2004 BMW X3 Complaint Log

Odometer failed - unable to get this fixed!

AIRBAG LAMP REMIANS ON DUE TO FAILED PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. HONOLULU BMW DEALER CLAIMS RECALL 08V384000 WAS PERFORMED JULY 18, 2008- WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME DATE LISTED IN THE RECALL AS BMW'S REPORT DATE TO NHTSA. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND PROCEDURE DID NOT GET PUBLISHED OR BEGIN FOR NEARLY A YEAR LATER. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ASKS THAT A SMALL STICKER BE AFFIXED ADJACENT TO THE VIN TAG- THERE IS NO STICKER, NOR IS THERE EVIDENCE OF A STICKER EVER HAVING BEEN THERE ( I KNOW WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAINTED.

The airbag light is on our BMW and my 16 years daughter is driving this car. I cannot believe that BMW did not issue a recall. According to Repair Pal: "What are the symptoms of a bad Air Bag Occupant Sensor? Failing occupant sensors can show one of two symptoms. They may stay on at all times, causing the passenger airbags to stay active even when a passenger is not present. Also, they may not operate at all, which prevents the airbags from activating when a passenger is seated in that seating position. Also, for most systems, the airbag or SRS warning light will illuminate on the instrument cluster, prompting the driver to service the system.

CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITHIN SECONDS, SMOKE HAD ENGULFED THE ENGINE BAY. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHE FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TOW TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE PULLED OVER AFTER THE IMPACT WOKE HER UP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CRASH WAS A FRONT END COLLISION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). *DT*JB

WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT OR STOP IT WHILE PUSHING HEAVILY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OR ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.

The contact ownd a 2004 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, she dozed off behind the wheel when the vehicle crashed into the rear of a tow truck. As a result, the front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an injury to the head and bodily soreness. Medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard however, the vehicle was then towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an air bag specialist and it was determined that the air bag was not connected. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the air bags failed to deploy due to minimal impact. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number 08V384000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, the contact had not received a response back. The failure mileage was unknown.

WHILE DRIVING MY SUNROOF FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER BURNED SKIN AND SCORCHED LEATHER SEAT COVER WHEN TURNED ON.

INSULATION ON WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS CRACKING AND FALLING OFF WIRING HARNESS CAUSING A SHORT AND BLOWN FUSE WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND CRASHED INTO FIVE OTHER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

SEAT HEATER ON DRIVERS SIDE IS BURNING THROUGH. IF LEFT ON IT WOULD BURN THROUGH CLOTHES AND BURN SKIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. BURDICK BMW (5947 E CIRCLE DR, CICERO, NY 13039, (315) 459-6000) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WATER SEEPS INTO THE VEHICLE FROM AN UNKNOWN LOCATION AND CAUSES A MOLD EFFECT DUE TO SATURATION OF THE FLOOR IN THE BACK PASSENGER AREA. DOOR AND SUNROOF WEATHERSTRIPPING HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONALLY CHECKED AND DEEMED NOT THE CAUSE.

BMW UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO COMPLETE RECALL NO. 08V384: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT RECALL AND WARRANTY COVERAGE EXTENSION. NO PARTS AVAILABLE, PARTS NOT ON ORDER, BMW USA NOT ORDERING PARTS FOR RECALL. NO TIMELINE GIVEN, TOLD TO CALL BACK IN TWO MONTHS.

VEHICLE FIRES.

DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING UNIT OVERHEATS WHEN ON HIGH SETTING, TO THE POINT OF BURNING SKIN THROUGH THE SEAT AND CLOTHING. LOWER LEFT LUMBAR AND SEAT BOTTOM APPEAR TO BE IMPACTED. PER SERVICE SHOP, THE SEAT HEATER GRID IS BROKEN, CAUSING 40 DEGREE HIGHER TEMPERATURES THAN NORMAL IN THE LEFT LEG AREA. ONGOING ISSUE, NOT A SINGLE OCCURRENCE.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED THE JACKET WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN THIS CAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALERSHIP (SILVER SPRING BMW OF MD) REPLACED THE SEAT UNDER WARRANTY. IN THIS CASE GOT LUCKY IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE OR CAUSE ANY INJURY TO US. THIS SITUATION EASILY COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A CAR FIRE. I WAS STUNNED TO HEAR HOW LITHELY BMW NA APPROACH TOWARDS MY CONCERN WHEN I CALLED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT. AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION DUE TO DISTRACTION THIS BURN CREATED WORST CAR ON FIRE. *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEATS BECAME HOTTER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEAT COILS BURNED HOLES THROUGH THE LEATHER SEATS AND THE SEAT COVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATERS TO THE LOWEST SETTING (1OUT OF 3) JUST AS I LEFT WORK. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS AS I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD, I FELT A SHARP BURNING THROUGH MY WOOL JACKET IN MY LEFT THIGH/BUTT AREA. I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I GOT HOME AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT, IT HAD LEFT A BURN AREA IN THE LEATHER. AFTER LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND FORUMS ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. HOWEVER, BASED ON OWNER'S COMMENTS, THE DEALERS AREN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

THE LAMPS IN THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DO NOT WORK. THE CONNECTION IS CORRODED. SIMILAR ITEM WAS UNDER A RECALL FOR 2002-05 3 SERIES SEDANS (BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-438) AND THIS X3 SHARES MANY COMPONENTS WITH THE SEDAN. THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY/CONNECTOR IS SUSPECTED TO BE ONE OF THEM.

THE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET BOLTS HAVE ALL SHEARED OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THE ENGINE NOT BEING FULLY SUPPORTED. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT RATHER VERY COMMON ON ALL X3 MODELS. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND JUST AFTER PURCHASE I FOUND THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED A LONG TIME AGO, CONSISTENT WITH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND BMW SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A LONG TERM SOLUTION. YET TO THIS DAY, NONE EXISTS. REPLACEMENT BOLTS WILL STILL HAVE THE SAME FAILURE MODE.

I WAS ARRIVING AT MY DAUGHTER'S HOME IN DECATUR GA JUST BEFORE 9:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015. I PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY BUT COULD SEE HERE WAS NO ROOM TO PARK THERE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS NEXT DOOR (FROM THE NEW HOUSE BEING BUILT). I DECIDED TO BACK OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY AND PARK ON THE STREET. I PUT THE BMW X3 IN REVERSE AND IT SLOWLY (AS USUAL) BEGAN MOVING BACKWARDS. WITH NO FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, MY CAR CAME TO A STOP AT A SLIGHT INCLINE. I REACHED MY RIGHT FOOT OVER AND TAPPED THE TIP TOP OF MY GAS PEDAL, HOPING JUST A SMALL TAP OF GAS COULD GET ME OVER THE INCLINE. JUST AS I DID THIS, THE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR REVVED, THEN LUNGED BACKWARDS. I WAS HOLDING THE BRAKES AS TIGHT AS I COULD AND WITHIN A FEW SECOND BROUGHT MY LEFT LEG TO HELP PUSH ON BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET. THE BRAKE COULD NOT STOP THE FULL FORCE OF THE CAR MOVING BACKWARDS AT FULL THROTTLE, AND LEFT BLACK SKID MARKS IN HER DRIVEWAY. MY CAR SPEED IN REVERSE AT FULL THROTTLE ACROSS THE STREET NARROWLY MISSING A DUMPSTER PARKED NEXT DOOR AND ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING UP THE STREET WHO WITNESSED THE INCIDENT. MY CAR PROCEEDED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD (DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET), CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S CAR, PUSHING THEIR CAR INTO THE FRONT PORCH OF THEIR HOUSE. BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED AND THE HOUSE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THIS INCIDENT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO AND TO GET ACCESS TO MY CAR FOR INSPECTION. PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!! *TR

FOR SOME TIME WE HAD TO KEEP THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER NO HIGHER THAN "1". AT LEVEL 2 & 3 IT BURNED YOU OR FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING STUCK WITH SOMETHING. ON THE DATE IN QUESTION, I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE HEATER ON AGAIN (LEVEL 2 FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN BACK TO LEVEL 1. I SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR, THEN A SMELL ALMOST LIKE CIGAR SMOKE. THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEATER. THE SMELL SUBSIDED WITHIN 3-4 MINUTES. HOWEVER, IT LEFT A BLACK BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER SEAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER. OBVIOUSLY, CONTINUED USE WILL CAUSE A FULL OUT FIRE RATHER THAN JUST BURNING THE LEATHER. *JS

WHILE I DRIVE MY CAR , I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEAT , I START FEELING BURNING PAIN WHILE AM DRIVING ON HIGHWAY , THE SECOND TIME WHEN I FINISHED MY WORK AND I START MY CAR TO HEAD HOME , I START SMELLING BURNING AND MY LEG WAS BURNING SO BAD , I GOT OUT OF THE CAR , AND MY SEAT LEATHER WAS BURNING , I SAW HOLE IN MY SEAT AND THE WIRES INSIDE WAS BURNED AND SMELLED TERRIBLE , THAT IS SAFETY ISSUE , IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY , I WOULD GET IN AN ACCIDENT

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO THE DRIVER'S LEG. TURNING OFF THE HEATER STOPPED THE OVERHEATING. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE SEAT. *TR

DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER WAS SET ON THE MEDIUM SETTING, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THEN STARTED TO FEEL PAIN IN MY LEG, BECAUSE THE HEATED SEATS HAD MELTED THE LEATHER AND BURNED MY PANTS AND MY LEG. *TR

AFTER JUST SPENDING $2400 LAST WEEK ON MY CAR. I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 78 WHEN MY 2004 BMW X3 LOST ALL POWER. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GLIDE MY CAR FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD KEPT FLASHING ON & OFF AND CAR WOULD NOT START. AS I SAT IN MY CAR ON BARELY A SHOULDER 18 WHEELER'S AND CARS FLEW BY ME SHAKING MY CAR. I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. *TR

THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A STOP WITH A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT, SO WE WERE IN TRAFFIC SO I WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 5 MPH, SO APPLIED THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY I STILL BUMPED THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY ARM AND FACE LOOSENING 6 TEETH WHICH HAS SINCE HAD TO BE PULLED OUT. THERE WAS NOTHING WITH THE ACCIDENT THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO BE COMPLETELY SMASHED, BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE EMT KEPT ASKING ME IF I HIT MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND I REPEATEDLY SAID "NO". I CAN ONLY EAT SOFT FOOD OR SMOOTHIES NOW SINCE LOSING MY TEETH. I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ONCE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LEADING THE EMT PERSONNEL TO FEEL I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE AIR BAG CAUSED TO MY VEHICLE ALONG WITH ACCELERATING ONCE THE AIR BAG HIT ME IN THE FACE CASUED MY VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR USAA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4X4 WARNING LAMP AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE CRASHES. AFTER THE MOST RECENT CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND THE WARNING LAMPS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE FOR THE ABS WARNING LAMP AND THE 4X4 WARNING LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO I PURCHASED FOR MY DAUGHTER A 2004 USED BMW X3 2.5I. THE CAR HAS RUN FINE SO FAR BUT IN THE EVENING OF THE 26TH OF JANUARY 2014 SOMETHING VERY DANGEROUS HAPPENED WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEATING SYSTEM. SHE WAS DRIVING AND SHE NOTICE A SMELL OF BURNT MATERIAL INSIDE THE CAR, AND LOOKED DOWN TO SEE THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE LEFT BOTTOM SIDE AND HAD SINGED HER PANTS. SHE OF COURSE WAS VERY SCARED AND ALL MOST WENT OUT OF THE ROAD FOR THIS! THERE IS BURNT A HOLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT AND FOR THE MOMENT I PULLED THE FUSES OF THE SEAT HEATING SYSTEM (FUSES WAS STILL OK AND DID NOT SHUT THE SYSTEM OFF!!). I HAVE BEEN CALLING BMW NORTH AMERICA FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, THEY SENT ME TO A BMW LOCAL DEALER WHERE THEY INSPECT AND MADE PICTURE OF THE SEAT. BMW N.A. ([XXX]) FINALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD PAY ONLY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST ($800 MY PART) AND THE OFFER IS VALID ONLY FOR 20 DAYS AFTER THIS THE OFFER WOULD NOT BE VALID ANYMORE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND SAW IN INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT BMW NOT ONLY SHOULD REPAIR THE SEAT FOR FREE BUT SHOULD ALSO INITIATE A PROPER RECALL TO AVOID THIS VERY SERIOUS DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU BEST REGARDS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY - KEY FOB AND CENTRAL LOCK BUTTON WORK NORMALLY AT TIMES. OTHER TIMES ALL WILL FAIL, CAUSING ALL DOORS EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO BECOME LOCKED FROM BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE KEY FOB AND CENTRAL BUTTON FAIL. THIS CAUSES YOU TO BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE ONLY KEY FOB BUTTON TO WORK WHEN THIS OCCURS IS THE REAR HATCH. OTHER FAILURES ARE WHEN THE DOORS WILL LOCK WITH THE KEY FOB, BUT ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL UNLOCK USING IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS) IN THE MAIL AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

THERE WAS A VERY MILD RAIN LAST TWO DAYS IN MADISON. NOW MY CAR HAS CENTRAL LOCK PROBLEM AND ALSO WET FLOOR. I'M HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR WHILE IT WAS RAINING. I READ OVER THE INTERNET THAT MANY BMW X3 HAVE THIS WATER LEAKAGE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. A WET INTERIOR AND A LIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE 405 FWY S CLOSE TO LAX WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD LIKE WIND BLOWING INSIDE MY CAR THEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND THAT SOMETHING FELL OR THINKING THAT MY CAR MUST HAVE STEPPED ON SOMETHING I LOOKED AT THE WINDOWS AT THE BACK SEAT AND BOTH ARE CLOSED THEN I SAW THE DRIVER OF ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME A SPORT CONVERTIBLE BMW TRIED TO SIGNAL SOMETHING TO ME WHEN I LOOKED AT MY RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR WHILE I WAS DRIVING I SAW A TIRE LYING AT THE FREEWAY,I KNEW AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS MY SPARE TIRE/COMPACT WHEEL THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE CARGO AREA ON THE FLOOR OF A VEHICLE. I TRIED TO EXIT ON THE NEAREST GAS STATION, SAFELY PARKED AS SOON AS I WAS WALKING TOWARDS THE BACK OF MY CAR TO CHECK I IMMEDIATELY SAW THE COMPARTMENT TIRE TOUCHING THE GROUND AND THE TIRE IS GONE. THE HANDLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SCREWED AND MOUNTED APPARENTLY GOT LOOSE..HOW IT HAPPENED I DON'T KNOW, THE CABLE IS CUT. I STRONGLY SUGGEST BMW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE THIS IS TOTALLY DANGEROUS MATTER, GOOD THING THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS ALERT AND WHEN SHE SAW THE TIRE FALLING FROM IT'S COMPACT SHE IMMEDIATELY CHANGE LANE AND SIGNALED ME BY POINTING HER FINGER AT MY CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, ONE GALLON OF WATER WOULD ACCUMULATE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT ON THE LOW SETTING, I FELT A SUDDEN BURNING SENSATION ON MY BACK OF MY UPPER LEFT THIGH AND SHIFTED SLIGHTLY, PUTTING MY HAND UNDER THE AREA TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER. THE REAR AREA OF THE LEFT SIDE SEAT BOLSTER HAD GOTTEN SO HOT I HAD TO TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER IMMEDIATELY. I DECIDED NOT TO TURN IT ON AGAIN UNTIL ANOTHER TIME IN LATE MARCH WHEN I AGAIN TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. THE SAME SUDDEN FEELING OF "OVERHEATING" WAS IMMEDIATELY FELT IN THE SAME AREA, I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER, AND I HAVEN'T USED IT SINCE THEN. WHEN MY CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, I MENTIONED IT TO MY SERVICE ADVISOR AND ASKED WHETHER HE KNEW OF OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS OR WHETHER THERE WAS A BMW RECALL FOR THE ISSUE. HE SAID NO TO BOTH QUESTIONS. *TR

MARCH 2013 -DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. NOW, DECEMBER 2014, DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT BECOME TOO HOT TO KEEP ON AND A BURNING SMELL IS VERY NOTICEABLE. *TR

FELT A BURNING UNDER MY LEG AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. PARKED THE CAR AND MY SCARF WAS MELTED TO THE SEAT AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM IT. PULLED ON MY SCARF TO GET IT OFF AND NOTICED A HOLE BURNT IN THE SEAT FROM THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. PARTS OF THE SEAT WERE STUCK TO MY SCARF AND PANTS. MADE SURE THE SEAT STOPPED SMOKING AND WONT USE THE HEATED SEATS ANYMORE. *TR

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED BURNING SEAT AND CREATING ABUNDANT SMOKE INSIDE CAR'S CABIN. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IF I HADN'T FELT THE BURNING SENSATION EARLY ENOUGH. DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING AND QUOTED $1200+ REPAIR. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR OCCURRENCES. DECIDED NOT TO REPAIR AND CHANCE THE SAME HAPPENING AGAIN. DISCONNECTED WIRING TO SEAT HEATER. *TR

WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SIGN OF A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND POWER COMPLETELY FAILED RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TWO YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER IT HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

DRIVING IN NEIGHBORHOOD WITH STOP SIGNS AND CROSS STREETS. SPOUSE DRIVING. OTHER PASSENGER IN FRONT. ME IN REAR SEAT PASS SIDE. 10 MIN INTO TRIP. APPROACHING STOP SIGN, A FEW SECONDS AFTER BRAKE INITIALLY APPLIED, ENGINE BEGINS TO REV. HEAVY BRAKING STOPS VEHICLE, BUT ENGINE STILL REVVING. FROM BACK SEAT, I HAVE CLEAR VIEW OF DRIVER'S FEET AND CAN SEE THAT PROBLEM IS NOT MISAPPLICATION OF PEDALS. CAN ALSO SEE THAT HAND POSITION IS "10 & 2" AND NOT NEAR CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS DRIVER TURNS OFF ENGINE TO STOP REVVING. WE CHECK FLOOR MATS TO SEE IF THIS WAS PROBLEM. THEY WERE NORMAL POSITION AND NOT NEAR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN ENGINE RESTARTED, PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. FRIGHTENING INCIDENT. THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN IN CROSSWALK WHO WALKED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM A PARKED VEHICLE BUT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. ON THE LAST OCCURRENCE OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A WOODEN POST. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE REPORTED THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN 140 LB PASSENGER OCCUPIES THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES WHEN PASSENGER MOVES AROUND IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT WILL GO AWAY. TALKED TO SERVICE ADVISOR AT BMW OF STERLING, VIRGINIA ON 4/5/12. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED FOUR FACTS (1) IT IS A PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT FAILURE, AND (2) IF THE LIGHT IS ON IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY NO MATTER HOW SEVERE THE ACCIDENT IS, AND (3) THE MAT IN QUESTION WAS REPLACED ON 02-16-2007 AT 40,788 MILES FOR AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM UNDER MANUFACTURER DEFECT CODE 6577081500, AND (4) THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE, BUT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PREVIOUS REPAIR AND WILL CHARGE ME $1,290 FOR IT. RESEARCH ON THIS WEB-SITE SHOWS NHTSA ACTIVE EA08001 PERTAINS TO AN IDENTICAL ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED ON CERTAIN CARS AND THEY SHOULD COVER MY CAR FOR THE SAME DEFECT AS WELL. *TR

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK HEATER GRID SHORTED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE INSULATION AND LEATHER SEAT COVER. IT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE PHYSICAL BURNS. *TR

ON JANUARY 23, 2012 AFTER A WHOLE WEEKEND OF DOWNPOUR RAIN, I GET INTO MY X3 TO NOTICE WATER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE (NEAR MY CUP HOLDER) I LOOK UP AND NOTICE THE WATER IS DRIPPING FROM THE TOP MIDDLE CONSOLE (WHERE THE MOON ROOF CONTROL, AIR BAG BUTTON AND SOS CALL BUTTON ARE LOCATED). NOT ONLY WAS IT DRIPPING WATER BUT THE WHOLE AREA AROUND BUT IT WAS SOAKED AND WET. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS ON-LINE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AND ARE EXPERIENCING THIS WATER LEAK PROBLEM, I REALIZED I NEED TO CHECK THE OTHER AREAS PEOPLE MENTION THEY HAD WATER LEAKS. THAT'S WHEN I CHECKED THE FLOOR ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE DRIVER SIDE HAD MORE WATER THAN WHAT I COULD EVER IMAGINE, IT WAS DRENCHED. SO NOW THAT I HAVE ALL THIS WATER IN MY CAR IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY SOS BUTTON. WITHOUT ME TOUCHING IT, IT TRIES TO CALLS AND DOESN'T GET A CONNECTION. IT READS BMW PHONE INACTIVE AND IT KEEPS MAKING A NOISE THAT COMES THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT LIGHT FROM THE MIDDLE TOP CONSOLE IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. I AM SURE I'M GOING TO END UP WITH A LOT MORE ELECTRICAL, LIGHTING PROBLEMS THAN JUST THESE FEW. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND FIX BY BMW. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT IS BURNING THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNING LEG. *TR