2018 BMW X3 Complaint Log

While driving on the interstate lost coolant through the oil cooler housing. I had to quickly get to the shoulder of the road having to cross several lanes of traffic. The car had to be towed. I had it towed to the dealership where I purchased it as I paid for an extended warranty. Warranty company denied the claim. Through research I am finding this is an issue with BMWs as they part is plastic and does not stand up well with the temperature changes it is subjected to. This needs to be a recall. The car is still in the shop, 45 days later. Approximate cost to repair $2,840.00 plus tax.

Vehicle lost coolant and warned me to pull over because of the engine overheating. Later was diagnosed with a leaking oil filter housing. Simply too early for such a component to fail. Left my wife stranded miles away from home in the snow.

BMW installed a part that is failing quite a number of vehicles including this vehicle. The oil filter housing was not properly constructed at the factory. Fails.

Oil pump failure due to plastic brittle materials failing prematurely. It is a common problem that is well documented across the owners that have this vehicle.

This problem has occurred to me now twice. Both occurrences were on very cold days where the temperature was below 20 degrees F. The car starts promptly and runs, but the entire dashboard electronic instrument cluster is non-functioning and dark . In this condition, you cannot tell your speed, engine rpm, fuel level, engine temperature, or any mileage numbers. The turn signals also do not work. The headlights and the iDrive screen and the climate control were all lit properly and functioned. I did not think to check the brake or tailights, unfortunately. Multiple restarts of the car had no effect, and so I drove home without the dash functions. After the car sat overnight in my garage (which is somewhat warmer) the dash lights returned to their proper function.

The Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor Mat (CIS) in my 2018 BMW X3 failed at 56,000 miles. This failure is confirmed by the specific BMW fault code 930A1C (Seat Occupancy Detector Malfunction) stored in the Advanced Crash Safety Module (ACSM). The component is currently installed in the vehicle and available for inspection. This defect poses a severe safety risk: the system fails to consistently detect a seated front passenger. As a result, the passenger airbag may be disabled and fail to deploy in a collision, significantly increasing the risk of injury or death. The dashboard displays a "Passenger Restraint System" malfunction warning, accompanied by an airbag light and chime. The issue is intermittent and load-dependent. It triggers specifically when an adult passenger occupies the seat for extended periods (e.g., highway driving), indicating a physical fatigue failure of the sensor mat grid under compression. I diagnosed the fault using BMW factory-level diagnostics. However, both the local BMW dealership and BMW North America have refused to cover the diagnosis or repair under the existing warranty extension (SIB 72 01 25) for this exact component, stating my specific VIN is excluded despite the vehicle exhibiting the known safety defect.

A BMW dealership has indicated that the motor mounts on my vehicle need to be replaced. My vehicle has under 29,000 miles, and these parts are designed to last for 60,000 to 100,000 miles. A premature collapse of the motor mounts indicates a manufacturing defect, material weakness or installation error from the factory. I understand that this defect is common for 2018-2020 X3 models. The vehicle did not display any symptoms of this defect and no indicators were displayed on the on-screen monitor.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving over 45 MPH, the Lane Departure and Blind Spot features deactivated unintendedly. The message that the system was deactivated was displayed. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

Coolant leak. Oil filter housing coolant leak. Water pump leak. Coolant leaked while driving, and vehicle was not driveable after arriving at the dealership when all the coolant purged out of the vehicle.

Drivers left front daytime running lights failed after <4 years from warranty replacement. 3rd set of lights in under 7 years on this vehicle.

PCV valve issues. Failing PCV valve. I bought my car in 2020 certified pre owned and having issues wi the the PCV Valve similar to the recall for 2018 BMW x3 M40.

Light indicator showed low coolant levels. Car was leaking coolant slowly. Filled up coolant but levels continued to go down. Brought to mechanic and they had to remove oil filter housing to replace failing gasket. Car is about 113K miles.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 55,000.

The windshield was replaced due to a crack from road debris. It was replaced with a Fuyoa 43R-0117043; DOT1038M544AS1. The car has head up display. The new windshield is highly reflective when driving during sunny day, and the head up display equipment is reflecting on the windshield in the middle of driver's view and very distracting. The previous windshield had a minimal reflection of head up display during daytime sun but not a driver distraction. BMW service (installed the windshield with OEM part) rep drove the car and observed the strong reflection. The service rep checked with BMW engineers who reported this is an issue they are receiving more reports about but the rep said there is nothing BMW will do in response to this safety complaint. He indicated the windshield is OEM and to specifications. There are no warning lamps or messages related to the new windshield, only this driver's observation of negative change in view while driving. The reflection does not occur when the car is in the shade.

Vehicle: 2018 BMW X3 VIN: [XXX] My 2018 BMW X3 has had continuous oil and coolant leaks for several years. Major parts have already been replaced including the turbocharger, oil cooler, water pump, turbo lines, radiator hose, thermostat, and valve cover gaskets. The dealer recently confirmed my crankshaft seals are leaking. These issues are consistent with a defective Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system, which causes excess crankcase pressure and oil leaks. BMW issued an Extended Limited Warranty for PCV/valve cover defects on other models but said my VIN isn’t included—even though I’m experiencing the same failure pattern. This creates potential fire and safety hazards from oil leaking onto hot engine components, as well as the risk of sudden engine failure and environmental hazards from oil dripping onto roads. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether 2018 BMW X3 vehicles should be included in BMW’s PCV/valve cover recall or extended warranty coverage. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

BMW uses plastic coolant pipes which become brittle and crack causing huge issue with entire coolant system. It’s a known issue for bmw repair facilities including engine failure

Around April 2025, While driving at highway speeds for approximately 1hour with cruise control engaged, vehicle suddenly began to decelerate as if I had taken my foot off the throttle. Pressing the throttle had no effect on engine RPM or vehicle speed as the vehicle continued to decelerate. Tapping the brakes then pressing the throttle had no effect as vehicle continued to decelerate. I was able to negotiate across lanes of highway traffic at low speed to reach shoulder with no throttle control. After coming to a stop on the highway shoulder, pressing the throttle failed to rev the engine or move the vehicle forward in drive. After placing transmission in reverse, the vehicle did back up normally allowing me to put the car in a safer position on the shoulder. After turning off the ignition and restarting, the vehicle operated normally. I was able to complete my trip without incident. I did not engage the cruise control. A few days later, I took the vehicle to an BMW dealer service center but no error codes or malfunctions were identified. A second incident similar to the first occurred in August 2025. Again, I was able to reach the shoulder without serious incident. After turning off the ignition and restarting, the vehicle operated normally. I was able to complete my trip. I did not engage the cruise control.

Passenger Seat Occupancy mat in the seat failed which disabled the passenger airbags. So it is very unsafe to drive the car now. This problem applies to many other BMW cars for which the warranty was extended. Unfortunately my car is not included in the warranty extension and out of pocket cost to repair it is $2500. I can’t afford to fix it. I believe that many other owners experience the same problem leading them to drive unsafe cars or disabling the system using aftermarket solutions. I truly believe that for the safety reasons BMW should extend the warranty for the model of my car.

I cannot take the vehicle to the dealership to have the recall performed. I have spoken with the closest dealership and they will not provide a driver or towing services unless I pay for it. The letter I received from BMW indicates if my "BMW center is unable to remedy the defect without charge or a reasonable period of time", I should notify the NHTSA. Unless BMW follows federal guidelines, I cannot have the recall remedied. I would like some options or relief so that the recall can be performed.

When the temperature is cold, the instrument cluster won’t turn on.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the "Engine Coolant Level Low" and "Engine Overheating" warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an Auto Parts store and purchased a gallon of coolant. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir and became aware of a puddle of coolant underneath the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 48 MPH, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot, and the “Warning – Pull Over - Engine Overheating” was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to allow the engine to cool down. The contact restarted the vehicle however, the message that the engine was overheating was again displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that several days later the vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that coolant was leaking from the bottom of the reservoir, and that the coolant feed lines, return lines, O-rings, coolant pump, connectors, seal for the intake system, and the oil filter housing component system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

headlights flash due to possible faulty switch. very bad safely problem that affects other cars

Digital dashboard which show speed, RPM, fuel, temp and other important information randomly goes blank while driving. It will come back on by itself or after restarting the car. This has happened many times.

I was driving car on clear roadway and received a warning to go to service. I smelled burning and saw smoke coming from front hood. Got onto shoulder, got out of car and flames started - falling to ground first and then entire engine was consumed.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

One morning, I tried to back my door out of garage and I couldn’t. I found front tire could not be turned. Found that front tire steering tie rod is snapped into 2 pieces. Further inspection showed that the steering rod had some deflects before broken. I took the photos to show the evidence.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there were several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the rear and side view cameras were disabled, and the Forward Collision Avoidance system was disabled. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and it was determined that the steering wheel torque sensors had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact observed that the temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and waited more than 30 minutes for the engine to cool down and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact had to stop again when the engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an electrical failure with the windows lowering independently, and the door locks locking and unlocking independently. The contact stated that the heater was no longer functioning as designed. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Passneger occupancy sensor keeps failing due to a known issue with BMW X3 G01. Seat wiring circuit keeps experiencing electrical problems and failing to detect passenger. This can lead to airbags not deploying in the event of collision. Third time the issue has been repaired and customer was responsible for almost $1200 in costs

my car has a recall, and dealer told me it can not be solved. for this reason, I can not rent my car in Turo due to incomplete recall, and I also have safety concerns

The sos antenna in our x3 had a leak around the seal due to a poor design. Over time the tcb got corroded and caused an sos system malfunction. I have researched other cases in which a malfunction had not popped up, but still replicated the same issues as with the warning. Part of the module is the automatic sos help, if one were to get into an accident and rely on this system not realizing it was faulty, it could result in much slower response times if said person were unable to access a phone able to call proper emergency response teams.

For about 1 year now when there is someone in the passenger seat the car will randomly stop recognizing the seat is occupied and deactivate the air bags on the passenger side front. I took the car to bmw where it was diagnosed as a faulty seat mat. I called bmw corporate to try to get this issue resolved and they were unable to cover it under any warranty. After the battery replacement the car has lost all communication with the passenger seat safety restraints and now has a permanent air bag light

While reversing heard a clanking noise (like a heavy wrench falling off from few feet). Came out and checked and found a broken piece of suspension coil spring near the front left wheel. Checked the inner portion of the coil with hand and felt uneven surface on the lower part of the coil similar to the unevenness on the broken part. Remaining coil is still hard to move and seems to be in place. Car is only 6 yrs old and driven for less than 35k miles. Asked around with local shops and they say with this age and miles it should not crack like this and could be a quality issue. No rust is visible and remaining part of coil looks intact. Please check photo as well.

2018 BMW X3 M40i - after the car was washed in a car wash, the tailgate started opening and closing on its own. Would open all the way up, wait a few seconds then close all the way down and lock itself. It happened about 20 times until it stopped on its own. This started immediately after the car was parked in the garage. Did not happen while driving. The button on the remote control was not pressed at all. The tailgate would beep and flash the taillights when opening and closing.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated while his wife was driving 65 MPH, a message advising to stop driving was displayed, and the vehicle simultaneously shifted into neutral(N) independently. The vehicle stalled in the middle of the highway and failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message advising to drive with caution was displayed after several minutes, and the contact was able to continue driving upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking from a hose. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that excessive engine temperature could have damaged the cylinder head and the rod bearings. The dealer recommended replacing the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that his son-in-law then towed the vehicle to another facility, where the vehicle was diagnosed by a mechanic; however, no engine failure or coolant leak were found. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 152,942.

The oil filter housing, which is made of plastic, cracked while the vehicle was running on the highway, leading to sudden loss of the all the coolant and engine overheating.

My 2018 BMW X3 xdrive30i G01 series has been experiencing persistent overheating issues, even in cold temperatures as low as 40 degrees. The coolant reservoir boils vigorously while driving, but the temperature gauge does not indicate overheating, and no warning lights appear. The only alert displayed is a low coolant warning instructing to refill coolant or to top off. Recently, I noticed coolant and other fluids leaking from underneath the vehicle, along with a strong burning smell coming from the engine. Adding BMW brand antifreeze/coolant did not resolve the issue. Despite these ongoing issues, the authorized BMW dealership has refused to inspect the cooling system further because no fault codes appear. Independent repair shops have also been unable to diagnose the root cause. This presents a serious safety risk. The vehicle is overheating without warning, which could result in sudden engine failure while driving. The boiling coolant, burning smell, and fluid leaks also raise concerns about a potential fire hazard. This vehicle is now undrivable and unsafe. I urge NHTSA to immediately investigate potential cooling system and sensor defects in this model.

The sunroof drains of the vehicle become easily clogged. When this happens, water drains into the battery compartment and interior of the vehicle. Although BMW is aware of this, and the attendant danger of having water pooling in the battery compartment, they have not addressed the issue. There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the problem.

The trunk on the vehicle can be opened while on the freeway. If you bump the trunk open switch or key fob button the trunk will open even when the car is in motion leading to personal belongings being thrown all over the road. This is a massive issue that should have been caught and fixed immediately.

Something is wrong with the BMW OEM windshields with HUD. I have had to completely replace 3 in 5 years. In between replacements have had Safeliite try and fill pits in it. My last windshield lasted 21 days before cracking on the side at the very edge. I was driving and the road construction had very uneven lane heights so the car was higher on the passenger side. All of the sudden I heard a crack. The was not rock or debris that hit the windshield. There have been lots of complaints about the BMW windshields with HUD especially the X series SUV’s. People are saying softer glass. All I know is this is dangerous and BMW is up charging for replacement windshields if you don’t have insurance or a warranty. The cost is in the thousands for the replacement. I’ve never had a car that had such issues with the windshield being damaged so easily and or faulty glass. My last windshield replacement was 6/29/23, cracked 7/20/23

Rear camera is malfunctioning. It blinks and then goes black.

I am writing to report a potential safety problem with my 2018 BMW X3, VIN: (provide VIN here if available), that was purchased in May 2018 and has covered 36,000 miles since then. The vehicle has always been garaged and well-maintained. A few weeks ago, I experienced a critical malfunction with the vehicle's moonroof. I opened it normally, but it failed to close afterwards. I should note that this was merely the 4th or 5th time I have ever operated the moonroof since the car was purchased. As of now, the moonroof remains in the open position unable to close it even manually. With summer on the horizon, the interior of the car is exposed to direct sunlight and increasing temperatures. This situation raises significant concerns for my family, particularly the potential health risks to my 7-year-old daughter due to prolonged exposure to excessive heat and sunlight. Upon experiencing this issue, I contacted the service department for troubleshooting. The technicians diagnosed the issue as a problem with the interior sunshade motor, an electrical issue that necessitates a labor-intensive process to fix, including the removal of the vehicle's headliner. Subsequently, I reached out to BMW North America, seeking support and resolution for this significant malfunction. To my disappointment, they declined to acknowledge the problem or offer any assistance towards remediation. This response was unexpected and unsatisfactory, considering the potential health risks and safety concerns the malfunctioning moonroof poses to occupants of the vehicle. I respectfully request your department to investigate this matter and take appropriate action to protect the safety and wellbeing of consumers who may be dealing with similar issues. This may well represent a widespread manufacturing defect that could affect numerous vehicles of the same make and model, thereby posing substantial risks to a large number of people. Thank you for your attention to this matter. The contact stated that the manufacturer initially told them that they would not handle the repairs. As of now, all communications from the manufacturer has stopped and no repairs have been.

Part number 17127799184 keeps melting. Over the years I have had multiple components under the hood to melt. I’ve replaced hydraulic lines, coolant reservoirs you name it. Most recently part number 17127799184 keeps melting. I’ve replaced this part three times. My car is currently at Bloomfield hill bmw of Michigan. They did a diagnostic but it states they cannot definitively tell me what’s causing the issue. They advise I start with replacing the heating module but cannot guarantee it will resolve the issue. They stated my car is producing no symptoms. I contacted the corporate office with hopes they would assist with a good will service request. However it appears not only do they not stand behind their products but apparently bmw’s are only meant to last 4-5 years. When questioned if it’s normal for components to continuously melt under the hood he agreed it is not. However refused to offer an equitable solution considering the issues I’ve had over the years and their mechanics currently not being able to state 100 percent what’s wrong with the automobile. When I told him my mother drove a Volvo for 20 years are you saying in 7 years parts on a car should melt? He didn’t offer a response wished me a happy holiday and concluded the call.

* Components: Per dealership, Heat exchanger (metal) and oil filter housing (plastic), oil filter housing supports the heat exchanger, vehicle inspected by dealership and available for further inspection. *Vehicle unexpectedly overheated while driving on interstate risking the safety of driver/passengers and others. Dealer's (manufacturer) technician stated that the heat from the metal exchanger warped the plastic oil filter housing causing coolant to leak from heat exchanger, thus not allowing coolant to circulate to engine (leaking out) and causing vehicle to overheat. Metal warping (or potentially melting) plastic seems hazardous *Dealer's technician (manufacturer) inspected and identified the problem and quoted a cost of $3,140.80 to repair (this is seemingly a manufacturer's design flaw). Vehicle's warning system displayed an alert that coolant level was low while driving on interstate and recommended adding coolant soon. Driver pulled over within 5 min of warning light and added coolant. Within 5 min of driving away, Vehicle's onboard warning system displayed warning that vehicle coolant was low and engine temperature was elevated but it was safe to drive a low speed and consult nearest dealership, 2 min afterwards, vehicle alerted driver that engine overheated and to stop vehicle and contact nearest dealership. Vehicle towed to nearest dealership.

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed; however, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to steer the vehicle into a gas station before the vehicle came to a complete stop. Car’s computer failed to indicate there were any hazardous issues nor dangerous concerns. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with brake master cylinder failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

First Failure 3/22- Vehicle makes clanking/rattling of metal sound when going over bumps. Sound is felt near driver caliper and rattles. Can be felt in steering. 4/22 Vehicle is taken to BMW for inspection; needed to come back as they couldn't figure it out. 5/22 Vehicle sound is replicated by BMW dealer service center. I have not received any warning messages or lights prior. Current lights that stay lit longer than usual are the assisted driving and the hazard. This has been since the power failure however. Vehicle has been out of service for a collective 150+ days this year. No remedy to to issue. 11/22 Car broke down again on the highway; extreme shaking, bouncing, loose and uncontrolled steering. 12/22 Car back in service and immediate rattle under front driver's side, loose steering and wobbly tires. Electrical failure, no start and all dash lights glowing. (possible battery issue). 1/23 Car is back to BMW for further inspection. No information yet I believe safety and others is at risk because there have been two times that I was driving and the car felt that is was not controllable. The BMW service center has had it in their garage 5 occasions without remedy. One certified mechanic has been unable to diagnose as well. Parts repaired: Struts, Guides, Swing Arm/Sway, Both front lower control arms, tires and drivers side CV axle.

Front headlights were replaced under warranty after daytime running lights both stopped working in Oct. 2021. Similar problem now on 9/4/25 approximately 4 years later, and BMW is leaving me to foot the bill on a barely 7 year old vehicle, forcing me to have 3 sets of lights on a car that is 7 years old.