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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (11)
Structure
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2022 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the rear cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
Risk and remedy
Risk: Interior rear cargo rail detachment during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicles in this recall were previously remedied for this issue under recall number 24V-534 and will need to have the new repair completed.
Structure
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2023 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
Risk and remedy
Risk: Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags: sensor, occupant classification
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and 2019 X4 xDrive30i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant classification system may have been improperly assembled, which could result in the misclassification of the seat as unoccupied, and deactivate the front air bag.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A deactivated front air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat foam, which includes the occupant classification system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i, and 2018-2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3M vehicles. The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.
Risk and remedy
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces of the panel to strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk and remedy
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Seats
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 X3 sDrive30i, xDrive30i and M40i and 2019 X4 xDrive30i and M40i vehicles. The front seatback frames may have been improperly welded, allowing the seatback to unexpectedly fold forward or rearward.
Risk and remedy
Risk: In the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury if the seatback folds forward or rearward.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seats, free of charge. The recall began September 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service 1-800-525-7417.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, disc
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and certain 2019 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the rear brake circuit, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Exterior lighting: turn signal
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i and X3 M40i vehicles. The rear turn signals on the outboard side panel will illuminate red, while the inboard turn signals simultaneously illuminate amber. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk and remedy
Risk: Turn signals that flash multiple colors may confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear turn signal lights, and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Lane departure: lane keep, steering assist
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i, X3 sDrive30i, and X3 M40i vehicles equipped with the "Active Lane Keeping Assistant" option. The steering wheel may be incompatible with the lane keeping assistant function and may not detect if the driver's hands are off the wheel.
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the sensors do not properly detect the driver's hands are off the wheel, the driver may not be alerted by one or more warning signals, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Structure: body
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i and X3 M40i vehicles. The rear spoiler may not have been properly attached during assembly, or may be missing screws, possibly causing the spoiler to detach while driving.
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the spoiler detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spoiler, correcting its attachment as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 1, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2, and X3 xDrive 30i SAV vehicles. These vehicles may have an error in the software for the instrument panel, causing the display to not properly illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the display does not illuminate during start up or does not illuminate various control and warning symbols while driving, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Canadian recalls (12)
Show 12 Canadian recalls
Structure
2024-10-15 · campaign 2024-609 · 557 vehicles
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the recall repairs completed by a BMW dealer during recall 51 84 24RC (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-410) may not be effective. As a result, a second repair is required.
On certain vehicles, the cargo area tie down rails could detach in a rear crash.
Safety Risk:
A cargo rail that detaches in a crash could create a risk of injury to rear passengers.
Corrective Actions:
BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fasteners that secure the cargo rails to the body.
Label
2024-08-15 · campaign 2024-544
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the tire and loading information label does not list that there is no spare tire in both official languages. The label reads as "NONE" when it should read as "NONE / AUCUN". Canadian regulations require the information to be listed on the label in both English and French.
Safety Risk:
This error does not affect vehicle safety.
Corrective Actions:
This is not a recall. The company has corrected the tire and loading information label for all new vehicles.
Structure
2024-07-17 · campaign 2024-410
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the cargo area tie down rails could detach in a rear crash.
Safety Risk:
A cargo rail that detaches in a crash could create a risk of injury to rear passengers.
Corrective Actions:
BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fasteners that secure the cargo rails to the body.
Airbag
2021-07-08 · campaign 2021-419 · 14 vehicles
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the seat trim may not be properly attached to the front passenger seat. Over time, this could cause the occupant classification system (OCS) not to work properly. If this happens, the airbag system can turn off the passenger-front airbag even when an adult is sitting in the seat.
Safety Risk:
In a crash where an airbag is required, an airbag that does not inflate could increase the risk of injury for an adult passenger.
Corrective Action:
BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to make an appointment with a dealer to replace the front passenger seat cushion (including the occupant classification system).
Visual system
2019-10-01 · campaign 2019-480
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the rearview camera does not return to the default settings when it turns on. This could make the rearview image difficult to see if a driver had previously adjusted the camera display brightness at or near the lowest setting, and contrast at or near the highest setting. Canadian regulations require that the rearview display returns to the default view each time the camera is turned on.
Safety Risk:
Reduced rear visibility could increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the rearview camera. Drivers are recommended not to adjust the display brightness at or near the lowest setting, and contrast at or near the highest setting, until this recall is completed.
Seats and restraints
2019-07-31 · campaign 2019-373 · 1 vehicles
Issue:
On one vehicle, the front passenger seatback frame may not have been properly welded. This could cause the seatback to fail if it is loaded heavily (like in a crash).
Safety Risk:
A seatback that fails in a crash could create an increased risk of injury.
Corrective Actions:
The company will notify the owner by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to replace the front passenger seat structure.
Brakes
2018-07-06 · campaign 2018-366 · 779 vehicles
On certain vehicles, a problem with the rear brake system may cause gas bubbles to form in the brake fluid. This could cause a soft brake pedal feel and a reduction in brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will bleed the rear brakes.
Lights and instruments
2018-06-22 · campaign 2018-340 · 2 vehicles
Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CVMSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The rear turn signal lamps on the tailgate of the vehicle may flash in amber, while the outboard rear turn signal lamps flash red, which is contrary to the requirements of the standard. This could result in following road users being confused by the turn signal lamps simultaneously flashing red and amber, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the rear turn signal lamps and replace them if necessary.
Steering
2018-06-07 · campaign 2018-297 · 25 vehicles
On certain vehicles equipped with the "Active Lane Keeping Assistant" option, sensors in the steering wheel may not adequately detect if a driver has their hands off the wheel. As a result, the vehicle may not provide proper warnings to the driver. This could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the steering wheel, and replace as necessary.
Structure
2018-03-07 · campaign 2018-117
On certain vehicles, the rear spoiler may not have been properly attached during assembly. This could allow the rear spoiler to detach from the vehicle while moving and become a hazard for other road users, which could increase the risk of injury and/or damage property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the rear spoiler for any missing fasteners and install new ones as necessary.
Seats and restraints
2018-01-24 · campaign 2018-048 · 1 vehicles
On certain vehicles, the backrest adjustment mechanism (recliner) of the front seats may not have been welded correctly during the manufacturing process. As a result, the welds could crack and lead to a failure of the latch mechanism. This could cause the seats to fold forward or rearward in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupants. Correction: Dealers will replace the backrest frame of the front seats.
Lights and instruments
2017-11-15 · campaign 2017-561 · 683 vehicles
Certain vehicles may not comply with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 101 – Location and Identification of Controls and Displays. Due to a software error, the instrument cluster may not turn on when the vehicle is started. This could disable various control telltales and warning symbols, thereby failing to meet the requirements of the standard. This could also result in the driver not being aware of malfunctions, which could affect vehicle performance and increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will update the vehicle software.
Owner complaints (76)
Owners filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW X3 (4 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries reported). Among 23 model years of this model, it ranks #15 for the most complaints (median 86).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Electrical system | 22 | |
| Engine | 16 | |
| Unknown or other | 12 | |
| Structure | 9 | |
| Steering | 7 | |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | |
| Suspension | 5 | |
| Air bags | 5 | |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2018 BMW X3 version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| X3 M40i 3.0 L Automatic (S8) | 20 | 27 | 23 | $3,550 |
| X3 xDrive30i 2.0 L Automatic (S8) | 22 | 29 | 25 | $3,300 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.