The 2008 BMW X3 Sav has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,757,106 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING22V1190002022-03-02917,106 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series…
Consequence
An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
Remedy
This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles…
AIR BAGS16V0710002016-02-05840,000 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i,…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with 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's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
29
ENGINE
9
SEATS
5
1fires1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
POWER TRAIN
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
SUSPENSION
3
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
1crashes1fires1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
Total complaints74
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Last week dash 4x4 light comes on a,udible rapid clicking sound comes from rear just after car is turned off...I brought the vehicle to west paterson motors in woodland park, nj for diagnostics. Mechanic states computer codes indicate it's transfer case failure, and to replace it costs over $…”
“The passenger seat occupancy sensor is defective. This is part of the "seat mat", which is under recall. Bmw sent an initial notice of recall in september of 2017. As of april 20, 2018 the parts are still not available to perform this recall. Over 7 months! No one at the dealer or bmw usa can give…”
“The passenger seat occupancy sensor is defective. This is part of the "seat mat", which is under recall. Bmw sent an initial notice of recall in september of 2017. As of april 20, 2018 the parts are still not available to perform this recall. Over 7 months! No one at the dealer or bmw usa can give…”
“I have 2 dangerous recalls. One-no one can sit in the passenger seat because the air bags may not deploy and the second, my engine can be on fire due to a pvc valve. Bmw has no remedies and it has been over 4 months, this is unacceptable. Someone has to put the pressure on bmw to get this fixed…”
“I have 2 dangerous recalls. One-no one can sit in the passenger seat because the air bags may not deploy and the second, my engine can be on fire due to a pvc valve. Bmw has no remedies and it has been over 4 months, this is unacceptable. Someone has to put the pressure on bmw to get this fixed…”
“Recall notification was received in nov 2017. Dealer has yet to repair. Is this length of delay acceptable?”
“Takata recall - I called east bay bmw and bmw of concord dealerships since receiving safety recall in june 2017 to make an appointment for the airbag recall service and I haven't received a call back regarding the parts arriving to the dealership. It is not november and I still haven't received a…”
“Takata recall - I called east bay bmw and bmw of concord dealerships since receiving safety recall in june 2017 to make an appointment for the airbag recall service and I haven't received a call back regarding the parts arriving to the dealership. It is not november and I still haven't received a…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 BMW X3 Sav as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.