There are 4 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2004 BMW X3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SIGN OF A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND POWER COMPLETELY FAILED RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
I PURCHASED A 'CERTIFIED" BMW 330I IN DECEMBER OF 2006 AND HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED, INSTRUMENT CARRIER REPLACED, BOTH PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED, SUNROOF REPAIRED, HEADLINER REPAIRED (IT JUST FELL DOWN ONE DAY). THE CAR WON'T START RIGHT UP, AND WHEN IT DOES IT RUNS REAL HARD AND THE RPM GOES UP SUDDENLY, THE CAR TAKES A MINUTE BEFORE IT WILL EVEN MOVE & THEN IT DOES SO FAST! I HAVE HAD IT IN SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER ISN'T SHOWING ANYTHING, SO IT WILL HAVE TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY CAN DIAGNOSE IT. WOW! I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 8 MOS. AND I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER. I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY DETERMINE A CAR TO BE CERTIFIED? IT SURE DOESN'T SEEM AS THOUGH IT WAS CHECKED TOO THOROUGHLY TO ME. AND OH DID I MENTION I HAD TO TAKE IT TO GOODYEAR TODAY FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES, THAT BMW WOULDN'T COVER. THANKS GOODYEAR AT LEAST YOU STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCTS! THIS IS MY 2ND BMW AND MY LAST! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA!!! *TR
DT: 2004 BMW MOTORCYCLE 1150R VIN ZF49715 DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM PART, FUEL LINE QUICK RELEASE; CONNECTOR "S",BMW PART #13317659119. PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTOR SPONTANEOUSLY FRACTURED, SPRAYING FUEL ON HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. HAD THERE BEEN A SPARK THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP IN THE STREET. A BMW TECHNICIAN SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER A YEAR OR SO THE MATERIAL WHEN EXPOSED TO FUEL BECAME BRITTLE. MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK
MOTORCYCLE: 2004 BMW R1150R, VIN ENDING IN ZF49715 DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM PART: FUEL LINE QUICK RELEASE "CONNECTORS", PART NO. 13317659119. PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTOR SPONTANEOUSLY FRACTURED, SPRAYING FUEL ON HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. HAD THERE BEEN A SPARK THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BURNED UP IN THE STREET. BMW TECHNICIAN TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER A YEAR OR SO, THE MATERIAL, WHEN EXPOSED TO FUEL, BECAME BRITTLE. HE WAS SURPRISED THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL. I SUSPECT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF UNREPORTED INCIDENTS WITH THIS PART, SOME OF WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I WAS STRANDED FOR QUITE A WHILE, BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE SPONTANEOUS RUPTURE THE ENGINE HAD TO BE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND THE MOTORCYCLE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. *NM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026