What 105 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 BMW X3 Xdrive28d

Driver drove approx. 3.5 to passenger’s home. While sitting & talking to the passenger for several minutes, the car suddenly, rapidly lurched forward, crashing into neighbor’s property. Substantial damage was done to the neighbor’s deck and brick wall at rear of the house. At least one piece of heavy lumber speared through the windshield between the driver and passenger. Vehicle is auto-shut off capable, however, the driver doesn’t recall if they shut the engine off manually, but believes it may have auto-shut off, while stopped before parking the vehicle. Driver recalls pressing the “P” button to put the vehicle in park. Driver said they were just sitting and talking to the Passenger (ie Driver was in a relaxed seating position, hands were not on the steering wheel, and feet not on the pedals). Driver said they attempted to hit the brakes after the vehicle lurched forward, but feels that they may have partially froze due to the shock of the unexpected acceleration. The passenger who also witnessed the event says the car seemed to go slowly for a split second then suddenly took off at extremely high acceleration. Passenger said prior to the car moving, the driver was pressing or had pressed the park button on the gear shift, when the car started to move, slowly at first (for a split second) and then suddenly the car took off at rapid acceleration. Driver said they recalled checking to see if the car was in park, which they noted is indicated by a red light (which they recall seeing). Passenger doesn’t recall seeing light on, but recalls Driver pressing the P button at least twice. Vehicle owned since 2017, purchased with 24k miles, 1 prior owner (previously leased). Vehicle had about 50k miles at time of incident. Vehicle was always serviced at BMW of Fairfax. No prior issues with the vehicle. The car was equipped with BMW OEM rubber floor mats. No Airbag deployment. The event occurred on or about May 25th, 2021 at 9 pm. Vehicle deemed total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11515345

I WAS ABOUT TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT, DRIVING SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY BETWEEN TWO PARKED CARS. AS I VERY GENTLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, THE CAR JOLTED INTENSELY AND DID NOT STOP. I THEN PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A VERY FAST SPEED. I DROVE THROUGH SOME LARGE PLANTS AND WENT OVER A SIDE WALK AND MADE A SHARP TURN TO AVOID A LARGE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN DROVE THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, MANEUVERING AROUND PARKED CARS, BUILDINGS AND OTHER OBJECTS WHILE THE CAR WAS SPEEDING UP. MY EFFORTS TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN FAILED EVEN AFTER APPLYING AUXILIARY BRAKE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS OR MOVING CARS WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING! FINALLY I ENDED UP DRIVING UP A HILL, HOPING THAT THE ELEVATION WOULD STOP THE CAR. INSTEAD DUE TO HIGH SPEED, THE VEHICLE WAS LIFTED UP ABOUT 7 FEET IN THE AIR, HIT A LARGE TREE AND FELL IN THE GROUND WITH MUCH FORCE. I HAVE SOME INJURIES AS A RESULT AND CURRENTLY RECEIVING MEDICAL SUPPORT, HOPING THAT I WILL NOT HAVE PERMANENT HEALTH ISSUES, WHICH I VERY MUCH DOUBT! MY CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND WAS TOTALED. IT IS CLEAR AND EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED THE BRAKE FAILURE AND ACCELERATION. I CONTACTED BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE CAR AND ALSO WHERE I HAD THE CAR SERVICED ONE MONTH EARLIER! THEY SAID I MUST PAY FOR THE CAR TO BE DELIVERED TO THEIR FACILITY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO EXAMINE THE CAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE. I REFUSED TO PAY THE HIGH PRICE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER FORTY YEARS AND I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY CAPABLE DRIVER. I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE AT LEAST A DOZEN SIMILAR REPORTED CASES OF THIS MODEL. OBVIOUSLY, BMW HAS NEGLECTED TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE THEIR X3 MODELS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!

NHTSA ODI 11289168

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PARK, THE CAR KEPT LUNGING FORWARD WITH A REVING SOUND, NOT CONSTANT BUT PULSE SATING UNTIL THE VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE WALL. THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF. I WENT ONLINE LATER TO FIND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED BMW AND A REP. STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN" MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN BMW FAULT." SHE SENT A BMW ENGINEER OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE HE FINALLY INSPECTED IT 3 WEEKS LATER. THREE WEEKS LATER I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM ABOUT THE RESULTS. THERE IS OVER $9,000.00 IN DAMAGES.

NHTSA ODI 10778094

I WAS TURNING OFF A RESIDENTIAL STREET INTO THE PARKING LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SWIMMING POOL. THE PARKING SPOT WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD (A VERY SHORT DISTANCE). I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR NO MATTER HOW HARD I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I HIT A BRICK WALL WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. IT ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY IN SUCH A SHORT DISTANCE. I WAS IN SHOCK AND AMAZED AT THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE BRICK WALL. I BELIEVE THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT. I HAVE NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THERE ARE OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS REPORTED ON THE NHTSA SITE INVOLVING THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MY CAR. *TR UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10732390

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

NHTSA ODI 10671324