2011 Bmw X3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw X3 has 163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: 2011 bmw x3. consumer states multiple drive train failures *tgw the consumer stated while driving, the vehicle lost power while passing another vehicle on a rural two lane highway. the vehicles computer system flashed a warning signal with a half engine icon stating: drive moderately. maximum drive. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 5 crash reports 1 injury

163

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

55 complaints

34%

• 2011 BMW X3. CONSUMER STATES MULTIPLE DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM FLASHED A WARNING SIGNAL WITH A HALF ENGINE ICON STATING: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVE
• WE LEASED THE ABOVE BMW X3DRIVE 35I (SHIPPED ON 3.30.2011) FROM HUSKER AUTO GROUP, BMW OF LINCOLN, NE ON MARCH 30, 2011 FOR A 3-YEAR PERIOD. IN MID APRIL I NOTICED A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR HAD 567 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WAS TAKEN BACK T
• A QUICK ACCELERATION FROM ZERO, AT ABOUT 25 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SPRING BEING UNWOUND. NO LIGHTS CAME ON, HOWEVER I CALLED SERVICE CENTER AT DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I WAS TOLD IF NO WARNING LIGHTS ON, THEN EVERYTHING MUST BE OK. A FEW MINUTES LATE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“2011 BMW X3. CONSUMER STATES MULTIPLE DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM FLASHED A WARNING SIGNAL WITH A HALF ENGINE ICON STATING: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

22 complaints

13%

• THE VEHICLE IS HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, CAUSING A LAG IN ACCELERATION, PARTICULARLY ON HILLS OR WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP.
• 2011 BMW X3. CONSUMER STATES MULTIPLE DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM FLASHED A WARNING SIGNAL WITH A HALF ENGINE ICON STATING: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVE
• CAR VEERING TO THE RIGHT, INCREASED ON SUDDEN STOPS; HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE PROMINENT AND DANGEROUS CONDITION IS LAG IN ACCELERATION. SENT THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL TO DEALER& BMW ALONG WITH 3 SERVICE REPORTS FROM DEALER ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS: "THIS X3 3.5I WITH ALL IT IS ELECTRONIC ENGINE/DRIVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE VEHICLE IS HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, CAUSING A LAG IN ACCELERATION, PARTICULARLY ON HILLS OR WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

22 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT MAD
• CAR VEERING TO THE RIGHT, INCREASED ON SUDDEN STOPS; HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE PROMINENT AND DANGEROUS CONDITION IS LAG IN ACCELERATION. SENT THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL TO DEALER& BMW ALONG WITH 3 SERVICE REPORTS FROM DEALER ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS: "THIS X3 3.5I WITH ALL IT IS ELECTRONIC ENGINE/DRIVE
• CAR REPORTS STEERING MALFUNCTION AND ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING ASSIST IS NOT PROVIDED. APPEARS SIMILAR TO ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING SYSTEM COVERED BY RECALL 11V341000, HOWEVER BMWNA CONFIRMS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT IMPACTED BY RECALL 11V341000. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT MAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

22 complaints

13%

• THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, IE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE HORN HONKS PERIODICALLY, THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF FUSES
• THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, IE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE HORN HONKS PERIODICALLY, THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF FUSES.
• MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL AND A YELLOW WARNING SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE I MANEUVERED A CORNER. I WAS COMING OUT OF THE TURN AND ACCELERATING WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP, AND THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ALMOST CAUS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, IE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE HORN HONKS PERIODICALLY, THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF FUSES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

10 complaints

• THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, IE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE HORN HONKS PERIODICALLY, THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF FUSES
• THE LED TWILIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON 2 SEPARATE BMW X3'S I HAVE OWNED FOR A TOTAL OF 4 TAILLIGHTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IS REPORTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY OTHER OWNERS. IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN THAT IF YOU OWN A BMW X3 F25 (2011-2017) THIS WILL HAPPEN.
• THERE APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC DEFECT ON BMW X3S (2011-2017 F-25 CHASSIS) OF LET TAIL LIGHT FAILURES DUE TO DEFECTIVE LED CURRENT REGULATOR CIRCUIT BOARDS. OUR X3 HAS HAD 3 OF THE 4 LED TAIL LIGHTS FAIL BECAUSE OF EXACTLY THE SAME DEFECT. SOME OF THE LED CURRENT REGULATOR BOARDS WERE APPARENTLY POO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 163 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2011 BMW X3. CONSUMER STATES MULTIPLE DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLES COMPUTER SYSTEM FLASHED A WARNING SIGNAL WITH A HALF ENGINE ICON STATING: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE VEHICLE IS HESITATING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, CAUSING A LAG IN ACCELERATION, PARTICULARLY ON HILLS OR WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY VEER TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE NOT MAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, IE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE SPORADICALLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE, THE A/C DOESN'T WORK, THE HORN HONKS PERIODICALLY, THE TAILGATE WON'T OPEN TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF FUSES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)