2005 BMW X3

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2014· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  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

• 12/30/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSFire

  HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE, BURNING THROUGH THICK LEATHER UPHOLSTERY. 2005 BMW X3, 36,000 MILES. NOT REPAIRED, OUT OF WARRANTY, BMW ONLY WILLING TO PAY FOR HALF OF REPLACEMENT, CONSUMER COST 700 DOLLARS. *TR

• 12/29/2018· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 MPH, AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD WHEN MY FRONT HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVE SIDE WITHOUT. ON THE DISHBOARD OF THE CAR THE CHECK BULB LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT HOME THE NEXT DAY WHEN TK THE PART PLACE TO GET A BULB TO FIND OUT THE WIRES WHERE BARE THERE WAS ONLY METAL NO PLASTIC. THEG TOLD ME YOU HAD TO REPLACE THE HOLE THING WITCH COST OVER 1000 DOLLARS FOR. I WENT HOME RESEARCH IT ONLINE, AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT ON BMW, AND THEY NEVER RECALL THEM. THAT THEY HAVE EVEN BEEN ON FIRE DUE TO THIS. I CALLED BMW AND THEY TOLD ME THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL THEN AND AFTER YOU FIT IT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS DUE TO HEAT.

• 12/29/2011· SEATS

  MY WIFE'S HEATED DRIVER SEAT BURNED A HOLE IN THE VINYL SEAT COVER AND THROUGH HER SWEATER. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE X3. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. ADDITIONALLY, A RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED FOR THE BMW 5 AND 3 SERIES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I HOPE THE NTSB CONDUCTS A QUICK RESPONSE. THANKS. *KB

• 12/28/2011· SEATS

  A DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED THE SEAT AND BURNED THROUGH LEAVING A HOLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED ME TO STEP ACCELERATOR MISTAKENLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW NEEDS TO RECALL ALL DEFECTED PARTS. *TR

• 12/22/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

• 12/16/2009· AIR BAGS

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS FRONTAL WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED $1100 BY THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64989.

• 12/15/2014· SEATS

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE HEATED SEAT GOT HOT ENOUGH TO BURN A HOLE IN THE SEAT. WHEN I FELT THE HOT SPOT I TURNED OFF THE HEATER AND THERE WAS NO FIRE. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE INTERNET THAT THIS ISN'T THAT UNCOMMON AND I WAS HOPING THE NHTSA COULD WORK TOWARDS A RECALL SO THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM COULD GET IT WARRANTED AND BMW WOULD HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO MAKE SURE THEY IMPROVE ON THIS SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN A VOL. FIREFIGHTER AND I KNOW FIRST HAND HOW QUICKLY ( ALMOST INSTANTLY) A VEHICLE WILL BECOME FULLY ENGULFED. THANK YOU. *TR

• 12/14/2009· STRUCTURE

  BMW X3 2005. PURCHASED LAST DECEMBER WITH 43,115 MILES. CURRENTLY HAS 48,000+. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOUR TIMES FOR INTERIOR OF CAR BEING WET. LAST VISIT TO MECHANIC WAS LAST WEEK AND IT IS WET INSIDE AGAIN. MECHANIC HAS CHECKED AND CLEANED DRAINAGE TUBES. HAS CHECKED SUNROOF. HAS NOT FOUND A SPECIFIC MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE LEAKING. *TR

• 12/13/2017· POWER TRAIN

  IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN BMW X3, 2005 3.0L ARE KIND OF DELAYED. I NOTICED WHILE I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND SPEED IS ACCELERATING REAL WELL TO THE POINT WHEN GEAR SUPPOSED TO BE SWITCHED BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE TO TEMPORARILY, FOR ONE SEC, REDUCE THE GAS ACCELERATION AND THEN IT IS SHIFTING. AS A RESULT, THE CAR DRIVES IS ON LOWER GEARS THAN IT SHOULD. THE ENGINE RMP IS ALWAYS ON A HIGH SIDE. I AM WONDERING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. WILL THE CHANGE OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE THIS BEHAVIOR. I HAVE SEEN BLOG WHICH TALK ABOUT EGS UPDATE BMW X3.

• 12/11/2011· SEATSFire

  I HAVE A 2005 X3! THIS MORNING MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT NEARLY WENT UP IN FLAMES!! SO SCARY!! LUCKY I WASN'T IN TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS ABLE TO JUMP OUT AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL NUMBER FOR THE HEATED SEATS YET? I HAVE SEEN ALLOT OF ISSUES WITH THE BMW 04-08 X3 HEATED SEATS. MOST PEOPLE ARE GETTING BURNT AND THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR US OWNER WHILE DRIVING. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE, LUCKY IT WAS ME DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE. THANK YOU *TR

• 12/09/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA INFLATORS, HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND BMW DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NO ANSWER

• 12/09/2008· AIR BAGS

  I OWN A BMW X3 THAT HAS THE FRONT AIR BAG MAT SENSOR PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN NOTED WORLDWIDE BMW RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT NOTED THE X3 WITH SPORT SEATS BEING PART OF THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH ALL OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME SEAT HAS BEEN NOTED. I JUST HAD MY X3 SERVICED, AND ALSO ASK THEM TO REPAIR THE SEAT MAT THAT HAS FAILED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS SEAT WAS NOT LISTED, BUT DID HAVE THE COMMON FAILURE THAT HAS BROUGHT FORWARD THE RECALL. I AM ASKING THAT NHTSA NOTIFY BMW AND INSIST THAT THEY HAVE LEFT OUT THE X3 WITH SPORT SEATS. *TR

• 12/05/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSFire

  SEAT WARMER CAUGHT ON FIRE! WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, I TURNED ON BOTH MANUFACTURER-INSTALLED FRONT SEAT WARMERS (OUTSIDE TEMP. 36 DEGREES FARENHEIT) FOR MY SON AND I. I FELT A PINCHING ON UPPER LEFT THIGH / BUTTOCK. THOUGHT IT WAS A BUG. SHIFTED IN THE SEAT, AND FELT IT AGAIN, MORE PAINFUL THIS TIME. LIFTED MYSELF FROM THE SEAT A BIT TO LOOK AT THE SEAT AND SEE WHAT WAS POKING OR PINCHING ME, SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF A NEW HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. LOOKED THROUGH THE HOLE, AND SAW FLAMES AND SMELLED BURNING. IMMEDIATELY, TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, REACHED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT SMOLDERED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MINUTES. CALLED MY SPOUSE TO CHECK IF IT WAS STILL SMOLDERING, BUT IT HAD STOPPED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT.

• 12/03/2013· SEATS

  WHILE DRIVING TO WORK (APPROX. 2 MILE TRIP) ON A COLD MORNING (OUTSIDE TEMP 18 DEG F) TURNED ON DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED CAR SEAT AT MAXIMUM SETTING. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE SEAT HEATER HAD FUNCTIONED PROPERLY ALTHOUGH LEFT SIDE OF SEAT ALWAYS SEEMED TO SOMEWHAT HOTTER THAN REST OF SEAT. WITHIN 1.5 MILE, SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT BOTTOM 2/3 BACK FROM FRONT AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG BURNING PLASTIC ODOR IN THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF SEAT HEATER. ARRIVED AT OFFICE AND UPON INSPECTION, DISCOVERED A BLACKENED BURNT SPOT ON THE SEAT LEATHER AT THE LOCATION WHERE EXTREME HEAT HAD BEEN. *TR

• 12/02/2010· STRUCTURE

  HATCH BACK IS LEAKING WATER INTO THE HATCHBACK OF X3. WATER LEAKAGE IN FRONT OF CAR FROM HOOD INTO BILATERAL SIDES OF DASH BOARD WHICH DAMAGED CARPET AND BELONGINGS. *TR

• 11/29/2014· SEATSFire

  WHILE DRIVING MY BMW X3 2005, I TURNED MY SEAT WARMER ON AND IT ENDED UP BURNING A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT. MY PANTS WERE BURNED AND SO WAS I. LUCKILY I HAD TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OR SHOCK DURING MY DRIVE. *TR

• 11/28/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSFire

  THE SEAT HEATER IN MY 2005 BMW X3 CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNED MY LEFT BUTT CHEEK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY LEFT BUTT CHEEK WAS BURNED A LITTLE BUT I WAS OTHERWISE UNINJURED. I READ ONLINE THAT A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME/SIMILAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR AS ME HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT. THERE IS CLEARLY A MAJOR FLAW IN THE SEAT HEATER AND IT COULD POSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD A FIRE OCCUR AND THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO LEAVE THE CAR RIGHT AWAY. BMW SHOULD RECALL AND/OR PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR OF THE SEAT. *TR

• 11/27/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT ATTEMPTED FOR 10/27/16. PETER PAN BMW CANCELED APPOINTMENT AND NOTIFIED ME THE PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATE FOR DELIVERY. 30 DAYS HAVE PASSED WITH NO UPDATES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL.

• 11/24/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

  I'D UNLOCKED MY DOOR AND WHEN I TRIED TO CLOSE IT, IT WOULDN'T CLOSE LIKE IT SHOULD. IT'S LIKE THE ACTUATOR WAS STUCK & WOULDN'T CLOSE. IT DOES THIS FOR A FEW MINUTES OF ME CRANKING AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. FINALLY, AFTER I CRANK IT UP AGAIN, IT JUST CLOSES LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED! I WAS STUCK IN A PHARMACY PARKING LOT FOR LIKE 15 MINUTES THINKING OF HOW I WAS GOING TO GET HOME BECAUSE MY DOOR DIDN'T CLOSE! VERY, VERY INCONVENIENT! I ALMOST HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK & WOULD'VE BEEN OUT OF A COUPLE HUNDRED OF DOLLARS FOR THIS!!! WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN!!!?! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED! *TR

• 11/24/2013· SEATS

  DRIVER SEAT HEAT MAT GOT TOO HOT CAUSING SMOKE, DAMAGE TO CLOTHING, AND SKIN INJURY IN LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER TURNING THE SYSTEM ON HIGH. THE SEAT HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY THE DAY BEFORE. THE SEAT COVER IS VISIBLY DAMAGED AT A SINGLE POINT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. THE SPOT IS ON THE LEFT SEAT PAN BOLSTER 2/3'S BACK FROM THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT PAN. *TR

• 11/23/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSFire

  HEATED DRIVERS SEAT BURNED THROUGH LEATHER AND SCORCHED DRIVERS PANTS. *TR

• 11/19/2013· SEATS

  DRIVER'S SEAT AT LEFT LEG BOLSTER AREA HEATS UP WHEN SEAT HEATER ELEMENT IS ACTIVATED. SHOCKING OR BURNING SENSATION IS FELT DUE TO OVERHEAT PROBLEM. *TR

• 11/17/2016· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE INTERNAL WIRING OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF FALLING APART LEAVING BARE CONDUCTORS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS, ADAPTIVE MOTOR DRIVES, AND DECORATIVE LIGHTING TO BE INTERMITTENT AND FAIL. WITH THE BARE CONDUCTORS, AN APPRECIABLE FIRE HAZARD EXISTS.

• 11/17/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  STARTED THE CAR AND STARTED DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. AS TURNING THE CORNER VERY SLOWLY, THE REAR WHEEL WENT OVER THE CURB. AT THAT POINT CAR STARTED ACCELERATING RAPIDLY AND HITTING THE BRAKE DIDN'T HELP. CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF THE BUILDING, AT LEAST AT 30 MPH AND THE CAR GOT TOTALED. CONTACTED BMW AND THEY SAID THEY'LL SEND AN INSPECTION ENGINEER. HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. *NM

• 11/16/2015· AIR BAGS

  PER MY LETTER FROM BMW, I AM TO NOTIFY NHTSA THAT BMW IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE AIRBAG RECALL SITUATION WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER IN JULY 2015 AND CALLED BMW TODAY 11-16-15 TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE PARTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG.

• 11/15/2012· AIR BAGS

  THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM FOR THE 2004 MODEL, BUT NOT THE 2005 MODEL. *TR

• 11/14/2016· AIR BAGS

  TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL BACK ON JULY 2015 AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT I CAN HAVE THIS FIXED! I HAD A TOYOTA VEHICLE THAT WAS REMEDIED VERY QUICKLY! THIS RECALL SHOULD NOT TAKE OVER A YEAR TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM DRIVING THIS CAR AND WANT THIS DOCUMENTED!

• 11/13/2009· AIR BAGS

  TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; I AM A CANADIAN CITIZEN, HOWEVER THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES A VEHICLE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN THE USA. I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW X3, WHICH IS EXHIBITING THE ISSUE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000, AS FOLLOWS.... RECALL: 2004-2006 BMW X3 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV MANUFACTURER BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC RECALL DATE: JUL 18, 2008 POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 DESCRIPTION AIR BAGS:FRONTAL SUMMARY BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCE IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING LATE SEPTEMBER 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. AFTER CONTACTING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, THEY INFORMED ME MY VIN / VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS, AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED IN MY VEHICLE. THERE MAY BE MANY MORE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT THEN THOSE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

• 11/11/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  2005 BMW 320I . TAIL LIGHT INDICATOR WARNING CAME ON. TURNS OUT THE WIRE WAS MELTED AROUND THE METAL WHERE THE WIRE PLUGS INTO TAIL LIGHT!! VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX! *TR

• 11/06/2015· SEATSFire

  THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER HAS OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MY PANTS. THERE APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND A NHTSA RECALL BULLETIN NUMBER 04V575000 FOR OLDER 5 SERIES VEHICLES. I THINK THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE EXPANDED SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR.......UPDATED 12/03/15*BF *TR

• 11/06/2013· SEATS

  I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE ON MY 2005 BMW X3 AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER MY LEG STARTED TO GET VERY HOT. I REACHED DOWN WITH MY HAND AND IT WAS SO HOT THAT IT BURNT MY HAND. I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE AND QUICKLY TURNED OFF MY HEATED SEAT. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED ON MY DRIVER SEAT AND NOTICED A SMALL BROWN BURNT SPOT ON THE LEFT SIDE CUSHION OF MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THANKFULLY I NOTICED IT RIGHT AWAY, IF IT WAS ON ANY LONGER I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY BURNT. *TR

• 11/05/2015· ENGINE

  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.

• 11/03/2007· SEATS

  DRIVERS SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH VINYL SEAT CAUSING A HOLE IN SEAT AND BURN TO DRIVER. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER BEING REPAIRED. CAR WAS AT DEALER DAY BEFORE BECAUSE OF IGNITION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. NEXT DAY INCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

• 11/02/2015· SEATS

  TWO MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. LOWER LEFT LUMBAR SECTION OF THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT, FELT HOT INSTANTLY EVEN THROUGH A WINTER COAT AND SWEATSHIRT. IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF. EXTREMELY CONSIDERED THE CAR WOULD CATCH FIRE. CAR HAS 102,000 MILES. NO VISIBLE WEAR OR BURN MARKS ON THIS SEAT.

• 11/01/2014· SEATS

  DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT HEATS UP TO THE POINT OF INJURY. UNUSABLE. *TR

• 10/30/2015· AIR BAGS

  THE ISSUE BEGAN WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. THE ISSUE HAS ESCALATED INTO THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT ON PERMANENTLY. THE DEALER AND BMW OF NA CLAIMED THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS FOR 2005 BMW X3 E83S. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO FIND IT, HOWEVER THEY CLAIM THE VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP. BMW OF NA AND DEALERS REFUSE TO REPAIR UNDER THE SB. BMW TSB B72 200 05 BMW TSB B72 207 04 BMW TSB SI B65 19 08

• 10/29/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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.

• 10/28/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  AIR BAGS STARTED BLINKING LAST WEEK AND NOW IT JUST STAYS ON. BMW WEBSITE STATES MY CAR IS NOT COVER IN RECENT TAKATA AIR BAGS RECALL. ALSO, YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN RAIN CAR'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GETTING JERKY, STICKY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY CREATING A DANGEROUS DRIVING. THE CABIN LIGHTS ALSO STARTED TO GO ON & OFF DURING MY DRIVE HOME... WHEN I REACH HOME THE RADIO STAYED ON WHEN THE CAR IGNITION WAS OFF AND ONLY TURNED OFF WHEN I TURN-OFF THE RADIO. CHECK FUSE AND AIR BAG WIRING BUT SO SIGNS OF LOOSE WIRES AND BAD FUSE. CAUSE OF PROBLEMS UNKNOWN. PROBLEMS REMAINS UNCHANGED TODAY.

• 10/19/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

• 10/13/2012· POWER TRAIN

  2005 BMW X3 TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. POWER WILL STOP BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE WHEELS PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE OR STOP IN TRAFFIC. *TR

• 10/03/2014· AIR BAGS

  AFTER 4 WEEKS OF RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE AND MANY CALLS TO BMW NORTH AMERICA THEY TELL ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" AND IMPLIED THAT THEY ARE IN NO HURRY TO SATISFY CUSTOMERS! THEY HAVE ALSO WARNED ME SEVERAL TIMES NOT TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT! *TR

• 09/26/2014· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. ..UPDATED 10/21/14 *BF

• 09/25/2012· SEATS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE HEATED SEAT WARMER IN ACTIVATION WHEN SUDDENLY THE HEATING ELEMENT BEGAN TO PENETRATE THE CONTACT'S CLOTHING WITH AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF HEAT. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATED THE HEATED SEAT WARMER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE HEATED SEAT WARMER TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF

• 09/23/2016· AIR BAGS

  I RECEIVED A PRINTED NOTIFICATION FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC DATED JULY 2015 UNDER THE SUBJECT MATTER: "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-318: DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE." SINCE I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION, 13 MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND STILL I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM CATONSVILLE BMW IN MARYLAND REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND STILL OWNS IT, I AM DRIVING IT RISKING MY LIFE AND LIMB FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. IT IS THEREFORE REQUESTED THAT NECESSARY ACTIONS BE TAKEN FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG OF MY 2005 BMW 325I BY CATONSVILLE BMW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVERT POTENTIAL DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND LIMB OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU. *TR

• 09/23/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  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.

• 09/18/2012· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

  I ORIGINALLY ASKED SEATTLE BMW TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM OF THE SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM BUZZER SOUNDING WHEN THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (2007) AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. UPON DRIVING HOME TO OLYMPIA, WA THE BUZZER BEGAN SOUNDING AGAIN AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. RECENTLY, I WAS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED AT THE NORTHWEST BMW DEALERSHIP IN TACOMA. I WAS TOLD THE COST WOULD BE APPROX. $1600. ANOTHER CUSTOMER THERE WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT MY SITUATION AND TOLD ME HIS FRIEND HAS THE SAME YEAR (2005) X3 AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DESPITE THE BMW RECALL 08V384000, THE DEALER AS WELL AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAY THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE "CORPORATE" RESPONSE TO ALL OWNERS. FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS ARE IN DANGER SHOULD THESE VEHICLES BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DOT NEEDS TO GET ON THIS ISSUE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS! *TR *JS

• 09/15/2014· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  I BELIEVE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (AKA SZL) IN MY 2005 BMW X3 IS FAULTY AND THUS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK GIVEN ITS ROLE IN PROVIDING INPUTS TO THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC) SYSTEM. IT CERTAINLY WARRANTS INVESTIGATION. MY VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO AN UNCONTROLLED SKID ON THREE OCCASIONS, EACH TIME WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL AT MODERATE SPEEDS ON CURVES. (ONLY ONCE DID IT DO SO FOLLOWING A LIGHT RAIN; ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY.) LUCKILY, NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES ENSUED. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM THE YEAR I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 2010; THE PREVIOUS OWNER LIKEWISE HAD NOTICED THE ISSUE AND INFORMED ME OF IT AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TODAY, SEPT. 15, 2014, MY LOCAL BMW DEALER PROPOSED REPLACING THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SZL) IN OUR VEHICLE, SAYING A READOUT OF THE FAULT CODES DETECTED FAULTS IN THE SENSOR. I HAVE ELECTED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AT A COST OF $1098. BASED ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE, WHICH SOME CURSORY INVESTIGATING ON MY PART APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM SHARED BY MULTIPLE OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES, I URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *TR

• 09/12/2013· AIR BAGS

  MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT OVERHEAD, EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED AND BUCKLED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH MY CAR MODEL AND YEAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SUMMARY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V384000), ACCORDING TO THEM IT WAS NOT AFFECTED AND WILL NOT BE PAID FOR--EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS IS DETAILED IN THE SUMMARY. READING THROUGH OTHER FORUMS AND THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MORE VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED THAN WHAT WAS INITIALLY COVERED IN THE RECALL. *TR

• 08/30/2013· AIR BAGS

  I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON SEPULVEDA BLVD IN LOS ANGELES ON JULY 29TH,2013 AROUND 10:00 PM WITH MY BROTHER, SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND BRUISED MY BROTHER'S RIGHT ARM MY CAR STOPPED OPERATING AND WE CALLED PAYLESS TOW TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO RUSNAK BMW IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE DEPT IN REGARDS TO MY CAR AIRBAG INCIDENT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY STATE FARM TO SEE IF THEY PROVIDE COVERAGE, THEY TOLD SINCE THIS WAS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY POLICY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY BMW CORPORATION. THEY HAVE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND PAY FOR MY BROTHER INJURY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTION I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD THANK YOU, SINCERELY MS.SHAHRZAD BABAEIAN