $280.50. I replaced the battery with a BMW OEM unit on May 13, 2026 at a cost of $590.31. On May 21, 2026, the identical starter fault returned — conclusively disproving the battery diagnosis and confirming the starter as the root cause. BMW denied recall coverage by phone through BMW of Catonsville. No written denial was provided. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether the recall scope incorrectly excludes vehicles built with the recall-affected starter component, compel BMW to expand coverage to include my VIN, replace my starter at no cost, and reimburse my out-of-pocket costs of $870.81. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The oil pump is exhibiting erratic oil pressure behavior, verified by certified BMW technicians. This behavior has been documented by BMW to indicate that the oil pump can fail without warning, leading to an Uncommanded Loss of Propulsion Angle. The sudden and unexpected loss of power-assisted steering and braking, when the engine stalls in active traffic, can lead to death of the occupants or other drivers that the uncommanded automobile may collide with. Additionally, the thermoplastics in the oil pump component tend to shatter during cold starts, leaving occupants stranded in cold weather, and again, potentially leading to death. BMW is aware of this safety concern but is not offering a remedy at this time.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The engine oil pump has an internal plastic housing that can fail and will cause oil pressure variations and even low pressure which can lead to engine failure. This has been documented for a while on various b58tu engines. This a very costly repair that can easily be 5000-6000 usd. Failure of the said part can also render that vehicle unable to drive.
Vehicle is experiencing critical mounting component failure very early on. Vehicle has under 50k miles but the engine mounts and thrush rod bushings are failing, putting the car at risk when driving or starting. It has been inspected by the dealership and the manufacturer has confirmed that the issue exists.
2021 BMW X3 M40i – Starter Motor Failure Matches NHTSA 26V056000 Defect (No-Start at Stop Light + Excessive Starter Torque Fault + Fire Risk) I am filing this safety complaint regarding a sudden starter motor failure on my 2021 BMW X3 M40i. On March 31, 2026, the vehicle stalled at a stop light and displayed the message “car can be restarted in XX seconds.” After the timed period elapsed and a few restart attempts, the vehicle would not start and had to be towed to Sewell BMW Mini of Plano, Texas. The service department at the dealership diagnosed a faulty starter motor. The technician’s notes explicitly state: “checked faults for excessive torque and found starter motor faulty” and the vehicle inspection video shows the starter unraveling. They quoted $2,060.50 to replace it under reliability concerns. This failure mode - sudden no-start at idle/stop with the timed restart lockout and “excessive torque” fault - is identical to the defect in NHTSA Campaign 26V056000 announced January 2026, affecting 2021–2024 X3 models. That recall describes internal starter wear causing no-start conditions and potential overheating/fire risk. BMW has already acknowledged and is replacing the starter for free on thousands of nearly identical G01 X3s. The service manager at Sewell BMW of Plano also confirmed that prior B58-engine X3 M40i models, same engine family as mine, have had starter recalls for the same issue. Despite this clear precedent, BMW North America denied our goodwill request for coverage due to it being out of warranty and that we’re not the original owners of the vehicle. We believe this is a safety defect that BMW should remedy at no cost, consistent with federal standards and their handling of the identical issue on other X3 models. Please investigate and require BMW to provide free remedy or full reimbursement. This poses a real safety risk due to a sudden stall while driving and potential fire as demonstrated in other recalled BMW X3s within the same year.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I am reporting a potential safety defect in BMW vehicles equipped with the B58TU engine, primarily model years 2019–2021. These vehicles use an oil pump containing an internal plastic component responsible for regulating oil pressure. This component has been reported to fracture in service, resulting in sudden and complete loss of oil pressure. Failures commonly occur during cold starts in low ambient temperatures. When the component fails, oil pressure may become erratic or drop to zero with little or no advance warning. In some cases, drivers may observe warning signs such as inability to measure engine oil level electronically, abnormal oil pressure behavior, or drivetrain malfunction warnings. These conditions can rapidly escalate to engine shutdown or severe engine damage due to oil starvation. This defect presents a significant safety risk, as vehicles may become disabled unexpectedly while driving or shortly after startup. Sudden loss of propulsion increases the risk of traffic incidents, particularly if the vehicle becomes immobilized in active traffic lanes. The risk is heightened in winter conditions, when failures are more likely and occupants may be exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Repair typically requires extensive engine disassembly, with costs ranging from approximately $6,000 to $8,000, excluding potential engine damage. A key concern is that owners cannot reliably determine whether their vehicle is equipped with the original plastic component or a revised metal version. BMW’s VIN-based parts systems now reflect updated components even if the original part remains installed, and the original plastic component is no longer listed in dealer parts catalogs. Reports indicate failures across multiple production years, and the full scope of affected vehicles is unclear. Given the potential for sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning, this issue warrants investigation as a safety-related defect.
Car spontaneously caught on fire. Total loss. Drove car home from haircut appointment 5 to 10 minutes away. Parked car as normal and went inside. Within approximately 5 minutes loud knock on door “Your car is on fire!” I came out of my home and saw my car in driveway with fire erupting from engine area onto windshield, and through hole in middle of hood. Took a few seconds of video, then ran into house for large fire extinguisher. Emptied fire extinguisher contents into hole of hood and into fire area coming out from engine area onto windshield.
My vehicle is subject to an active safety recall (NHTSA #25V-636) issued in September 2025 involving the engine starter. As of today, no remedy has been provided by the manufacturer. Due to the safety risk associated with this recall, I do not feel safe operating the vehicle and have been forced to keep it parked and unused for an extended period of time. This has caused significant financial hardship, as I am still required to make monthly loan payments, maintain insurance, and cover related expenses for a vehicle that is unsafe to drive. The issue has effectively rendered the vehicle unusable. The manufacturer has failed to provide a repair, replacement, or timeline for resolution. This situation places my safety and the safety of others at risk, as the vehicle may fail to start or function properly without warning. I am requesting immediate action, as this delay is unreasonable and creates both a safety hazard and financial burden.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times about the recall and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
This technical failure in the BMW B58TU engine (2019–2021) involves the variable-displacement oil pump's internal thermoplastic slide. In low ambient temperatures, the high viscosity of cold oil creates mechanical stress that causes this plastic component to fracture. The Safety Hazard The primary risk is a sudden loss of motive power. When the slide fails, oil pressure becomes unregulated or drops entirely, triggering an immediate "Drivetrain Malfunction" or engine shutdown. Immobilization: Vehicles may stall in active traffic or high-speed environments without sufficient warning. Environmental Risk: Failures peak in extreme cold, leaving occupants stranded in freezing conditions while awaiting recovery. Detection Gap: The electronic oil level sensor often fails to complete a measurement ("Measurement Aborted") before a low-pressure warning appears, depriving drivers of a clear precursor to mechanical failure. Critical Technical Challenges Obfuscated Parts History: BMW has superseded the original plastic-vane pump with a revised metal-vane version. However, the Electronic Parts Catalog (ETK) now lists the metal version as the "original" part for affected VINs, making it impossible for owners to verify which version is physically installed without engine teardown. High Repair Barrier: Correcting this defect requires extensive disassembly, often costing $6,000–$8,000. If the failure occurs at speed, total engine replacement is frequently required.
I'm reporting a safety issue with BMW vehicles equipped with the B58TU engine, primarily 2019-2021 models. These vehicles have an oil pump with an internal plastic component that regulates oil pressure, and this part is fracturing in the field, causing sudden loss of oil pressure. The failure typically occurs during cold starts in low temperatures. When it fails, oil pressure becomes erratic or is lost entirely, often with little to no warning before engine damage or vehicle disablement. Warning signs, when present, include inability to measure oil level electronically, abnormal oil pressure, or sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. These can rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe damage from oil starvation. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle can become disabled without warning while driving or after startup. This is especially hazardous when cars become immobilized in traffic or during winter conditions when failures occur most frequently, leaving occupants exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Pump replacement requires extensive disassembly and commonly costs $6,000-$8,000, assuming no engine damage. A critical concern: owners cannot determine if their vehicle has the original plastic pump or the later metal revision. BMW's VIN-based parts lookup now shows updated components even when original plastic parts remain installed, and BMW has removed the original plastic part number from dealer networks entirely. Failures are reported across multiple production years, and the scope of affected vehicles remains unclear. Because this condition causes sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning, especially in cold weather, I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety-related defect.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving 65-70 MPH on the highway, the drivetrain malfunction warning light illuminated with a message to “See Dealer” was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the starter and the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V056000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty and the repair was not covered. The failure mileage was 28,766.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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