The 2010 BMW X3 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,043,624 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING23V7070002023-10-20157,796 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing…
Consequence
Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS20V0170002020-01-1559,965 affected
Defect
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,…
Consequence
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING17V6830002017-10-30740,561 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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.
AIR BAGS17V6050002017-09-2885,302 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12
AIR BAGS
9
1crashes
ENGINE
6
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
1fires
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
2
SEATS
2
1fires
STEERING
2
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
1
Total complaints41
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact stated that after the dealer had performed the recall repair of nhtsa campaign number: 22v119000 (engine and engine cooling); the vehicle experienced a significant rough idle, and abnormal whistling and squealing sounds were coming from the engine while…”
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v707000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…”
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v707000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…”
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v707000 (engine and engine cooling) 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…”
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v707000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the…”
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v707000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and…”
“The contact owns a 2010 bmw x3. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v707000 (engine and engine cooling); 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…”
“Bmw is not addressing this recall in a timely manner. The history makes me think they're intentionally stalling the process and allowing customer engines to fail, reducing repair loads on their service centers. This vanos bolt issue has been well-known and wide-spread for over a decade (see [xxx]…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2010 BMW X3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.