Model year record

2017 BMW X3 recalls & problems

The 2017 BMW X3 has 6 safety recalls and 92 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (30 complaints).

Recalls6safety recalls

Complaints92filed by owners

Crashes · fires10 · 2reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

2017 BMW X3 in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Electrical systemAug 13, 2024

Wiring › Connectors/plugs/receptacles

Recall 24V608000720,796 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Components: Electrical system › Wiring › Connectors/plugs/receptacles; Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Pump

Fuel system, dieselNov 19, 2021

Fuel system, diesel

Recall 21V90700050,404 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
Risk: A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Fuel system, dieselJul 29, 2021

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 21V58600011,216 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Engine and engine coolingOct 25, 2018

Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

Recall 18V75500044,368 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
Risk: The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

SteeringOct 3, 2016

Electric power assist system

Recall 16V704000103 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2017 BMW X3 xDrive 28i vehicle manufactured on June 7, 2016. This vehicle has electronic power steering (EPS), and the contact pins on the EPS control unit may not have been welded properly resulting in increased resistance.
Risk: An increase in pin contact resistance can increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.
Fix: The vehicle was repaired at the dealership before sale. Therefore, an owner notification notice will not be issued for this campaign. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Child seatMay 23, 2016

Latch strap

Recall 16V333000188,668 vehicles

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

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2017 BMW X3 SUV AWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.9%

2017 BMW X3 SUV RWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	16.9%

2017 BMW X3 NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

2017 BMW X3 NHTSA side pole crash test — NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

X3 sDrive28i

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S8) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

X3 xDrive28i

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel

X3 xDrive35i

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S8) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical system	30	1	0	0	86,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling	22	0	0	0	88,000 mi
Engine	17	1	2	0	6,750 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	13	2	1	0	20,441 mi
Service brakes	11	6	0	2	10,000 mi
Unknown or other	9	1	0	0	20,000 mi
Air bags	7	1	0	3	—
StructureBody	6	2	0	0	24,861 mi
Fuel system, diesel	4	0	0	0	61,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	3	1	1	0	6,500 mi
Steering	2	0	0	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	2	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
I have tried to set up an appointment with my local dealer for a recall notice several times, but they never have the part needed. One time they said they had the part and after dropping the car off my wife returned to find out they still did not have the part The date below is approximate
Jul 17, 2025
Air bags
Seat mat sensor module which detects presence of passenger in the seat has malfunctioned sooner than expected.
Nov 5, 2025
Unknown or other
Unknown
Nov 9, 2025
Engine and engine cooling
See attached document for complaint. It is coming to almost a year that this problem still exists. After multiple attempts to have this rectified still un settled. I tried to make a claim on your website but for some reason the site is not taking my VIN# XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, NJ Plate Tag XXXXXX
Sep 3, 2025
Unknown or other
I have an open recall on my vehicle that has not yet been repaired, and Iâve reached out to BMW multiple times and still havenât received a letter from them regarding this Recall! If the vehicle can potentially catch fire then why would they think this isnât a priority due to safety concerns!!!!
Jan 1, 2023
Unknown or other
NHTSA Recall Number24V608 It is been a year already and there is no remedy available for the recall yet. Scheduled multiple appointments with dealer and they don't have a remedy yet. I am concerned to drive the vehicle as i drive daily and can feel excessive heating in engine.
Jul 21, 2025
Engine
I am unable to drive my 2017 BMW x3 Vin Number 5uxwx9c37h0t22306 anymore I recently took my vehicle to a mechanical and they told me that my Engine Coolant Pump is no longer good. I checked for any recalls, and the recall is Engine Coolant Pump which the description explains everything that's happening to my vehicle. This issue has been ruled non fixable, and I will like a responsible solution to this problem.
Jul 10, 2025
Engine and engine cooling
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Jun 26, 2025

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

High pressure fuel pump failureOpenLed to recall 24V957
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA and BMW.During the investigation FCA filed recalls 22V406, 22E048, 22V767, and 22E087 which include vehicles not identified in the initial subject population by ODI. ODI also received recall 21V586, involving loss of motive power due to failed…
EA23001 · opened Mar 17, 2023
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
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…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021