2007 BMW X3 Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2007 BMW X3 WITH BOTH REAR SPRING BROKEN NEVER HAVE I SEEN THIS AND ALSO ALL FOUR ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS ARE SNAPPED. I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES IT, SO I KNOW NOTHING TRAUMATIC HAS HAPPENED TO IT.

I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE OVER A YEAR NOW. AND I HAVE RECEIVED THE NOTICE IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL. BUT STILL NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME IN REGARDS TO GET THIS ISSUE CORRECTED. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW OF LAS VEGAS. STILL HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING AFTER COUPLE OF MONTHS.

A WARNING CODE IS TRIGGERED THAT AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG. THE WARNING CODE IS PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH FLASHES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHETHER THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT OR NOT. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED OR NOT. BMW HAS A RECALL FOR EARLIER YEARS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOT FOR THIS YEAR WHICH ALSO HAS QUITE A FEW OF THESE FAILURES. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND NEED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSORS THAT AFFECT THE AIRBAG.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 72 IN ILLINOIS, WE NOTED A LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT. CHECKED THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AND IT STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE, BUT WE SHOULD CHECK IT AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY. COINCIDENTALLY, THE OTHER PARTY WE WERE TRAVELING WITH ASKED IF WE WANTED TO STOP FOR COFFEE AT A LOCATION 1.5 MILES OFF THE INTERSTATE. WHEN WE STOPPED, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT WENT OFF. BEFORE GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. A REPAIR FACILITY WAS NEARBY, AND THEY INVESTIGATED THE LEAK AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS EMANATING FROM A CRACK IN THE WATER PUMP. ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS THE ENGINE SAGGING. FURTHER INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT A LOWER ENGINE MOUNTING BOLT WAS MISSING ENTIRELY. THIS WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WATER PUMP, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS JACKED BACK INTO PROPER POSITION. AT THIS POINT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER MOUNTING BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. WE WERE ONE MOUNTING BOLT AWAY FROM THE ENGINE SAGGING EXCESSIVELY, LIKELY CAUSING DRIVE TRAIN SEIZURE.

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A 3 LANE HIGHWAY BEHIND A CUBE VAN GOING SLOWLY. AS I MOVED IN TO THE NEXT LANE TO GO AROUND HIM, I SAW THERE WAS A PRE-EXISTING MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED IN THAT LANE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID ADDING TO THE MESS. I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME. I HAD ZERO CONTACT WITH ANY VEHICLE OR OBJECT. AS I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG AND 2 OF MY SIDE AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE FRONT DRIVERS AIRBAG CRACKED THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF ALL THE VEHICLES INVOLVED AT THE SCENE, INCLUDING MINE. MY CAR WOULD NOT START, SO IT HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY AND TOWED TO MY HOME. THE NEXT DAY, MY INSURANCE COMPANY ALLSTATE SENT AN AIRBAG EXPERT TO MY HOME TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION ([XXX]) AND TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THERE HAD BEEN A COLLISION. SHE TOOK HER OWN PICTURES, WHICH HAVE BEEN OBTAINED AND WILL BE PROVIDED TO NHTSA. SHE CONFIRMED AND REPORTED THAT NO CONTACT HAD BEEN MADE BY MY VEHICLE WITH ANY OTHER OBJECT OR VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. ALTHOUGH I HAVE FULL COVERAGE, ALLSTATE HAS NOT OPENED A COLLISION CLAIM ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NO CAR, NO RENTAL CAR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COLLISION. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BMW OF ANNAPOLIS 410-349-9312. THE ANALYSIS IS BEING HANDLED BY A TECH NAMED [XXX]. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT YESTERDAY, SO BMW CORPORATE HQ IN NJ HAS TAKEN OVER, [XXX]. THEY DETERMINE IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET A CAR. NOW, MY MOM IS STRUGGLING TO GET TO WORK (AT NHTSA) AND I HAVE TO TAKE HER CAR TO GET TO MY BRAND NEW JOB OF TWO DAYS. I HAVE A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SITUATION. I HOPE NHTSA CAN HELP ME PROVE THAT I HAVE A DEFECT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR ...UPDATED08/20/15 *BF UPDATED 9/30/15 *JS..UPDATED 10/02/15*BF THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT.

WHILE IDLING FOR LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEAT TURNED ON, I SMELLED SMOKE BUT WASN'T SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM AND IGNORED IT. AFTER DRIVING HOME I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER DRIVER'S SEAT AND AN EXPOSED WIRE WAS SHOWING THROUGH THE HOLE. LUCKILY MY JACKET DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE MID 20S AT THE TIME. *TR

4 MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE SHEERED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP DUE TO COOLANT LEAK AND FOUND THAT ENGINE HAD BECOME UNMOUNTED AND WAS SITTING ON WATER PUMP THAT WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING THE LEAK. I HAD NOTICED VIBRATION BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. OVER $2000 REPAIR BILL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BMW. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY X3 AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, I ACTIVATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE MINUTES LATER, MY UPPER LEG BEGAN FEELING VERY HOT AND IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I LOWERED THE SEAT HEATER TEMPERATURE FROM THE HOTTEST SETTING TO THE LOWEST/COOLEST SETTING, AND THE TEMPERATURE REMAINED THE SAME - WAS EXTREMELY HOT. A SHORT TIME LATER, I ALSO SAW SMOKE. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, I SAW A HOLE ON THE SEAT WHERE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH. IT HAD ALSO BURNED THROUGH THE COAT I WAS WEARING CREATING A HOLE. CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT, AND THEY REFUSED SAYING THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. CALLED BMW NA AND RECEIVED A SIMILAR RESPONSE.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR SERVICE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE COST THEY QUOTED TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS WAS $909 PLUS TAX. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME THE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED WAS 29,706 MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS GARAGED AND RARELY DRIVEN IN BAD WEATHER. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS CLEAN AND HAS NO RUST. THE COLLAPSING SUSPENSION DUE TO COIL SPRING FAILURE SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM.REPORTS INDICATE A BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BROKEN COIL SPRINGS.THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT THE COIL SPRINGS ARE LIGHTER AND PRONE TO FAILURE.THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THE DANGERS CAUSED BY THE SPRING FAILURE.THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND ALSO REALIZED MY UPPER LEG WAS IN PAIN. TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND INVESTIGATED AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION. THERE WAS A SCORCH MARK IN THE SEAT NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT BOLSTER. LUCKY THIS DIDN'T CAUSE A FIRE OR BODILY INJURY. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAS 2 BURN HOLES WHERE THE HEATER HAS BURNED THROUGH. OFTEN THERE HAS BEEN A BURNING SENSATION WHERE THE HOLES ARE. UNTIL IT ACTUALLY BURNED THROUGH WE JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS OVERLY HOT. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I AM SURPRISED THAT BMW HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ITEM ALREADY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS VISIBLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ENGINE MOUNT BROKE, RESULTING IN EXTREME VIBRATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WITH THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED, THE DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BURN INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING. FEW MINUTES AFTER SWITCH TURNED-ON, BURNING SMELL WAS FELT INSIDE THE CAR. STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE ENGINE (FIRST GUESS). IT WAS NOT FROM THE ENGINE. SAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN REALIZED THE FUME WAS COMING FROM THE SEAT. THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNED, MY PANT BOTTOM WAS BURNED AND MY BUTT WAS ALSO BURNED (NOT SERIOUS). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OFF AND ON AND THE EML WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR DID COMPLETELY CUT OFF AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THE CAR RESTARTED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE MET ME AT MY PLANNED DESTINATION AN HOUR LATER. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP. ON THE WAY IT CUT OFF AGAIN. WE FINALLY MADE IT AND HAD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS. IT SHOWED A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR, WHICH BASICALLY DEALS WITH THROTTLE CONTROL. THE TOTAL COST FOR REPLACEMENT WAS QUOTED AT $1,707.08. THE VEHICLE (A BMW X3 ) HAS 92,538 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I WANT THIS ON RECORD IN CASE OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AT ~20MPH AND ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED (AS WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND PARK THE VEHICLE, WITH NO ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING). THE BATTERY AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. ENDED UP HAVING TO BUMP INTO THE CURB AND STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND TURNING IT BACK ON, IT WAS FINE. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS INSPITE OF HAVING IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND DRIVING IT AROUND. SUSPECTS THE STEERING LOCK UNIT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT IS NOT SURE SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE NOR WERE THEY ABLE TO SEE ANY LOGS OF ISSUES IN THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER. VEHICLE IS RUNNING OK NOW. *TR

EXPERIENCING RECURRENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDING MULTIPLE EPISODES OF COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKING WHILE DRIVING AT 15-25 MPH. THIS INCLUDES AN EPISODE OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CUTTING OFF WITHOUT WARNING DURING A TURN ON A BUSY STREET RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, NEARLY RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. VEHICLE WILL RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AFTER INCIDENT OCCURS. VEHICLE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE EPISODES OF A BATTERY DRAWING DOWN VOLTAGE AND NON-START IN THE MORNING DESPITE A NEW AND FULLY CHARGED BATTERY. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND PROBLEM PERSISTED. SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED YET PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. NO ISSUES FOUND BY MECHANIC. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, EXITING AN OFF RAMP, DECELERATING IN SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE DIED, THE CAR STALLED AND I LOST POWER STEERING. THIS VERY SAME THING HAPPENED 5 WEEKS PRIOR WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING 60 MPH. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2007 BMW X3 ON 7/10/14 FROM A DEALER. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INDICATED THEY TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE BY REPLACING THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT, THE AIRBAG ITSELF AND THE SEATBELT BUCKLE. NOTHING THEY DID FIXED THE ISSUE OR CLEARED THE LIGHT. THE DEALER HAD INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD AN AIRBAG RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND I WOULD BE GETTING A LETTER FROM BMW IN AUGUST. THIS LETTER WOULD ALLOW ME TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED BY A BMW DEALER. I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER, HE LOOKED UP MY VIN AND INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH MY MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND ANY FURTHER EVALUATION WOULD BE AT MY COST? WAS IT LEGAL FOR THE DEALER TO SELL ME THE VEHICLE WITH THIS DEFECT? WHO IS NOW RESPONSIBLE TO BEAR THE COST OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION? ME OR THE DEALER? WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND DIMMED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TEST PLAN INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ BMW AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE CHARGE FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 08/21/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRASH SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN CROSSED OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE STRIKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS IN AND ROLLED OVER. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE CONTACT'S LEFT HAND WAS CRUSHED AND REQUIRED FOUR SURGERIES. THE CONTACT ENDURED ONE AND A HALF YEARS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, POST CONCUSSION BRAIN DAMAGE, AND PTSD THERAPY. DUE TO THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NO LONGER HAD PROPER FUNCTIONALITY OF THE LEFT HAND. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HAD TO GET STITCHES ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/04/16*LJ UPDATED 08/16/16. *JB

WAS ADVISED BY SANDIA BMW THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OC3 MAT IS IMPROPERLY WORKING. WAS ADVISED TO CALL BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY IN TURN SAID " THERE IS NOT ENOUGH" X3 WITH THIS ISSUE ONLY THE 3 SERIES, 5 SERIES AND X5. THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME. THEY ADVISED TO KEEP ON EYE ON THE ISSUE. *TR

ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF AT THE HEAD CAUSING ENGINE TO FALL ONTO SUBFRAME. *TR

2007 X3 3.0SI 76000 MILES. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, USER NOTICED OIL DRAIN PLUG NOT ALIGNED WITH OPENING IN STIFFENING PLATE. REMOVED PLATE AND M12 BOLT FELL OUT. UPON INSPECTION, ALL PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS HAVE BEEN SHEARED OFF OR FALLEN OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS DRIVEN CONSERVATIVELY. RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. PROLONGED VEHICLE USE WITH SHEARED ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS COULD CAUSE DRIVE-LINE FAILURES POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND/OR DEATH. *JS

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 07, 2014 AND WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD AND WHEN YOU WOULD TRY TO STOP BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK HARDER AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN APRIL, I BELIEVE THE 5TH I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEN SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN. AS SOON AS THE SERVICE ADVISOR CHECKED ON THE VEHICLE SHE SAID THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND HOW IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE BUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE END OF JUNE IT SAID I WAS REALLY LOW ON OIL. I WENT TO TURN THE VEHICLE IN AND IT WOULD NOT START. *TR

THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE HEATED SEATS DRIVER'S SIDE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MY CLOTHES. *TR

SEVERE ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION ON 2007 BMW E83 X3. ONCE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, TRANSMISSION ISSUES ARE MORE NOTICEABLE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO THROTTLE INPUT WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP. SEVERAL HESITATIVE JERKS ARE FELT AND THEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY. OFTEN TIMES DURING THIS SEQUENCE, THE EXHAUST EMITS A HUGE PLUME OF SMOKE, BLINDING DRIVERS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. UPON DECELERATION, MY VEHICLE MAY DOWNSHIFT HARSHLY, GENERATING A FORWARD SURGE OF ACCELERATION BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO MATCH ENGINE REVS WITH THE LOWER GEAR; I HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC AT LOW SPEEDS (<20 MPH). ALSO WHILE DECELERATING, MY VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER, WHICH RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE A DECELERATION RATE THAT "TRIGGERS" THIS BEHAVIOR. I AM A TEST ENGINEER AND A PERFORMANCE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR WITH BMW CCA. I HAVE REGULARLY DRIVEN BMWS OVER THE PAST DECADE AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER MODELS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN (E46, E39, E63). I ALSO HAVE LIMITED RACING EXPERIENCE IN E30 BMWS. I.E. I KNOW HOW AN ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSE TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE UNDER A WIDE VARIETY OF CONDITIONS. THESE ACCELERATION/DECELERATION ISSUES ARE VERY CONCERNING TO ME. *TR

WHILE RIDING IN CAR, PASSENGER (MY WIFE) TURNED ON SEAT HEAT AND IT GOT VERY HOT, BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURNED 2 HOLES IN VINYL SEAT BACK NEAR RIGHT BOLSTER. IT BURNED A HOLE IN HER SWEATER, BUT WE REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF SEAT HEAT IMMEDIATELY AVOIDING A BURN TO HER SKIN. HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE, I ATTEMPTED A VINYL UPHOLSTERY REPAIR WITH A KIT, BUT IT TOO MELTED AWAY WHEN I TESTED THE SEAT HEATER. I WILL NOT RUN THE SEAT HEATER AGAIN ON EITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE UNTIL THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BY BMWNA. THIS IS VERY CLEARLY A SERIOUS AND WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRE AND/OR INJURY. *TR

23 MONTH OLD TODDLER GAINED ACCESS TO VEHICLE KEYS AND LOCKED HIMSELF IN WITH THE REMOTE KEY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF HIM TRYING TO OPEN THE DOORS WITH THE DOOR LEVERS, THEY WOULD NOT OPEN. WE HAD A LOCK SMITH ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BY PUSHING THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON LOCATED ON THE UPPER CENTER CONSOLE, BUT THIS ALSO DIDN'T UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FINALLY OPENED AFTER PUSHING THE CENTER LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON AND THEN PULLING ON THE DOOR LEVER TWO TIMES TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS ENTRY SYSTEM REQUIRES THE USE OF ELECTRICS PRIOR TO THE MECHANICAL SYSTEM BECOMING ACTIVE. THIS SITUATION COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DURING HIGH TEMPERATURE DAYS IF A PERSON IS LOCKED INSIDE AND DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT OF AN ESCAPE IF THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILS WITH THE DOORS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT GOT SO HOT THAT IT STARTED TO SMOKE, BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER AND BURNT MY WIFE'S COAT AND LEG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SEPARATE INCIDENT WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS WERE SHEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

6 OUT OF 8 OF MY MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE SHEARED OR BROKEN IN HALF. THIS IS A COMMON BMW PROBLEM WITH THE N52B SERIES BMW ENGINES AND BMW DOES NOT TAKE ANY OWNERSHIP OF THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW. THIS CAUSES A VERY UNSAFE DRIVING DYNAMIC IN THAT THE ENGINE IS NO LONGER HELD SECURELY IN PLACE. *TR

LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, AND BMW DEALER FOUND A CRACK ON THE WATER PUMP. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE ENGINE WAS NOTED TO BE CANTED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ATTACH THE NEW WATER PUMP. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS (TOTAL OF 4 ON ONE SIDE) HAD ALL BROKEN OFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TILT. THE REPAIR WAS $2000 AND WHEN I CALLED BMW USA, THEY SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO COMPENSATION BACK TO ME, AND THAT THE BROKEN BOLTS WERE SECONDARY TO THE CAR HAVING 90,000 MILES. CHANGING BOLTS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND REPLACEMENT ITEM, AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. OUR VEHICLES ARE GENTLY DRIVEN, AND NEVER GO OFF ROAD, SO I AM MYSTIFIED HOW THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION FELT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS WAS SHEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS WERE SHEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED TO PROVIDE A FURTHER INVESTIGATION RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

HEATED SEAT WAS ON "MEDIUM" SETTING, WITHIN ONE MINUTE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL THEN FELT PAIN IN LEFT LEG. HEATED SEAT ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH SEAT MATERIAL AND BURNED PANTS! NO REAL INJURY BUT SEAT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MY PANTS. SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN IN THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATERS AND NOT EVEN 2 MINUTES LATER, HE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE...HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS A PEA SIZED BURN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. HE ALSO HAD A BURN MARK ON HIS JEANS THAT WENT THROUGH TO HIS WALLET. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT WE HAD OUR 3 DOGS IN THE CAR HEADED TO THE VET AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEMS. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING... *TR

MY 2007 X3 WAS INVOLVED IN A BIZARRE AND FREAKY SOLO ACCIDENT. MY HOUSE IS ON SLOPED HILL WITH A LEVEL DRIVEWAY. THE ROAD LEADING TO THE DRIVEWAY IS ABOUT 20-25 FEET BELOW THE DRIVEWAY. ON APR. 18, 2013, UPON ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HIT CONCRETE COLUMNS (ON THE EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY, MEANT FOR RETAINING WALLS) 3 TIMES AND WENT AIRBORNE FROM THE EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE STREET BELOW. THE CAR HIT THE STREET SURFACE ON ITS ROOF, ROLLED OVER ONCE AND CAME TO A STOP ON ITS 4 TIRES. DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER HAD SEATBELTS ON AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE REAR PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR AND SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES AND STILL REMAINS HOSPITALIZED 18 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE THIS ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING SEARCHES ONLINE, I AM BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS IN FACT A CAR MALFUNCTION AND NOT A DRIVER ERROR. HTTP://FORUM.ROADFLY.COM/THREADS/13163648-SUDDEN-ACCELERATION-WITH-08-X3-ANYONE-ELSE I WOULD LIKE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. *TR

3 OUT OF 4 ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP 2 INCHES AND DAMAGE THE COOLING SYSTEM. IF THE ENGINE HAD DROPPED FURTHER IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSED A MORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT EMITTED A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS ON FIRE AND HAD BURNED THROUGH HER CLOTHING, INJURING THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BY POURING WATER ON THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR, THEN WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER FELT A BURNING PAIN ON THIGH. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF SEAT WARMER AND TRIED TO PULL OVER. FOUND THAT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER HAD BURNT A HOLE THRU THE LEATHER SEAT COVER AND BURNED MY PANTS. THIS COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED A WRECK! *TR

ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013 MY WIFE TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S-SIDE SEAT HEATER AND APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LATER SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE REALIZED THAT HER CLOTHES WERE ON FIRE AND STOPPED AND JUMPED OUT AND THE SEAT-HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND WAS BURNING HER COAT. *TR

I HAD CAR HEATING SYSTEM ON AND FELT SOME THING VERY HOT UNDER MY THIGH. I GOT DOWN TO INSPECT AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE CAR SEAT. I PUT OFF THE HEATING SYSTEM TO REACH HOME SAFELY. I HAVE SENT PICTURES AND MY COMPLAINT TO BMW AG AND BMW USA. *TR

WHILE DRIVING LAST NIGHT , I STARTED TO FEEL SOMETHING HOT IN THE SEAT, AND WITHIN A FEW MOMENTS THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. I LEANED FORWARD AND LOOKED BACK AT THE SEAT, AND IT HAD A FLAME COMING OUT OF A HOLE MELTED IN THE LEATHER. (LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT) LUCKILY, I WAS WEARING A COAT AND DRIVING IN AN AREA THAT I COULD PULL OVER QUICKLY. AFTER I HOPPED OUT & TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEATS, IT CONTINUED TO SPARK AS MY SON AND I WAITED OUTSIDE IN THE COLD FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK US UP. COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE, BUT I'M STARTING TO HEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THAT UNCOMMON OF A AN OCCURRENCE. THANKS! *TR

TURNED ON HEATED SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, FELT BURNING ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT, TURNED ON THE LIGHT AND THE SEAT WAS SMOKING SUBSTANTIALLY. A SMALL HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A DIME) AND THROUGH MY PANTS. I HAVE A SMALL RED MARK ON THE TOP OF THE BACK OF MY LEG. THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR AN ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED. VERY CONCERNING AND WILL LIKELY BE A COSTLY REPAIR. HAVE NOTED SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPOTED ON-LINE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS FILED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY ERIE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER [XXX] AROUND 11/27/2012, IT WAS THEN SOLD WITH A CLEAR TITLE BY INDY AUTO MAN ON 6/18/2013 WITH A MISSING DRIVERS AIRBAG AND POSSIBLY OTHER AIRBAGS MISSING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEATED SEAT WARMER ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE HEATED SEAT WARMER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S PANT LEG, BURNING THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2007 MODEL YEAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS BEEN GRADUAL INCREASE IN UPSHIFT KICK AND DOWNSHIFT KICK AFFECTING THE ACCELERATOR FOOT PEDAL FEELING. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS READY TO MOVE FROM A DEAD STOP, THIS IS SPECIALLY CONCERNING ON STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING IN LOW GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT KICK IS MORE PREVALENT IN THE LOWER GEARS 3RD TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST. THE UPSHIFT KICK IS MORE PREVALENT IN 2ND TO 3RD. A SENSE OF CONCERN HAS CREEPED UP ON MY WIFE EVERY TIME SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE WITH NO SENSE OF SECURITY AS SHE TRIES TO MAKE LEFT TURNS OR IN SLOW STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT REACT AND BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SINCE IT WAS A BIT CHILLY, TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER. WITHIN SECONDS I FELT A PAINFUL BURNING IN MY LEFT REAR "CHEEK" AND SMELLED SMOKE AND SOMETHING BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE SMOKE AND SMELL CLEARED. WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP AND ASSESS THE DAMAGE, THERE IS A BURNED SPOT ON MY LEATHER SEAT AND I HAVE A BURN ON MY BACKSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATES THAT I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE BECAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE HEATING ELEMENT/WIRING IS SO EXTENSIVE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO USE IT UNTIL IT COULD BE REPAIRED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND I DID PURCHASE A WARRANTY WITH IT, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS ITEM IS COVERED. HOWEVER, BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT TURNING OFF THE SEAT WARMER STOPPED ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. I'VE ALREADY NOTED 7 OTHER SEAT WARMER ISSUES FOR THE 2007 X3 MODEL, I'VE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS OTHER INTERNET BLOGS (WHICH WOULD DEFINITELY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS KNEW WHERE & HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT LIKE THIS), AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER BMW MODELS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL (04V575000 RECALL DATE : NOV 24, 2004 ). WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? FOR SOMEONE TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE, DIE? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. THIS ISSUE NEARLY CAUSED A FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT!!! *TR