Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2009 BMW X3 — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every BMW X3 year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model (naming may differ or it predates EPA records).
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using the VIN.
Issue: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 20V017000
Issue: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 17V605000
Issue: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 17V683000
1 open NHTSA investigation into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2009 BMW X3 4-DR w/SAB
The parts named most often across 87 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
1 crash · 3 injured
1 fire
1 fire
1 crash
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
The battery safety terminal deployed while I was driving down the mountain, causing unsafe conditions for myself and drivers around me. Car turned completely off and unable to turn it back on. Lost power steering and braking capabilities. No accidents or airbags were deployed to cause the battery safety teminal to deploy
My vehicle malfunctioned last week because of the fault harness. Vehicle had a slight fire and now is not drivable. BMW does not want to comply.
Driver side drive shaft fell off while driving on the highway. Very dangerous, merging from one highway in onto another in the middle of gridlock. No lights on prior to failure, just completely snapped off, ripped thru my oil pan and coolant hoses. Was shown the damage when I brought it to a repair shop.
The contact owns a 2009 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle started to overheat and she was only able to drive the vehicle for a few miles. The contact stated that smoke was coming from under the hood and from the exhaust. The contact stated that she had stopped driving the vehicle for fear of the vehicle catching on fire. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Mat (OC3) for the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS/Air bag system) Failure. Recall was done 06/2018 by BMW dealer, but problem came back 08/2022. Airbag warning light on in dashboard. Reading codes confirms problem. DANGER of bodily harm to passengers because the airbags will not deploy.
2009 BMW X3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO PVC VALVE HEATER SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A NOISE AND SMOKE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND STATED THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE BUT, CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE.
The contact owns a 2009 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING, THE RPM REVVED WITHOUT WARNING, AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE BMW OF LYNCHBURG LOCATED AT 2643 LAKESIDE DR - #6944, LYNCHBURG, VA 24501, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MODULE MOTOR ON THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE DISCONNECTED AND PLACED A STRAIN ON THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,236.
4 MONTHS AGO MY CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY MECHANIC CHANGED FUEL PUMP , COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THAT IT HAPPENS AGAIN I TOOK IT BACK AND THE MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING IS OK , I WENT HOME AND TODAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED AGAIN, I WAS SO SCARED I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF YOU GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V605000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF TUCSON (855 W WETMORE RD, TUCSON, AZ 85705, (520) 549-2167) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAGIC, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, WENT TO PULL OUT OF TRAGIC AND FELT MY [XXX] ON FIRE, THE HEAT SEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND MELTED SEAT COVER TO MY PANTS CAUSING MUCH DISCOMFORT AND RUINED JEANS. REPORTED IT TO BMW AND THEY OFFERED TO DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICITY TO THE SEAT. NOT SATISFIED, NOT IMPRESSED. VERY DANGEROUS. VEHICLE WAS ON HIGHWAY WHEN INCIDENT HAPPENED. WAS LUCKY TO GET OUT OF TRAGIC TO EXIT. WHILE DRIVING PUT MY HAND TO FEEL PROBLEM AND BURNED FINGER TIP. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I TOOK MY CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP IN CANNONSBURG, PA. HAD NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER DROPPING IT OFF. I HAD DRIVEN 3 HOURS TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL. BY THE END OF THE DAY I RECEIVED A CALL TELLING ME MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING AND NOT DRIVABLE. HOW IS THAT MY RESPONSIBILITY? WHEN OBVIOUSLY I DROVE IT A LONG DISTANCE TO GET 3 RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF. I WAS TOLD THE WATER PUMP, I THINK WAS NOT WORKING? IT WAS WORKING WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF? IF IT WAS OVERHEATING I COULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE OUT OUR TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I NEED MY CAR AND I'M REGRETTING TAKING IT IN FOR A RECALL NOW.
Showing 12 of 87 complaints.