2017 Bmw X3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Bmw X3 has 138 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: i was stopping my car at a red signal behind another vehicle. i applied breaks and vehicle reached to complete stop. immediately, engine picked up and started moving forward even though breaks are completely pressed. i had to do something to stop the car rear ending. so, i released and re-applied br. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 15 crash reports 5 injuries

138

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

39 complaints

28%

• I WAS STOPPING MY CAR AT A RED SIGNAL BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I APPLIED BREAKS AND VEHICLE REACHED TO COMPLETE STOP. IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE PICKED UP AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BREAKS ARE COMPLETELY PRESSED. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE CAR REAR ENDING. SO, I RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED BR
• ENGINE SEIZED AT 65MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING COMMUTE TO WORK ON BUSY BOSTON HIGHWAY. NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL COLLISIONS AS VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A BMW DEALER THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER ADVISES AN "OVERSIZED BEARING WAS FOUND IN THE
• THREE INCIDENTS OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF ENGINE, TWO WHILE PARKING ON CITY STREETS (APRIL 30 AND SEPT 12) AND ONE WHEN STOPPING AT RED LIGHT ON CITY STREET (AUG 1). CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND STARTED REVVING UNEXPECTEDLY AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO OVER 7,000 RPM. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND MAINTAINED BR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I WAS STOPPING MY CAR AT A RED SIGNAL BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I APPLIED BREAKS AND VEHICLE REACHED TO COMPLETE STOP. IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE PICKED UP AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BREAKS ARE COMPLETELY PRESSED. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE CAR REAR ENDING. SO, I RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED BR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

30 complaints

22%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARK AVE BMW (530 HUYLER STREET, SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE UNDER THE REAR
• ALTERNATOR OVERCHARGING PRODUCING 16V AND CAUSING SYSTEM TO GO TO FAIL SAFE MODE. IT WILL SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND SWITCH IT IN PARK MODE. WHILE DRIVING ANY MODE THEN ECO AND AUTO SHUTOFF TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, SOMETIME WHEN BREAK RELEASED IT WILL START AND YOU CAN CONTINUE DRIVING, OTHER T
• My BMW is signaling “Secure vehicle against rolling” notification when put in reverse. The Mechanics are saying that BMWS e springs are defected. Very dangerous for me and my children.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARK AVE BMW (530 HUYLER STREET, SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE UNDER THE REAR ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

17 complaints

12%

• I LEASED A 2017 BMW X3 WITH 3370 MILES ON IT SO ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAVE A 7.6 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 230PM PST SOUTH ON THE 405 (HIGHWAY) IN LOS ANGELES. I PULL UP TO MY HOUSE AND PARK THE VEHICLE ON MY CITY STREET. I PARK TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND LO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARK AVE BMW (530 HUYLER STREET, SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE UNDER THE REAR
• I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR ACCELERATED. I SIDESWIPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND PROCEED TO CROSS A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. I TRIED TO STOP BUT KEPT GOING , JUMPED A CURB GOT ON A GRASSY AREA DID A 360 TO A ROAD JUMPED BACK ON THE GRASS AND CAME TO REST IN SOME BUSHES AND WI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I LEASED A 2017 BMW X3 WITH 3370 MILES ON IT SO ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAVE A 7.6 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 230PM PST SOUTH ON THE 405 (HIGHWAY) IN LOS ANGELES. I PULL UP TO MY HOUSE AND PARK THE VEHICLE ON MY CITY STREET. I PARK TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND LO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

12 complaints

• DURING MY NORMAL CITY DRIVING ROUTE THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL SCREECHING NOISE. I PULLED OVER WITHIN 1 CITY BLOCK OF HEARING THE NOISE AND MY REAR DISC BRAKE ROTOR HAD A LARGE GROOVE WORN INTO IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A ROCK THAT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE PAD AND THE ROTOR AND THEY WOU
• I WAS STOPPING MY CAR AT A RED SIGNAL BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I APPLIED BREAKS AND VEHICLE REACHED TO COMPLETE STOP. IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE PICKED UP AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BREAKS ARE COMPLETELY PRESSED. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE CAR REAR ENDING. SO, I RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED BR
• AUGUST 19, 2017 I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PARK. THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY ACCELERATED EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WENT THROUGH MY NEIGHBORS FENCES AND IT FINALLY STOPPED BETWEEN TWO GARAGES BEHIND MY PROPERTY ON THE NEXT STREET. I COULD NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“DURING MY NORMAL CITY DRIVING ROUTE THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL SCREECHING NOISE. I PULLED OVER WITHIN 1 CITY BLOCK OF HEARING THE NOISE AND MY REAR DISC BRAKE ROTOR HAD A LARGE GROOVE WORN INTO IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A ROCK THAT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE PAD AND THE ROTOR AND THEY WOU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

• THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FAILS TO ENGAGE OFTEN WHEN BACKING UP. IT IS ALWAYS SLOW TO TURN ON, HOWEVER THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL. MORE CONCERNING IS THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND DISMISSED IT SAYING THAT THE SYSTEM GETS AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGED WHEN THE CA
• THE WINDSHIELD OF THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO REPRESENT A SAFETY RISK. LAST WEEK, WE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO A SMALL CRACK FROM SMALL ROCK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. ON WEDNESDAY AT ABOUT 11:00 AM, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN. I HAD TO TAKE TO TH
• THE SUNROOF WATER DRAINS BACK UP AND CAUSES WATER TO POOL IN THE CARGO AREA WHERE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ARE STORED (WHEEL WELL LIKE AREA) WHICH CAUSES AN ALARM TO GO OFF AND HATCHBACK MALFUNCTIONS. MY PREVIOUS X3 HAD HATCHBACK ISSUES TOO. BMW STATES THE FRAME THAT SUN ROOF SITS IN IS CRACKED BUT N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FAILS TO ENGAGE OFTEN WHEN BACKING UP. IT IS ALWAYS SLOW TO TURN ON, HOWEVER THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL. MORE CONCERNING IS THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND DISMISSED IT SAYING THAT THE SYSTEM GETS AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGED WHEN THE CA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 138 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I WAS STOPPING MY CAR AT A RED SIGNAL BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I APPLIED BREAKS AND VEHICLE REACHED TO COMPLETE STOP. IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE PICKED UP AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BREAKS ARE COMPLETELY PRESSED. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE CAR REAR ENDING. SO, I RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED BR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PARK AVE BMW (530 HUYLER STREET, SOUTH HACKENSACK, NJ 07606) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE UNDER THE REAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I LEASED A 2017 BMW X3 WITH 3370 MILES ON IT SO ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAVE A 7.6 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 230PM PST SOUTH ON THE 405 (HIGHWAY) IN LOS ANGELES. I PULL UP TO MY HOUSE AND PARK THE VEHICLE ON MY CITY STREET. I PARK TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND LO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: DURING MY NORMAL CITY DRIVING ROUTE THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL SCREECHING NOISE. I PULLED OVER WITHIN 1 CITY BLOCK OF HEARING THE NOISE AND MY REAR DISC BRAKE ROTOR HAD A LARGE GROOVE WORN INTO IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A ROCK THAT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE PAD AND THE ROTOR AND THEY WOU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)