The Lemon Index2004 BMW X3. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 | Premium | $4,300 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S5) | 4Wheel or AWD | 15 / 22 / 17 | Premium | $4,550 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | 4Wheel or AWD | 15 / 23 / 18 | Premium | $4,300 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S5) | 4Wheel or AWD | 14 / 21 / 17 | Premium | $4,550 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,300 and 99,000 miles. Median 65,000, from 106 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 76,800 | 65,800–114,600 | 28 |
| Airbags | 65,000 | 35,000–90,000 | 23 |
| Electrical | 74,600 | 18,800–89,300 | 13 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 14,500 | 600–76,400 | 10 |
| Engine | 54,000 | 18,000–99,500 | 8 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Visibility | 15% |
| Electrical | 13% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 13% |
| Engine | 11% |
| Steering | 11% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 138 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 0 | 4 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
08V384000 Aug 2008 Air Bags / Frontal
Defect. BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.
Risk. IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Bmw airbag light illumination | 2008 | 2008 |
Manufacturer communications 60
BMW filed 60 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- "repairing transfer case actuator (vtg servo-motor)
- Shudder from the Driveline on Vehicles with xDrive
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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