10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,455 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.

2012 BMW X3 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2012 BMW X3 Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 012022

X3

  • miles

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

A malfunction of the front seat occupancy mat will prevent the passenger air bag from deploying in the event of an accident and displays a malfunction warning. This malfunction has been the subject of several BMW NHTSA recalls but so far none have been issued for this vehicle.

- Palos Verdes Estatesq, CA, USA

problem #10

May 202018

X3

  • miles
I am reporting a common issue I-??ve seen a lot of BMWs have with the seat occupancy sensor. I just wanted to report this to see if it could be a potential recall, since it is a safety concern.

- Center Moriches , NY, USA

problem #9

Mar 012021

X3

  • miles
OC3 mat in passenger seat malfunctions and disables passenger-side airbag. BMW is aware of this problem with OC3 sensors affecting different models. See, e.g., https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V428-3205.pdf pertaining to various E Series vehicles that have the same part. BMWNA claims the recall and extended warranties that covered the OC3 part in these other vehicles has not been extended to cover my vehicle (2012 BMW X3). There is a long documented history of problems with the OC3 sensor: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10142910-9999.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCRIT-17V428-3205.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCMN-17V605-2124.pdf (X3 OC3 mat from 2006-2010) https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/SB-10056703-9690.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2013/MC-10150131-9999.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10179827-9999.pdf https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/SB-10056096-7046.pdf

- Fairfield, CT, USA

problem #8

Aug 012020

X3

  • 112,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag and chassis warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed about an air bag replacement and was provided a print out of recalls. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 112,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #7

Jun 102020

X3 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
Restraint system intermittently malfunction. Getting malfunction notification after vehicle start moving and sometimes when it's stationary. Some time message on display says 'passenger restraint system' and sometimes additionally to passenger, 'driver restraint system' comes up. When check with dealer and after paying for diagnostic, verdict was that main airbag control module must be replace because at the time when malfunction message is displaced, all airbags are turn off and if this were to occur during accident there will be no active safety future (airbags) which will increase the risk of bad injury or death.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

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problem #6

May 172020

X3

  • 137,000 miles
My front passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat will intermittently malfunction. At times, the front passenger airbag will turn off, even with a passenger in the seat. If this were to occur, during and accident, with deactivation of the front passenger airbag there is increased the risk of injury or death.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #5

Apr 012019

X3

  • 105,000 miles

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

I am receiving a "passenger restraint malfunction" warning. This means that if I have any passengers in my car and an accident occur the air bag will not deploy on that side. This is a very unsafe situation that should be covered by BMW 10 year warranty.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #4

Dec 012016

X3

  • miles
Passenger seat occupancy sensor mat is defective. Car cannot properly tell if the seat is occupied. Unknown if airbags would properly deploy in a crash. Sensor is intermittent and deploys while driving or stationary, most typically when no-one in passenger seat.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 022018

X3

  • miles
Passenger restraint system malfunction message due to bad seat pad sensor which turned of the passenger side air bag incase of an accident.

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #2

Nov 092017

X3

  • 63,000 miles
Takata recall: I recently bought my used car from a Nissan dealership. Within the first month of operation, I noticed that a "passenger restraint system malfunction" would appear in the center console. It has not gone away since then. It will only display this message in the beginning when I turn my car on, while it's stationary. After that it just display's the airbag symbol in the bottom left corner of the odometer. This has me a little concerned since I do not want to be driving with anyone else if that means the passenger airbag will not deploy in case of an event. When I did my research online, I found out that several of other BMW owner where complaining about the same issue.

- Center Moriches, NY, USA

problem #1

Jun 242014

X3

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. While making a left turn at an unknown speed, the contact's vehicle was reversed into by another vehicle. All of the air bags deployed abruptly causing the driver to sustain injuries to the face, including swelling and nerve damage. Medical attention was received and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the diagnostic report was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 34,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

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