2014 BMW X3

Routine

Owners filed 86 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 6 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

50 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling16
000
Engine15
000
Electrical System12
010
Service Brakes7
200
Exterior Lighting6
000
Air Bags6
202
Unknown or Other4
000
Power Train4
000
Steering3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
100

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring › Connectors/Plugs/Receptacles24V608000
Filed Aug 13, 2024720,796 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Risk. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module24V527000
Filed Jul 11, 20241,145 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Remedy. The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags › Frontal23V797000
Filed Nov 24, 2023486 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive35i, and 2015 X4 xDrive35i vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Child Seat › Latch Strap16V333000
Filed May 23, 2016188,668 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Risk. Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings14V627000
Filed Oct 7, 20148,988 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.

Risk. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings13V454000
Filed Sep 26, 201376,191 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.

Risk. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Aug 15, 2026NJ

Had an oil change through BMW with their pre-packaged oil service. 6 days later my oil pump chain guard broke inside the engine and now they're telling me I need a new engine which cost $33,000. I believe the chain guard was either broken during the time of their possession or they could at least have told me that the chain guard was cracked or broken when they did the oil change by looking down the oil cap. They explained to me looking inside the oil cap is how they know the guard has broken and the chain has stretched. So during the oil change they should have been able to tell me or show me that that was a possibility or it was broken. I received my car back in good health with all green lights checking that the car was in top shade condition and 6 days later the car is totaled.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 27, 202680,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The message “Fuel Supply Malfunction” was displayed. Additionally, the contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V527000 (Air Bags) and stated that the passenger’s side air bag was not replaced. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Engine
Filed Apr 21, 2026WA

I am filing a safety complaint regarding a catastrophic timing chain failure on my 2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i equipped with the N20 engine. While driving, the timing chain and oil pump drive chain failed without warning. This is a well-documented defect on BMW N20/N26 engines that has been the subject of extended warranties and numerous consumer complaints. This failure can cause sudden engine seizure, immediate loss of power steering and braking assist, and creates a serious risk of crash while the vehicle is in motion. BMW issued an Extended Limited Parts Warranty for this exact defect (timing chain and oil pump drive chain), acknowledging a manufacturing defect. However, BMW is refusing to cover my repair even though this is a known safety issue affecting thousands of vehicles. The vehicle had been properly maintained, and there were no warning signs before the failure. I purchased the vehicle in October 2021, and this defect occurred during normal use commuting to work. The cost of repair is extremely high due to the internal engine damage caused by the timing chain defect. This is not normal wear and tear. This is a known design/manufacturing defect that BMW has been aware of for years. Also, when I purchased this vehicle, the headlights, and taillights on the hatchback were not working. I had brought this up to the dealership they replaced the headlights, but did not address the tail lights. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this defect further, and the tail lights as t

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 22, 2025171,150 milesTN

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheating and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a busy highway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that only a shield had been replaced. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was not covered or associated with the recall repair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the recall repair was performed. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred after the vehicle was retrieved. The contact stated that directly after driving the vehicle, the dealer was made aware that there was an issue with the vehicle after the recall repair was performed. The contact was assured that the vehicle was fine, and the vehicle was test-driven to ensure that there were no issues with the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,150.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 20, 2025GA

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 7, 2025123,286 milesNC

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the braking system malfunctioned and erroneously activated, causing the brakes to grab. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the brake caliper and brake lines were flushed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V627000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 123,286.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 6, 2025FL

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 4, 2025MD

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine
Filed May 29, 2025130,000 milesCO

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was an abnormal winding sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the brake was inoperable. The contact activated the parking brake to stop the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin: SIB: 11-03-17. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing chaining needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2025TX

There was a recall back in October 2024 and there still is no remedy as of yet and it can cause a fire risk.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 24, 2025OR

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available .

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 16, 2025158,897 milesGA

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a rattling sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 158,897. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 1, 2025VA

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 26, 2025NC

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 17, 2025170,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the engine overheated, and the drivetrain malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle until the engine had cooled down. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 170,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 12, 2025OR

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 6, 2025GA

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 28, 202597,000 milesMD

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine
Filed Feb 27, 2025TX

This recall was announced last August. Now, more than 6 months later, BMW still has NOT announced a remedy for this recall. Because this recall involves the potential for an engine fire, it is not wise to continue without a recall remedy. What's taking BMW so long? NTSB recall number: 24V608 [XXX] , [XXX] Tell (cell): [XXX] [XXX] February 27, 2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 10, 202590,000 milesNC

The contact owns a 2014 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the contact discovered that there was an unknown fluid leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20 of 86 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202616200Routine
202535910Routine
202437300Routine
202314400Routine
202277740Routine
20211101020Routine
20201091660Do not drive
20191691020Routine
2018751120Routine
201792620Routine
201682530Routine
2015105770Routine
2014 — this page86610Routine
20132267100Above average
201242210Routine
2011112430Routine
201032420Routine
200919330Routine
200866340Routine
200798390Routine
20061432160Routine
20051032180Routine
20041381130Routine

Compare every X3 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 13, 2024. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.