2012 BMW X3

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.

The risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 6,785 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

The risk

Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

The remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 188,668 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

crash · 30,000 miles

OUR X3 NEW X3 HAS SURGED VIOLENTLY AHEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS NOW, ON ONE OCCASION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. BMW ARE DENYING ANY OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS PROBLEM EXIST, WHICH BY VIEWING THIS WEBSITE CLEARLY IS NOT THE CASE. I ENCOURAGE ALL THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TO LODGE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO CAUSE A FULL RECALL OF THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE IN AUSTRALIA, AND THAT BMW IN GERMANY ARE DENYING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10515147. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · 6,000 miles

2012 BMW X3. AT A STOP WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR UNCONTROLLABLY SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE CAUSING CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS BOTH TIMES AND CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF CAR. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS IN FRONT OF CAR OR THE UNTHINKABLE WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM NO OTHER INCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAVE HAPPENED. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN ALSO SAID THERE WERE NO TSB'S RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AND WILL ADVISE WITHIN 1-3 DAYS. *JS

NHTSA complaint 10545478. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Over about seven years and roughly 70,000 miles of ownership, this 2012 BMW X3 generated repeated “Drivetrain malfunction” warnings and loss of drivability despite extensive repairs by multiple authorized BMW dealers. I paid approximately $15,000–$20,000 out of pocket for dealer repairs, and my third‑party service contract (CarShield) paid an additional roughly $15,000–$20,000 directly to these BMW dealers during this period. In December 2025, an authorized BMW dealer diagnosed a drivetrain malfunction as failure of the fuel pump control module, allegedly caused by a small water spill on the rear seat, charged me $1,690.71 to replace the module, and returned the vehicle as repaired. Shortly …

NHTSA complaint 11727392, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Front passenger seat occupancy mat defect causes disabling of passenger airbag. Recalls have been issued for the same issue in other models. Issue confirmed by dealership. Persistent warning lamp alert.

NHTSA complaint 11631946. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I emailed BMW of Arlington on [XXX] detailing the critical safety issue I experienced with my BMW X3 2012 on Sunday [XXX]. I was driving on the tollway northbound from [XXX] in Grand Prairie in the pouring rain with my wipers on, and the car suddenly started braking and decelerating from the 70 mph cruising speed to 40 mph in seconds. The car behind me nearly hit my vehicle, and since it kept doing that, I had to turn on my hazard lights till I exited. The car was doing that irrespective of whether it was on cruise control or my driving speed. I discovered by googling it that this is a known defect in BMWs since their shop foremen and certified technicians who know more than me think I am …

NHTSA complaint 11592023, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

92,669 miles

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was driving rough before stalling with the drivetrain malfunction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fault code variable camshaft timing control. The dealer made other repairs to the vehicle, and the fault codes disappeared. However, the contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and a local mechanic who confirmed a failure with the VANOS system. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the …

NHTSA complaint 11569246, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · 115,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that after his wife parked the vehicle, she shifted the gear into the park (p) position however, after his wife exit the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently rolled and crashed into a post without warning. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The contact notified AAA and upon inspection, the contact was informed that the was shifted to the park (p) position. The vehicle had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA complaint 11536328. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

A malfunction of the front seat occupancy mat will prevent the passenger air bag from deploying in the event of an accident and displays a malfunction warning. This malfunction has been the subject of several BMW NHTSA recalls but so far none have been issued for this vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11504700. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.