Home · 2016 BMW X3 · Complaints

What 81 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 BMW X3

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (81)Crash / fire / injury (12)Electrical system (22)Engine & cooling (18)Engine (12)Brakes (10)Transmission & drivetrain (8)Fuel System, Diesel (6)Seat belts (6)Airbags (4)Fuel system (4)Speed control (4)

12 of 81 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Mar 5, 2026Engine

Key Details of BMW EGR Recall: • Affected Models: Primarily 2013-2018 BMW 328d/xDrive, 535d/xDrive, 740Ld, X3 xDrive28d, and X5 XDrive35d. • The Problem: The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may leak coolant internally, which can mix with soot to form flammable deposits, potentially leading to a Fire I was driving and my car started to smoke out of engine compartment I pulled over and waited called my husband and drove it back home. Took it to a shop and they are saying it’s my erg leaking internally and need it replaced along with the intake manifold. I looked up recalls and only the diesel one is on recall for the exact same issue,

NHTSA ODI 11722351

Aug 23, 2025Engine

BMW has not been able to offer a repair for the engine coolant pump recall issued in August 2024. I wanted to register a formal complaint because I would like to get this repaired and off my vehicle record. I have not experienced any problem with the recalled part yet.

NHTSA ODI 11682627

Jul 22, 2025Engine

The manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. NHTSA: #24V-608, Recall: #24V-608:474 Engine Coolant Pump

NHTSA ODI 11675429

Sep 10, 2024Engine

I got an engine light and found a recall for BMW's online so I made the service call. Once there at Fields Winter Park, I was asked to sign a service agreement where i would pay $219.95 for the diagnostic if the issue didn't fall into a recall. Well, I saw the recall in my computer, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for a coolant thermostast, and also one for the engine Coolant Pump, so I knew it should be covered, so I signed. Later they said that the issue was the thermostat, and that since they couldn't find a recall on the BMW USA website, I would be responsible for payment. I did bring my laptop and phone and showed them both recalls. They say they do not go by any other website than theirs, which conveniently does not reflect any recall on my vehicle. When I said that I was looking at the information in an official website, they said said that technically, I set the appointment because of an engine light, not a recall. I politely mentioned that technicalities on this case come down to wording from a consumer that trusts the dealership of a brand but should not be used against such consumer in any tricky and deceiving way. I called for an engine light and saw two recalls for BMW of my year. On official sites. I was overwhelmed while talking to both a service manager and the general manager, in the presence of also the service representative. They said to me that the engine light would NOT be triggered by a coolant pump issue (which is not true). And they said that even when Safety Recall Report 24V-608 is in the NHTSA website, it is not active on their side and therefore they do not need to do anything about it, until I receive a letter to come to have it looked at. So they denied any action until i received a letter and even then, they said I would not be welcome to do business there. So basically they did not take any action on the recall! And then they gave me my car back with a large scratch in the front bumper and fender!

NHTSA ODI 11613820

May 18, 2024BrakesEngine

We have had several occurrences of the following issue during the last several months. When slowing the vehicle down at a traffic light/stop with the goal of bringing the vehicle to a complete halt, as the vehicle decelerates to almost a stop with the foot firmly on the brake pedal, there have been several instances where the engine suddenly revs up and the vehicle lunges forward instead of stopping. It is an intermittent issue which is very hard to predict. It has occurred on flat roads, or going downhill, a couple of times with the air conditioner on. It's a split second lunge needing one to apply brakes even harder. Since at other times, this doesn't happen it's very concerning since we're questioning the reliability of the vehicle. It's a matter of chance that this may cause rearending the vehicle ahead. Thankfully, that hasn't happened but have come within a hair of happening.

NHTSA ODI 11589406

Aug 2, 2023Engine

Driving on highway when car would not accelerate. No power. N for neutral on dashboard and transmission malfunction. No other warning or warning lights came on dashboard. Temp was in middle not elevated. Coasted to breakdown lane. No power, unable to start. Towed to BMW dealership that we go to. Told it was a catastrophic engine failure. Video from dealership, has mechanic showing metal pieces in oil filter. As of this date, car has been at dealershipabout 10 days without findings. *Car was at dealership two days prior for oil change. Unsure if dealer did something or this is a problem with this series. Australia had recall for engine failures in this model. Just letting NHTSA know.

NHTSA ODI 11536182

May 18, 2023Engine

The contact owns a 2016 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil pressure and drive train warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the timing chain guide failed which and caused a catastrophic engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 110317 (Engine Timing Chain and Oil Pump Drive Chain). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11522668

Sep 14, 2020Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

ON 8/30/20,AFTER SITTING FOR AN HOUR AFTER A LONG DRIVE, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED DOWN TWO ADJACENT HOMES. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR BEFORE IT STARTED TO BURN.

NHTSA ODI 11354903

Apr 22, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V755000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUTOBAHN BMW FORT WORTH (2828 WHITE SETTLEMENT RD, FORT WORTH, TX 76107, (817) 665-5831) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11202871

Mar 6, 2019EngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW X3. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE RPMS INCREASED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW OF ONTARIO (1301 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761, (909) 402-3052) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT DISCLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11184715

Nov 4, 2018SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine

WHILE APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT, BRAKED, THEN WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE TOTALLY SHUTDOWN AND STOPPED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL NOR COULD THE PARKING BRAKE BE DISENGAGED SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF OF THE MARKET.

NHTSA ODI 11145186

Sep 28, 2018Engine

EARLY FAILURE OF DIESEL EMISSIONS SYSTEM AT 45,569 MILES DEALER REPLACED BOTH NOX SENSORS, UPPER O2 SENSOR, AND DPF FILTER

NHTSA ODI 11132051

Working with the data? Download all 81 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 BMW X3 verdict →