There are 3 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2012 BMW X3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
IN A SINGLE SITTING VEHICLE IN PARK, ENGINE REVVED TO 2500 THEN TO 3500 AND THEN TO REDLINE (APPROX 7500RPM). I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND WAITED 5 MINUTES. STARTED ENGINE AND SHIFTED TO REVERSE. ENGINE REVVED TO 2500 AND I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENGINE. WAITED 10 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN. AFTER A PERIOD OF IDLING PROCEEDED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND ALL WAS NORMAL. *TR
2012 BMW X3. AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR UNCONTROLLABLY SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS BOTH TIMES AND CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF CAR. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS IN FRONT OF CAR OR THE UNTHINKABLE WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM NO OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAVE HAPPENED. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN ALSO SAID THERE WERE NO TSB'S RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND WILL ADVISE WITHIN 1-3 DAYS. *JS
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
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