There are 3 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2011 BMW X3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE ERROR "CHASSIS STABILIZATION" POPPED UP WITH MULTIPLE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER. STEERING, ACCELERATION, AND BRAKING WERE EFFECTED. AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN AND WARNINGS APPEARED. THEY ALSO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING, MOST OFTEN IN THE FIRST 2 MINUTES OF DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH DURING HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY DECELERATED TO 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I PULLED MY CAR INTO MY FLAT GARAGE, PLACED IT IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE. 1 HOUR LATER IT HAD ROLLED OUT INTO THE YARD. IT WAS OFF AND IN PARK. IT WAS TOWED AND EVALUATED BY A BMW "EXPERT" WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID THE CAR COULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT IN NEUTRAL AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT ON AND THEN GONE OFF. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE TO HOLD THE PARK POSITION AND THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE!!! MY INSURANCE COVERED THE $3200 DAMAGE AND CAR RENTAL. IN THIS REGARD I MADE PROBABLY 200 PHONE CALLS BETWEEN THE INSURANCE , DEALER, BMW CORPORATE, ETC. IT TOOK 9 WEEKS TO RESOLVE AND REPAIR. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026