10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
52,956 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 BMW X3 engine problems

engine problem

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2011 BMW X3 Owner Comments

problem #5

Feb 222021

X3

  • 81,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on a motorway at moderate speeds of about 45 mph, vehicle started throwing dynamic stability control, engine check light and traction control deactivation warnings and started cutting out power to the wheels although the engine continued to idle smoothly. Stranded on the motorway for a while and then after switching off and switching on the ignition couple of times, vehicle started to drive forward in limp mode. Had to pull over for safety and towed the vehicle to a local mechanic shop. They said the accelerator pedal failed and stopped sending any signals to engine control unit. They replaced the gas pedal and everything seems to be back to normal.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA

problem #4

Apr 172017

X3

  • 24,779 miles
Vehicle electrical system has failed due to corrosion in wiring harness from leaking rear wiper fluid line. The wiper fluid line is bundled together inside the vehicle wiring harness. Wiper fluid line defective at time of vehicle assembly. Design engineering blunder to package a fluid line inside an electrical harness. Root cause for failure is manufacturer aware of the problem and have issued a service bulletin but manufacturer unwilling to repair under warranty due to lapsed warranty period not mileage criteria. Problem identified at 24,779 miles. More detailed description is attached. Vehicle safety systems, driving stability systems, cruise control function, have been compromised and do not function. Diagnostics systems and warning lights all stay lit on the dash. No way to tell if any of the electronic systems, emission systems, sensors and actuators are working properly.

- Traverse City, MI, USA

problem #3

Jan 122018

X3

  • 110,000 miles
Sua. I was in a frightening accident attempting to park my car on the rooftop of my 4 story office building. I pulled into a space on the edge of the lot and came to a complete stop. My foot was on the brake, I was about to put the car in park when the engine loudly and suddenly revved and the car surged forward up onto a concrete curb and rammed into a 4 ft high concrete retaining wall. The force of the impact tore the wall apart from the roof - my car was still accelerating, wheels spinning. The broke wall stopped by car from completely going over and I was able to turn the engine off and get out. There were witnesses who can verify that I was at a complete stop, brake lights on and it all happened in a few seconds. It was so shocking that I will never drive a BMW again.

- New Canaan, CT, USA

problem #2

Feb 222016

X3

  • miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X3. While attempting to park the vehicle, it unintentionally accelerated and crashed into a building. The contact stated that the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained burns on the hand and a gash on the neck, which needed medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #1

Nov 082015

X3

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 BMW X3. While driving at approximately 65 mph during heavy rain, the vehicle violently decelerated to 35 mph without warning. The contact stated that the failure was similar to slamming down on the brake pedal. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed but the failure could not be duplicated. The failure recurred only during rain weather conditions. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000. The VIN was not available.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

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