2005 BMW X3

103 complaints on file, page 1 of 6.

1. Filed Aug 10, 2021Failure Aug 10, 2020178,000 milesBoston, MASeat belts

   The contact owns a 2005 BMW X3. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact read the owner’s manual and saw that the failure indicated that the driver’s side seat belt receiver was faulty. The dealer was made aware of the failure and ordered the driver’s side seat belt receiver replacement part. The dealer originally informed the contact that the repair would be free of charge but later informed the contact that she had to pay for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11428513
2. Filed May 25, 2020Failure May 25, 2020180,000 milesBangor, MEElectrical systemFire

   VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND TAKING MY OTHER CAR WITH IT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE PARKED AFTER WASHING THE CARPETS.

   NHTSA complaint 11325900
3. Filed Jun 17, 2019Failure Jun 3, 2019104,700 milesDurham, NCEngine

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED ON MAY 28, 2019. LEITH PORSCHE (700 AUTOPARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511) DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,700.

   NHTSA complaint 11220637
4. Filed Feb 5, 2019Failure Jan 28, 2019168,000 milesAllentown, PASeats

   RIVER'S SEAT HEATING UNIT OVERHEATS WHEN ON HIGH SETTING, TO THE POINT OF BURNING SKIN THROUGH THE SEAT AND CLOTHING. LOWER LEFT LUMBAR . PER SERVICE SHOP, THE SEAT HEATER GRID IS BROKEN, CAUSING 40 DEGREE HIGHER TEMPERATURES THAN NORMAL IN THE LEFT LEG AREA. ONGOING ISSUE, NOT A SINGLE OCCURRENCE

   NHTSA complaint 11174407
5. Filed Jan 9, 2019Failure Jun 3, 201690,000 milesLimon, COAir bags

   ALL OTHER 2005 BMW X3 HAVE A RECALL EXCEPT FOR MINE. I HAVE HAD MY AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON TWICE. I HAVE HAD MY SEAT SENSOR ON MY PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED ONCE. I FEEL LIKE THE RECALL SHOULD COVER MY VEHICLE.

   NHTSA complaint 11166103
6. Filed Aug 9, 2018Failure Feb 1, 2018175,000 milesMacon, GASeats

   THE DRIVER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT BURNT A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WEARING MY SEAT BELT. I FELT THE HEAT THROUGH MY CLOTHES AND I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD CATCH MY CLOTHES ON FIRE. I PULLED OVER UNSTRAPPED MY SEAT BELT AND EXAMINED THE SEAT TO FIND THE HOLE BURNT THROUGH.

   NHTSA complaint 11118745
7. Filed Apr 30, 2018Failure Mar 13, 2018118,000 milesNorth Augusta, SCElectrical system, SeatsFire

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT SEAT LUMBAR CUSHION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TAYLOR BMW (4180 WASHINGTON RD, EVANS, GA 30809, (706) 868-6400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11091068
8. Filed Jan 25, 2018Failure Jan 25, 201885,000 milesHorseheads, NYSeatsFire

   DAUGHTER TURNED ON VEHICLE, TURNED ON HEATED DRIVERS SEAT, AS SHE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, PULLED CAR OVER & GOT OUT, LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING, CONTINUED TO SMELL BURNING AND BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE. SAW THAT A BURN HOLE WAS FORMING IN THE LEFT SIDE, BOTTOM OF LEATHER SEAT. TURNED SEAT HEATER OFF AND SMELL AND SMOKE DIMINISHED. UPON INSPECTION OF HE CLOTHING IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BEGAN TO BUT A HOLE IN HER OUTER JACKET. IT DID NOT BURN THROUGH HER CLOTHING AND SHE WAS NOT INJURED (THANKFULLY).

   NHTSA complaint 11064879
9. Filed Jan 23, 2018Failure Jan 10, 2018144,000 milesYork, PAAir bags, Electrical system, Service brakes

   THE CAR IS HAVING A TRIAD OF LIGHTS WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. KEEP GETTING 4X4, ABS, BRAKE, AND NOW MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS. AND RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT SMILIAR YEAR MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR.

   NHTSA complaint 11064318
10. Filed Dec 13, 2017Failure Jan 1, 2014126,000 milesDayton, NJPower train

    IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN BMW X3, 2005 3.0L ARE KIND OF DELAYED. I NOTICED WHILE I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND SPEED IS ACCELERATING REAL WELL TO THE POINT WHEN GEAR SUPPOSED TO BE SWITCHED BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE TO TEMPORARILY, FOR ONE SEC, REDUCE THE GAS ACCELERATION AND THEN IT IS SHIFTING. AS A RESULT, THE CAR DRIVES IS ON LOWER GEARS THAN IT SHOULD. THE ENGINE RMP IS ALWAYS ON A HIGH SIDE. I AM WONDERING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. WILL THE CHANGE OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE THIS BEHAVIOR. I HAVE SEEN BLOG WHICH TALK ABOUT EGS UPDATE BMW X3.

    NHTSA complaint 11054457
11. Filed Aug 19, 2017Failure Aug 1, 2017100,000 milesSAN Leandro, CASeats, Body

    WHEN I TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY CLOTHES

    NHTSA complaint 11016361
12. Filed May 2, 2017Failure Mar 7, 2016107,000 milesMarianna, PAAir bags, Seats

    PASSENGER AIR SAYS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN SEAT ## VIN PASSED ## BMW X3 2005 ##

    NHTSA complaint 10983186
13. Filed Nov 17, 2016Failure Nov 11, 2016167,000 milesSarasota, FLExterior lighting

    THE INTERNAL WIRING OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF FALLING APART LEAVING BARE CONDUCTORS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS, ADAPTIVE MOTOR DRIVES, AND DECORATIVE LIGHTING TO BE INTERMITTENT AND FAIL. WITH THE BARE CONDUCTORS, AN APPRECIABLE FIRE HAZARD EXISTS.

    NHTSA complaint 10926714
14. Filed Jul 6, 2016Failure Jul 4, 2016Catonsville, MDAir bagsCrash1 injured

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING ON LOOSE GRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

    NHTSA complaint 10882973
15. Filed Mar 28, 2016Failure Mar 28, 2016149,000 milesDrexel Hill, PAAir bags

    ACCORDING TO YOUR BULLETIN THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ( WHICH I AM HAVING) BUT THERE IS NO RECALL BY BMW. AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF.

    NHTSA complaint 10851982
16. Filed Mar 21, 2016Failure May 8, 2015Pooler, GAAir bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/20/16*LJ UPDATED 11/21/2017*JS

    NHTSA complaint 10850825
17. Filed Mar 10, 2016Failure Feb 2, 2016183 milesRogersville, MOElectrical system, Seats

    BOTH SEATS. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH 183K MILES. WAS GETTING COLD OUT, TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL UPON DRIVING DOWN THE COUNTRY ROADS FROM MY HOUSE. THE SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT MELTED THROUGH. COULD SEE IT GLOWING INSIDE OF THE SEAT. SOMEONE HAD DONE A SEAT REPAIR PREVIOUSLY TO COVER THIS ISSUE. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY PASSENGER HAD TURNED ON HIS HEATED SEAT. HE STARTED YELLING AND NOTICED THE SEAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED.

    NHTSA complaint 10845926
18. Filed Mar 4, 2016Failure Mar 2, 2016108,000 milesAlamo, CAUnknown or other

    I BOUGHT A BMW X3 IN 2005 AND NOTICED THAT WHEN THE MOTOR IS OFF THE HORN DOES NOT SOUND. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT A BMW 3 SERIES IN 2007, AND MY DAUGHTER/SON IN LAW BOUGHT AN X1 TWO MONTHS AGO. AND I HAVE ASKED FRIENDS WHO OWN BMW'S AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING - WHEN THE MOTOR IS OFF, THE HORN DOES NOT SOUND. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT CERTAINLY CAN BE. MY BROTHER DRIVES A FORD SUV IN THE CHICAGO AREA. LAST MONTH HIS CAR SLIPPED OFF A VERY ICY ROAD AND WAS COVERED BY SNOW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY! HE WAS REALLY STUCK AND TOLD ME THAT IF HE COULD NOT SOUND THE HORN WHEN A POLICE OFFICER WAS PASSING, HE WOULD HAVE REALLY BEEN IN TROUBLE (CELL PHONE WAS AT HOME - OF COURSE). AND THEN THERE IS MY NOT TOO BIG PROBLEM -- WAITING IN THE CAR FOR HUBBY TO COME OUT AND CAN NOT SOUND THE HORN. LAST WEEK I WAS PARKED IN A LINE WAITING FOR A TRAIN TO COME WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN TO BACK UP. MY MOTOR WAS OFF (BEEN WAITING AWHILE) AND I HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I HAD PUT THE KEYS, GET THE MOTOR ENGAGED AND THEN BEEP AT THE TRUCK -- JUST INCHES FROM HIM HITTING ME!

    NHTSA complaint 10839952
19. Filed Jan 30, 2016Failure Nov 5, 2015107,000 milesRiverside, CAAir bags

    MY WIFE HAS A 2005 BMW X3 WITH AN AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE PROBLEM/SYMPTOM IS THAT THERE IS A LITTLE RED LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT LOOKS LIKE AN AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED ALONG WITH A YELLOW LIGHT ABOVE YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF". SO IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE IS A SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS BASICALLY THERE SO THAT IF A PERSON THAT DOES NOT WEIGH A CERTAIN AMOUNT, LIKE A CHILD FOR EXAMPLE, IS SITTING THERE THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR SMALLER INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE SENSOR BECOMES DEFECTIVE, THE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO AIRBAG OFF MODE AND THEREFORE YOU NEVER HAVE AN AIRBAG REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR US BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL, BUT BMWUSA IS THE ONE THAT INDICATED THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED REGARDLESS OF THE VIN MATCHING THE RECALL. RIVERSIDE BMW HAS REFUSED TO HELP US WITH THIS MATTER BUT STATED THAT IF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AUTHORIZED THE FIX, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE SEAT SENSOR MAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH BMW. THANK YOU, MARK SULLIVAN

    NHTSA complaint 10823223
20. Filed Jan 8, 2016Failure Jan 5, 2016Peoria Heights, ILUnknown or other

    BOUGHT USED WITH 105,378 MILES. HUSBAND DROVE 55 MILES A WEEK FOR 16 WEEKS. PARKED IN LOT FOR 5 MONTHS (20 WEEKS). I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT HAD 107 K ON IT. IN AN 8 HOUR PERIOD IT GAINED OVER 2500 MILES ON AN 8TH OF TANK OF GAS. WHEN I GOT IT BACK IT HAD 110K ON IT. DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE KEY. DIFFERENT MECHANIC CHECKED NOTHING WRONG WITH ODOMETER OR COMPUTER. THAT WAS JANUARY OF 2015. HE DROVE IT FROM JANUARY TO APRIL, THEN PARKED IT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. GOT IN IT IN DECEMBER, DROVE 11MILES ROUND TRIP AND ODOMETER JUMPED TO 115,187 FROM AN ESTIMATE OF 111K (WHEN IT WAS PARKED.) DEALERSHIP CAN'T EXPLAIN, MECHANICS CAN'T EXPLAIN AND BMWUSA CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW THIS VEHICLE HAS GAINED OVER 6K ON THE ODOMETER WHILE IT HAS BEEN PARKED.

    NHTSA complaint 10819049