2014 Bmw X3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Bmw X3 has 127 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: 1) at 14k miles, the transmission transfer case failed. local bmw service shop replaced the case to resolve the issue. i was surprised by this issue at this low mileage as i have been driving many cars for past 25+ years, but never had such problems. 2) in last week of jan , my car eng. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 7 crash reports 2 injuries

127

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

38 complaints

30%

• 1) AT 14K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE FAILED. LOCAL BMW SERVICE SHOP REPLACED THE CASE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS ISSUE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR PAST 25+ YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. 2) IN LAST WEEK OF JAN , MY CAR ENG
• VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY CAUSING THE SPEED TO DROP AT TIMES FROM 55 TO 45 UNTIL SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP AND INTERMITTENTLY CAUSED RANDOM ALERTS TO COME ON SUCH AS "DOOR OPEN" WHEN DRIVING WHEN DOOR WAS LOCKED/NOT OPENED OR POWERTRAIN ALERT OR CHASSIS STABILIZER ALERT.
• DEAR NHTSA, THE OIL-FEED LINE FOR THE TURBO ON THE (N20) ENGINE OF THE 2014 BMW X3 WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING OIL INTO THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE WHEN IDLING OR DRIVING, INDICATIVE OF BURNING OIL. THIS BMW X3 HAS THE STANDARD, COMMON N20 ENGINE AND ONLY 37,000 MILES. UNFORTUNA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“1) AT 14K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE FAILED. LOCAL BMW SERVICE SHOP REPLACED THE CASE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS ISSUE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR PAST 25+ YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. 2) IN LAST WEEK OF JAN , MY CAR ENG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

30 complaints

24%

• CIGARETTE LIGHTERS ARE NON OPERATIONAL. FUSES ARE BLOWN EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS. CONSTANTLY REPLACING FUSES. *TR
• 1) AT 14K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE FAILED. LOCAL BMW SERVICE SHOP REPLACED THE CASE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS ISSUE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR PAST 25+ YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. 2) IN LAST WEEK OF JAN , MY CAR ENG
• ANIMAL CHEWED ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS RENDERING THE CAR NOT DRIVABLE. HAD TO BE TOWED THREE TIMES. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE THE FIRST TWO TIMES AND THE THIRD TIME IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE ALL INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“CIGARETTE LIGHTERS ARE NON OPERATIONAL. FUSES ARE BLOWN EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS. CONSTANTLY REPLACING FUSES. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

11 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOS
• IT'S WINTER I WAS WEARING IGHT LL BEAN BOOTS. CAME TO A STOP SIGN PUT RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND THE CAR ACCELERATED THE HARDER I PRESSED THE MORE IT WANTED TO ACCELERATE.I REALIZED THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE CLOSE TOGETHER AND AT THE APPROXIMATE SAME HIGH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

• 1) AT 14K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE FAILED. LOCAL BMW SERVICE SHOP REPLACED THE CASE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS ISSUE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR PAST 25+ YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. 2) IN LAST WEEK OF JAN , MY CAR ENG
• CONSISTENT WATER LEAKAGE DURING RAIN FALL. VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS LEAKS WHICH IM ASSUMING IS FROM THE SUNROOF.
• WHEN STARTING THE CAR DAILY THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST PIPE ONLY. RESEARCH SHOWS AND BMW CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY OIL LINE HAT IS THE CAUSE AND CAN ALSO EFFECT THE TURBO CHARGE. MY QUESTION IS THAT HIS IS THE EXACT SAME OIL LINE IN OTHER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOS
• TAKATA RECALL - GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THIS RECALL FOR MY BMW X3.
• MY VEHICLE HAS THE ' DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG ' AND BMW REFUSES TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE AIRBAG.. THEY WOULD RATHER PAY DAMAGES AFTER THE FACT THEN CORRECT THE PROBLEM !

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 127 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 1) AT 14K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE FAILED. LOCAL BMW SERVICE SHOP REPLACED THE CASE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS ISSUE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR PAST 25+ YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. 2) IN LAST WEEK OF JAN , MY CAR ENG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: CIGARETTE LIGHTERS ARE NON OPERATIONAL. FUSES ARE BLOWN EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS. CONSTANTLY REPLACING FUSES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 1) AT 14K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE FAILED. LOCAL BMW SERVICE SHOP REPLACED THE CASE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I WAS SURPRISED BY THIS ISSUE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR PAST 25+ YEARS, BUT NEVER HAD SUCH PROBLEMS. 2) IN LAST WEEK OF JAN , MY CAR ENG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)