NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 BMW X3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I am reporting a water intrusion issue in my 2019 BMW X3 involving both the roof-mounted “shark fin” antenna and the sunroof. Water enters the vehicle during normal rain conditions and has caused failure of the emergency call (SOS) system. This presents a serious safety concern, as the emergency communication system may not function in the event of a crash or emergency. Water intrusion also creates a risk of electrical damage and potential malfunction of critical vehicle systems while driving. The vehicle has been properly maintained, and this issue appears to be related to known defects involving water leaks from roof components in BMW vehicles. The total repair cost to address these issues is $4,650.
The vehicle's Telematics Control Box (TCB), located beneath the roof-mounted shark fin antenna, failed due to water intrusion and internal corrosion. The failure produced the following fault codes confirmed by BMW of Norwood, MA: B7F341 (backup battery hardware defective), B7F33C (internal ECU error), and B7F327 (microphone short circuit to ground), along with cascading faults across multiple other vehicle modules. Symptoms included a persistent 'Emergency Call System Malfunction' warning on the instrument cluster, loss of GPS/navigation accuracy, and loss of odometer display. The shark fin antenna base seal — a foam tape and adhesive system — had likely deteriorated after approximately 6-7 years of service, consistent with a pattern of failures reported by numerous other owners of 2017-2023 BMW X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, M440i, M550i, 330, 340i, and 750i vehicles. BMW dealer quoted $3,300 for repair. An independent BMW specialist quoted $3,500. BMW North America declined to cover the repair as the vehicle is out of warranty, despite acknowledging the issue as known. This failure mode is the subject of active class action litigation (Craft v. BMW of North America LLC, Case No. 1:24-cv-06826, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey) and an ongoing investigation by Sauder Schelkopf LLC on behalf of affected owners. SAFETY CONCERN: The failure disables the Intelligent Emergency Call system, which automatically contacts emergency services in the event of a serious accident. Additionally, the persistent warning obscures the instrument cluster including the odometer display, impairing normal vehicle operation. Water intrusion reaching vehicle electronics represents a broader safety risk if it propagates to safety-critical modules. ACTION REQUESTED: Formal investigation into the adequacy of the shark fin antenna sealing design across affected model years, and consideration of a recall or extended warranty to cover TCB replacement costs for affected owners.
PHANTOM BRAKING ISSUE - Twice now while driving 50-55 MPH on clear roads the brakes slammed on without cause - COMPLETE SHUTDOWN - While going thru a restaurant drive thru - the car completely shut down and would not move forward - I had to back up in order to get out of drive thru - thankfully no one was behind me. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR - bringing it in for service
While driving down the highway at about 60 mph, the vehicle made a loud noise like a gunshot, and the sunroof exploded. Fragments of glass fell from the sunroof onto the backseat and floor board and large chunks of glass fell after. There was not any indication that the sunroof was damaged prior to failure and there were no other cars around that could have caused a rock or other debris to fly up and hit the sunroof. Fragments of glass could have injured the driver and the noise startled the driver and could have caused a wreck.
I'm reporting a safety issue with BMW vehicles equipped with the B58TU engine, primarily 2019-2021 models. These vehicles have an oil pump with an internal plastic component that regulates oil pressure, and this part is fracturing in the field, causing sudden loss of oil pressure. The failure typically occurs during cold starts in low temperatures. When it fails, oil pressure becomes erratic or is lost entirely, often with little to no warning before engine damage or vehicle disablement. Warning signs, when present, include inability to measure oil level electronically, abnormal oil pressure, or sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. These can rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe damage from oil starvation. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle can become disabled without warning while driving or after startup. This is especially hazardous when cars become immobilized in traffic or during winter conditions when failures occur most frequently, leaving occupants exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Pump replacement requires extensive disassembly and commonly costs $6,000-$8,000, assuming no engine damage. A critical concern: owners cannot determine if their vehicle has the original plastic pump or the later metal revision. BMW's VIN-based parts lookup now shows updated components even when original plastic parts remain installed, and BMW has removed the original plastic part number from dealer networks entirely. Failures are reported across multiple production years, and the scope of affected vehicles remains unclear. Because this condition causes sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning, especially in cold weather, I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety-related defect.
My 2019 BMW X3 (G01 chassis) displays a persistent "Emergency Call System Malfunction" warning on the instrument cluster that cannot be dismissed or reset by the owner. The warning appears every time the vehicle is started and remains on the dashboard throughout operation. This is a known defect caused by failure of the Telematics Communication Box (TCB) module, which is commonly triggered by water intrusion through a defective seal on the roof-mounted shark fin antenna housing. BMW has acknowledged this issue through Technical Service Bulletin SIB B65 12 22 (Roof-Mounted Antenna Housing Seal Not Adhering), yet has not issued a recall or offered a no-cost repair to affected owners. This defect presents the following safety concerns: 1. The persistent, non-dismissible warning light desensitizes the driver to critical dashboard warnings, undermining the purpose of the vehicle's warning system. When drivers are conditioned to ignore a permanent warning, they are more likely to overlook new, actionable safety alerts. 2. The emergency call (eCall) system itself is rendered non-functional, meaning the vehicle will not automatically contact emergency services in the event of a serious collision where the driver is incapacitated. 3. The warning creates a visual distraction on the instrument cluster during driving. BMW's only offered remedy is full replacement of the TCB module at a cost of 1,500â“2,500 to the owner, despite this being a manufacturing defect (faulty antenna seal adhesive) and not a wear item. The defective component is located under the headliner and is not accessible for owner maintenance. This issue is widespread across 2017â“2023 BMW models equipped with the shark fin antenna, including the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, 3 Series, and 5 Series. A class action lawsuit has been filed against BMW of North America regarding this defect. Numerous complaints have been submitted to NHTSA and documented extensively on BMW owner forums. I am requesting that NHTSA
On returning to my locked vehicle that had been in the parking ramp for 3 days, I started the car and the display message indicated that my vehicle was completely out of gas and the oil was very low. The vehicle had nearly a full tank of gas when it was parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealership who assessed the vehicle. The service department indicated that the vehicle likely did not sound like it was running because of the idle feature, and as such, I may have thought I shut off the car, but that eventually the idle feature turned off, and the vehicle ran while it was locked until it was out of gas. The service man who sent me a video of my vehicle and described what happened, also showed me another BMW SUV in the hoist next to my vehicle and indicated that same vehicle had the same thing happen as well. BMW replaced the programing/encoding control units software that was original to the vehicle. They indicated that this would improve overall function of the vehicle. The cost of this replacement was $371. This sounds like a design flaw. How can a locked vehicle start back up after a period of time, by itself with no vehicle fob in the vicinity, and run for hours until it is out of gas and the oil is low?
- Frontal Collision warning, Pedestrian warning - yes because safety features were shut off, back up camera doesn't work as well - yes - yes
2019 BMW X3 with operable sunroof. Significant leakage occurred in front and rear of car risking electrical failure and therefore accident. Dealer denies that this is a problem and Bmw takes no responsibility for what is a hidden defect of the drainage system for the sunroof. Hundreds of individuals have the same exact problem. Hundreds are automatically denied any assistance or responsibility by dealer or manufacture. In a prior claim, it appears that Bmw lost and was found guilty of concealment of a manufacturers defect and was instructed to pay $500 million to plaintiff. Examination of law firms indicate that this significant problem affecting hundreds perhaps thousands of Bmw x-3 has not been registered as a significant complaint, notwithstanding the fact that they have already been in court and been found guilty. Please contact me 804-241-2773 Cell. Or rgrossberg@comcast.net. Examination of owner handbook produced by Bmw informs owner that rails and drains for sunroof must be cleaned. But they indicate that problems with this issue are not covered by the warranty. This needs to be verified. Anecdotal Reports indicate that hundreds of complaints have been received. Bmw is denying any responsibility. Conversation with attorneys indicate this is a habitual problem with Bmw. In this case, it’s a manufacturers defect, on disclosed, causes damage, all problems are denied by manufacturer. Consider this a formal submission of a complaint and a violation of variety of rules and laws covering local, state, and federal jurisdiction Richard grossberg 405 Westham Parkway, Richmond, VA 23229
I am reporting a manufacturing defect on BMW vehicles, specifically the 2019 BMW X3 with fewer than 40k miles. According to a vehicle inspection conducted at a BMW dealership on Saturday November 22, 2025, the motor mounts are collapsed. Potential risks are excessive engine vibrations that could cause loss of control while driving, to engine components to fall off the ground while driving. It’s dubious that BMW dealers “discovered “ this issue after the vehicle warranty expired. I request that the matter be investigated and order the manufacturer to extend coverage to a minimum of 120k miles or 6 years from date of service. Please investigate before it’s too late. Thank you.
Reporting a failure of the engine cooling system on my 2019 BMW X3 that developed over time despite repeated repair attempts and ultimately resulted in complete engine failure. Over the past year, the vehicle has experienced ongoing coolant loss and overheating warnings despite multiple coolant-related repairs. When the problem continued, I brought the vehicle to a BMW dealership, where the service department determined that the engine had suffered internal damage consistent with overheating and advised that a full engine replacement was required. These issues occurred during normal driving and created unsafe conditions, including the risk of sudden loss of power or breakdown in traffic. Based on my experience and the repeated nature of the failures despite proper maintenance, it appears that coolant and overheating issues may be persistent in this vehicle model rather than isolated to a single component, and I am concerned that other owners may be experiencing similar safety-related defects. A investigation into this is warranted.
While driving my BMW X3, the engine suddenly failed after the check-engine light came on, which followed several days of intermittent high-temperature warnings. Coolant levels had been consistently monitored, refilled, and topped up as needed, yet the temperature fluctuations persisted. Upon further inspection, the repair shop determined that coolant had been leaking internally into the engine due to a cooling system failure, causing overheating and warping of internal components. This created a serious safety hazard, as the vehicle began losing power while in motion, leaving me unable to safely accelerate or maintain speed in traffic and increasing the risk of a collision and a potential fire. This is a serious matter and BMW should assume responsibility for this. I bought the car assuming it was reliable but having to endure this cost out of pocket for an engineering failure is not okay.
The emergency call system on the vehicle has failed and I am getting an error message. The service center at the dealership informed me that water ingress into the shark fin that houses the system caused the system to short and fail resulting in the need for a complete replacement of the system at a cost of $3100. BMW has issued a service bulletin (SIB 65 12 22-Roof Mounted Antenna Housing Seal Not Adhering) that states that the seal of the room-mounting antenna housing is separating from the vehicle. This will allow water ingress into the vehicle, possibly damaging components and equipment. With the correction of remove and reseal the roof-mounted antenna housing. During the service call, the technician confirmed this defect caused the issue. I contacted BMW and they refused to completely cover the repair stating it is not a safety issue. I disagree, I purchased the vehicle with advanced safety features. My wife travels with the car to rural areas and this feature is critical in her safety in the event of a crash. I feel BMW should cover the repair and that this issue is a safety concern for those who rely on an advanced safety calling system purchased with the car. In reviewing message boards, this seems to be an issue for many owners of BMW SUVs.
Turbo coolant lines/ Oil filter housing failed I am reporting failure of the oil filter housing and turbo coolant lines on my 2019 BMW X3. These parts are leaking coolant due to defective plastic components and sealing surfaces, which causes sudden coolant loss and overheating risk while driving. This is a widespread issue affecting many BMW owners and has been documented in forums, service centers, and BMW technical bulletins. The failure poses a safety hazard, including potential engine failure at highway speeds, loss of power, and risk of breakdown or accident. BMW has not issued a recall or warranty extension, and consumers are being forced to pay out of pocket over $3,000 for what appears to be a systemic design flaw in the cooling system.
2019 BMW X3 - Coolant warning has been going on for the last 6 months and I was refilling coolant every time it went off. I even had the car serviced and they refilled the coolant. Then I was driving the car the engine is overheating warning came on I pulled over. It cooled down. Car was fine but said it needed coolant. I added coolant and noticed it was leaking from multiple spots underneath the car. I had the car towed to a certified BMW mechanic. They did a diagnostic test and inspection and I was told the exhilarator water pump, coolant hose, coolant return line and oil filter house among a list of other things need to be replaced. The repair is estimated at $4700.00
Despite replacing the water pump, coolant expansion tank, hoses, and other related cooling system components, and fully refilling and bleeding the coolant, the issue persisted. Even after these repairs, the engine continued to overheat and show coolant level fluctuations, indicating an underlying problem likely pressure buildup or head gasket failure that was not resolved by replacing standard cooling parts. Dealership has identified further problems and seem like a costly repair that I won’t be able to do out of pocket. BMW needs to address this issue immediately, engine stuttering and loss of sudden power on the high way is not safe!
The radiator hose system has now failed twice due to faulty hoses and connections.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel was flickering on and off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Today, I placed my backpack containing my 2019 BMW X3 key fob in the back seat, closed the door, and proceeded to open the driver’s door as usual. Immediately, the car locked itself with the key fob still inside. This is a failure of the anti-lockout safety system. The vehicle’s Comfort Access/keyless entry system is designed to prevent the doors from locking when the key is inside, and it should never lock itself under these circumstances. This malfunction creates a serious safety risk, as occupants or pets could become trapped inside the vehicle. I am submitting this complaint to notify NHTSA of a potential safety defect in the BMW anti-lockout / Comfort Access system. I request an investigation to determine if this defect affects other vehicles of the same model and year.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument was flickering on and off. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The automatic emergency braking system randomly applied itself while I was driving 40mph down a highway where there was no obstacle/animal of any kind. My vehicle braked hard and quickly and a red car image appeared in the dash simultaneously. Thankfully there were no other vehicles around me at the time. Prior to today, my vehicle has had regular maintenance and has had no issues. I have not yet brought his forward to a dealership, service center, police, insurance, etc.
2019 BMW X3 VIN # [XXX] Odometer - 70,000 miles Dealer - United BMW, 11458 Alpharetta HWY, Roswell GA 30075 I purchased my 2019 BMW x3 from United BMW in October 2022. The car had a little over 22K miles at the time or purchase. My vehicle suffered catastrophic engine failure on [XXX], just 48 hours after a BMW service technician topped off coolant in response to a warning light. The vehicle has been properly maintained, including repairs from United BWM Service and a BMW Certified independent mechanic. The engine failure occurred under normal driving conditions, rendering the engine inoperable. I have received a full diagnostic from BMW and they acknowledged that the independent mechanic was not at fault. Previous contact with BMW Consumer Relations and the United BMW service manager has not resolved the issue. The repair estimate from United is $40,000. Since I purchased my vehicle from United, they offered to reduce my repair cost to $33,000. I still owe $25,000 on this vehicle. Given the sudden failure shortly after BMW's service, this appears to be a serious reliability and potential safety defect. I have copies of my service records. Kindly advise. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Starting in July/August 2025, my 2019 BMW X3 (G01) suffered a total failure of multiple safety-critical systems, including the Emergency Call (eCall) system, the rearview camera, and frontal collision/pedestrian alert sensors. These failures were accompanied by a persistent "Emergency Call System Malfunction" warning on the dashboard. BMW Service Information Bulletin SIB 65 12 22 acknowledges a manufacturing defect where the roof-mounted antenna housing seal was "not optimal," leading to water ingress. This water ingress has damaged the Telematics Control Unit (TCB), which manages these safety features. I have contacted BMW North America and local dealerships; however, they have provided a written refusal to repair the damaged internal electronics because the vehicle is out of its original 4-year warranty. Safety Risk: This defect leaves the vehicle in a non-compliant safety state. In the event of a crash, the vehicle cannot automatically notify emergency services (eCall failure). Furthermore, the loss of the rearview camera and collision avoidance systems significantly increases the risk of a crash or injury. BMW is aware of the defect that causes these safety systems to fail but has not issued a safety recall to address the resulting hardware damage. This issue is currently the subject of the Craft v. BMW of North America class-action lawsuit.
Beginning in July–August 2025, my 2019 BMW X3 (VIN [XXX] ) began experiencing multiple safety‑critical system failures affecting federally regulated components. The rearview camera intermittently failed to activate and later stopped functioning entirely, resulting in loss of rear visibility required under FMVSS 111. The Emergency Call (eCall) system displayed repeated malfunction warnings, indicating loss of automatic crash notification capability. The vehicle also displayed “Driver Assistance Restricted,” “Collision Warning Malfunction,” and pedestrian detection failure messages, showing that forward collision warning and related ADAS functions were not operating properly. During the same period, the telematics control unit (TCU) lost functionality. This caused loss of ConnectedDrive services, backend communication, remote diagnostics, remote status reporting, and safety‑related over‑the‑air updates. These failures match known BMW defect patterns involving water intrusion into the antenna/telematics module and backend provisioning issues. I submitted a detailed written escalation to BMW of North America. BMW issued two brief responses on February 11–12, 2026 that did not address any of the safety issues, did not provide the engineering basis for excluding my VIN from the applicable recall, and redirected me to a dealer, which has no authority over recall determinations. BMW closed the case without providing any investigation results, defect determination, or technical explanation, contrary to obligations under 49 CFR § 573. These failures materially impair federally regulated safety functions, including rear visibility, collision avoidance, emergency crash notification, and telematics‑based safety communication. The pattern suggests a potential broader defect affecting additional vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My X3 has 52,000 miles. During a recent road trip, an "Emergency Call System Malfunction" message appeared. When I returned home, I took the vehicle to the dealership. The advisor said the shark fin trim is loose on the roof causing water ingress into the vehicle causing damage to the aerial antenna and the TCB unit. The TCB unit is also known as the Telematics Control Unit that is responsible for vehicle safety and connectivity features, door locking mechanisms, and so on. The technician found faults in the aerial antenna and TCB. I understand from the service advisor that they see this fairly regularly. I have further learned that BMW issued a Service Information Bulletin admitting the problem to dealers and telling them it was a manufacturing defect during the painting process and lists the parts needed to fix it. The quoted cost to replace the damaged components and install/seal a new shark fin was over $4,000 (almost 10% of the car's original price). BMW knows this to be a problem and I think there should be a safety recall for it, regardless of whether the car is out of its original warranty period.
Regarding SIB 65 12 22, NHTSA ID Number 10227571, Manufacturer Communication Number B651222. Summary: The seal of the roof-mounted antenna housing is separating from the vehicle. Affected Products: (20) Vehicle BMW X3 2018-2022 - BMW X4 2019-2022 - BMW X5 2019-2022 - BMW X6 2020-2022 - BMW X7 2019-2022 I would like to mention that, this issue was known by BMW and acknowledge as Painting Process Deffect, BMW havent release a recall. BMW released on oct 2022 a BMW Service Information Bulletin detailing a defect in the paint and sealant of the roof-mounted antenna housing, which can allow water to leak into the vehicle and damage electrical components, including the emergency call system and GPS. Vehicles produced before January 10, 2022, are affected. The bulletin provides instructions for dealers to inspect for water ingress, remove the affected antenna housing, inspect the paint for separation on the sealing surface, and replace the housing if the paint is separating. Even when this production deffect main consequence is the damage of the Telematics Control Unit (tcu) due to physical closeness and consequently failure of the vehicle’s emergency call system and other communication systems and gps. The bulletin only focus on replace of antenna and painting of area (approx cost $700) and doesnt mention any alternatives for solution to damaged TCU (approx cost $3000) and on top the solution mentioned is even more restricted to Coverage under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. Please, respectfully request you to consider reviewing this situation due to affects 20 models and a considerable big amount of people.
hello I am formally reporting: Safety‑Critical Failures and Applicable Federal Requirements the attached 2019 BMW X3 – VIN [XXX] 1. Rearview Camera Failure Federal Requirement: FMVSS 111 – Rear Visibility Relevant Obligations: - Rearview image must activate automatically when shifting into reverse. - System must provide a minimum field of view. - System must function reliably under normal operating conditions. Failure: The rearview camera failed completely, resulting in loss of federally required rear visibility. 2. Emergency Call (eCall) System Malfunction Federal Requirement: 49 CFR § 573 – Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility (NHTSA considers eCall part of the post‑crash safety architecture.) Relevant Obligations: - Manufacturers must investigate safety‑related failures. - Manufacturers must determine defect scope and affected population. Failure: The vehicle displays “Emergency Call System Malfunction” warnings, indicating loss of automatic crash notification capability. 3. Forward Collision Warning / Pedestrian Warning Failure Federal Requirement: FMVSS 126 – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - NHTSA ADAS Safety Guidance (Forward Collision Warning, Pedestrian Detection) Relevant Obligations: - ADAS systems supporting collision avoidance must function reliably. - Failures must be investigated for potential safety defects. - Manufacturers must document defect determination and scope. Failure: The vehicle displays warnings indicating failure of forward collision warning and pedestrian detection systems, impairing collision‑avoidance capability. 4. Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Failure Federal Requirement: 49 CFR § 573 – Defect Reporting - NHTSA Safety Recall Rules (TCU failures affecting safety systems) Relevant Obligations: - TCU failures affecting safety‑critical subsystems must be investigated. - Manufacturers must determine whether the failure constitutes a defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed while the front passenger’s side seat was being occupied, the message "Front Passenger’s Restraint System Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front passenger’s side seat mat detection sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,500.
Engine light diagnostic Crankcase Ventilation Hose Defective. There was a recall on this but not for my VIN #, why not I'm having the same issues a described in the recall.
On 7/3/25 took 2019 BMW X3 in for service & received a call that the Engine Mounts had collapsed and the repair would be $2,098.50 and to me a car with only 68K miles should not have this issue - first time in any car I've owned. The Service Advisor, Sheri Holtz of Century BMW, 2934 Laurens Road, Greenville SC informed us that this was a common issue but no recall currently. Went on to research and YouTube had information that this is a known issue and one of the top 10 problems with the BMW X3. Contacted BMW Client Care to seek reimbursement and claim was denied. Also sent a letter to BMW Customer Relations and no response. A 6 year old car should not have motor mounts collapsing and this is obviously an issue with BMW. Most consumers do not know how to report this complaint but if there is a way for you to search BMW dealers for how often this repair is happening, you will most likely find this is an issue.
At some point in June 2025, between approximately 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., I was driving southbound on the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles, just south of the 134 interchange, at approximately 45 mph. Traffic was light, with no vehicles in front of me and no vehicles attempting to merge into my lane. Without warning, a bright red alert appeared on the dashboard of my 2019 BMW x3 and the vehicle suddenly applied full braking. The position of my arms at that moment caused an injury to my right elbow, which has remained painful since the incident. In January 2026, under nearly identical circumstances, the emergency warning appeared again. This time, the brakes did not engage. In July, I contacted BMW Corporate and service center regarding these incidents. I found their response dismissive, stating that “sometimes that happens.” A service center later informed me that this is a known issue referred to as “phantom braking.” Having experienced this firsthand, I believe this represents a serious safety concern. In addition to my injury, I could easily have been rear-ended at freeway speed. Despite acknowledging the issue, BMW Corporate requested that I sign an indemnity waiver in exchange for covering only the inspection cost. This response feels inappropriate, as their initial focus appeared to be limiting liability rather than addressing a known safety defect. Given that this is reportedly a known issue, I believe an inquiry is warranted into how often this has occurred and whether others have been injured.
motor mounts are now replaced every 30k miles the part fails. this is quality and safty hazard. this is not covered by BMW shame
My lights turn on and off while the vehicle is turned off until I lock the car.
Subject: Rear Differential Mount Failure and Driveshaft Breakage — Sudden Loss of Vehicle Control at Highway Speed Complaint Summary: While driving at highway speed, I experienced a sudden and extremely loud bang from the rear of the vehicle. Immediately afterward, I lost complete control of the rear end, accompanied by violent clanking and grinding noises from the driveline area. The gearbox then stalled, leaving the vehicle disabled in the middle of the highway. Upon inspection, it was determined that a rear differential mounting bolt had sheared, causing the differential to shift violently out of position. This sudden movement resulted in the driveshaft breaking, which further destabilized the vehicle and led to a severe and immediate loss of control. This failure occurred without warning and created an extremely dangerous situation. The sudden loss of drivetrain integrity at highway speed placed both myself and nearby motorists at serious risk of a crash. A component as critical as a differential mount or driveshaft should not fail under normal operating conditions. This incident strongly indicates a serious design or manufacturing defect affecting the vehicle’s powertrain and structural safety. Requested Action: I urge the NHTSA to investigate rear differential mounting and driveshaft failures on this vehicle model. Such failures can lead to catastrophic loss of control, and immediate attention is necessary to prevent future incidents and ensure driver safety.
Coolant is leaking and empty every week. Engine overheating warnings! I purchased this vehicle used on [XXX] from AutoFair in Manchester NH 1 week after purchase coolant warnings and engine light came on. Dealer is refusing responsibility and responding to multiple trips, phone calls and reports. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Shark Fin antenna water ingress causing Emergency Call Malfunction. Known issue with BMW and no warranty or recall due to failed seal allowing water to ingress into the Telematics Control Module disabling all cell service, hands free communication and tracking/navigation in case of an accident vehicle does not provide accurate location. Cost of repair is 3,000-5,000 due to water damage. Warnings come onto instrument cluster that can be removed and blocks mileage or any other settings to be viewed including cruise control settings
Parking brake is malfunctioning and has seized in lock position, and will not release. Making the vehicle unmovable and not drivable, leaving me stranded.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that the carbon monoxide detector sounded an alarm from the living room. The contact stated that her husband was unable to turn off the carbon monoxide alarm and called the Fire Department. The Fire Department arrived and determined that the vehicle, which had been parked in the garage of the residence, had experienced a thermal event in the engine compartment. The contact was advised that heat had generated carbon monoxide gas that had spread from the garage into an attic crawl space and then into the living room of the residence which had set off the carbon monoxide alarm. The contact stated that they were not able to drive the vehicle out of the garage due to the heat from the engine compartment. The contact stated that after the Fire Department had cleared the garage and residence of carbon monoxide, the contact was able to drive the vehicle out of the garage. The contact was advised by the Fire Department that the temperature in the engine compartment was getting dangerously hot and the vehicle was turned off. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the week prior to the failure, the vehicle was at a dealer for the water pump replacement. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was coolant leaking from the vehicle. The coolant level low message was displayed. The contact stated that the temperature gauge was raised to HOT. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was an engine cooling failure The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.
I am writing regarding my 2019 BMW X3 which has suffered catastrophic electrical damage due to premature sunroof seal shrinkage. The failure has resulted in: Damage to the amplifier Damage to the auto system Non-functioning park assist warning tones and signal Integrity of panoramic sunroof stability The dealership has identified seal failure as the root cause. This is particularly concerning given that: These seals are designed and expected to last 20 years This is a documented issue affecting multiple BMW vehicles My vehicle is only 5 years old, far short of the expected seal lifespan The premature seal failure clearly indicates a manufacturing defect, not normal wear and Tear. The systemic nature of this defect which Causes a significant gap between actual and expected seal performance The extensive consequential damage caused by this manufacturing issue Is highly concerning snd should be immediately investigated and addressed.
I began to receive an “emergency call malfunction” notification on my vehicle. I took it in to be serviced and received this text when I was due to pick up my vehicle “Good morning! Okay, and as far as the TCB we were talking about for the emergency call malfunction.. It looks like there is water coming in through the antenna there (the shark fin, with that being said we would have to replace the shark fin, the tcb and the tcb battery, which is not cheap, out the door that alone is $3,178 installed.. --Kenndehl Swanson Classic BMW MINI” I researched and noticed there was a class action filed with NHTSA against BMW for this very issue for X3’s from 2017-2023. I would like my vehicle to be included in this class action lawsuit. BMW has stated that they were aware in the lawsuit. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Oil filter housing leaking coolant randomly out of the bottom of the vehicle, we were driving home from lunch and a refill coolant light come on. This caused us to have to randomly pull over quickly on the side of the road so the car wouldn't overheat.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 46 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the roof of the vehicle. The following day the contact discovered that the glass sunroof had exploded and there was a hole in the sunroof glass. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that during the failure, the temperature was extremely cold and the heater inside the cabin of the vehicle was activated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000.
The seal of the roof-mounted antenna housing adhesive was faulty. This caused separating from the vehicle allowing water into the vehicle, which damaged emergency call components and equipment. BMW told me this was a know issue, but that NHTSA had not yet applied this to my vehicle. Please issue an advisory on this known issue. My car is under 40,000 miles and fairly new still. Adhesive should not be deteriorating this early. Preventative maintenance could not have addressed this factory issue. - Excerpt from BMW inspection: Concern Critical Client States Emergency Call Malfunction On. Aux Battery Replaced Twice. Ref Ro 871625 And Ro 907864. Please Check And Advise Cause FOUND SHARK FIN COVER GLUE TO BE LOOSE AND TO HAVE A SLOW WATER LEAK. WATER DAMAGED TCB MODULE. NO COMMUNICATION WITH TCB MODULE. Correction REPLACE TCB MODULE. REPLACE ROOF ANTENNA. REPLACE SHARK FIN. PROGRAM AND ENCODE TCB MODULE Cost: $2,8550.50
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the blind side indicators did not detect passing vehicles. The contact also stated that the lane departure feature, which vibrates and corrects the wheel, no longer worked as intended. The contact stated that there was a system indicator light on the dashboard that turned orange. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the emergency call system malfunction message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the Bluetooth microphone failed to function. Additionally, the SOS button failed to engage while being depressed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the telematics system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer provided the contact and estimate for the repair. The contact related the failure to TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLENTIN: SI B65 12 22 (ROOF-MOUNTED ANTENNA HOUSING SEAL NOT ADHERING); however, the VIN was not included in the TSB. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,900.
Emergency Call System Malfunction warning message showed up on dashboard. Got it diagnosed at a BMW Dealer and they said there is a leak with the sharkfin antenna that allowed water to seep in and short the telematics control unit. Quoted $2500 by BMW to replace and reseal antenna. In the event of an accident and the driver becomes unresponsive, the vehicle won’t automatically call emergency services since. With this malfunction, my GOS, Bluetooth microphone, and BMW app all do not work. Also can’t get my emissions done because the warning message is blocking the odometer. Contacted BMW North America to investigate and they contacted the dealer saying they can’t do anything about it. Honestly worried to drive the car especially in the winter, if I go off the road or something else and become unresponsive emergency services will not be called.
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the message "Emergency Call System Notification Failure" was displayed on the instrument cluster, causing the speedometer and the odometer to become inoperable. The service warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the navigation system was inoperable, and the vehicle function setting on the infotainment system also indicated that the Emergency Call System Notification had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the TBC module and battery had failed due to water intrusion in the shark fin of the roof. The dealer determined that the TBC module and the TBC module battery needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the shark fin needed to be resealed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
The oil filter housing failed, which caused all of my coolant to leak out and the engine to overheat. My car had to be towed to a repair shop, as it would not hold any coolant. The repair bill for the new oil adapter housing unit, and related work (diagnostics, replacing engine oil and coolant) was a little over $2,300. Fortunately, I was near my home and on city streets when it occurred, or it could have been a real catastrophe.
My 2019 BMW X3 posted this error on the instrument display "Emergency call system malfunction". BMW service informed me that the shark fin roof mounted antenna is leaking. It causes issues with the SOS feature, navigation (reporting wrong location). There are numerous complaints on BMW owners message boards with the same problem. There is at least one BMW Service Information Bulletin (SIB) that applies to this issue for my vehicle. It is number B65 12 22. I was told this issue is not covered under my certified pre-owned warranty. This is a safety issue affecting thousands of BMW owners. BMW should do the right thing, issue a recall on the affected models and repair this problem. Thank you.