The 2011 BMW X3 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,087,076 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 6, 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.
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.
CHILD SEAT16V3330002016-05-23188,668 affected
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…
Consequence
Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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.
STEERING11V3410002011-06-2951 affected
Defect
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 27, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2011. A CONTROL MODULE IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) UNIT MAY MALFUNCTION, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE.
Consequence
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Complaints by component
ENGINE
31
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
21
2fires
POWER TRAIN
21
2crashes
STEERING
20
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7
1crashes1fires
AIR BAGS
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
2crashes1injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
4
Total complaints163
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I had my car towed into bmw dealership for a vanos recall repair,it went in for the repair the repair was "done" but before picking it up they told me they were unable to qc/start my engine to verify the repair claiming that because my camshaft position sensor was removed (it was removed to…”
“The fuse box in trunk caught fire there are tons of these incidences if you search the web bmw has done nothing I willhope your “ safety “ agency will. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)”
“I own a 2011 bmw x3 with an n55 engine and am experiencing vanos-related issues consistent with tsb sib 11 02 13 and recall 23v-707. While my vin isn’t currently listed, my vehicle falls within the affected model years, and i’m seeing identical dme fault codes (130e11, 120408) and drivability…”
“I own a 2011 bmw x3 with an n55 engine and am experiencing vanos-related issues consistent with tsb sib 11 02 13 and recall 23v-707. While my vin isn’t currently listed, my vehicle falls within the affected model years, and i’m seeing identical dme fault codes (130e11, 120408) and drivability…”
“The contact owns a 2011 bmw x3. The contact stated that "engine temperature" message was displayed on the instrument panel with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was hot(h). Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact discovered that steam on the radiator, and a coolant leak. The…”
“The contact owns a 2011 bmw x3. The contact stated that "engine temperature" message was displayed on the instrument panel with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was hot(h). Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact discovered that steam on the radiator, and a coolant leak. The…”
“In 2021, my car broke down due to the vanos gear brackets; the bolts had snapped off. The only way I found out what was wrong was by taking the car to multiple places and paying for diagnostic services, but nobody could identify the issue. Eventually, I brought it to bmw, where they were the only…”
“The contact owns a 2011 bmw x3. The contact stated that while his granddaughter was attempting to start the vehicle, there was smoke coming from under the driver’s side hood, and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the pcv heater had…”
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 2011 BMW X3 as of
July 6, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.