The Lemon Index2012 BMW X3. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 2
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | AWD | 19 / 25 / 21 | Premium | $3,700 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | AWD | 19 / 26 / 21 | Premium | $3,700 |
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 31,000 and 91,800 miles. Median 64,600, from 36 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 88,000 | 55,800–118,200 | 6 |
| Engine | 60,300 | 30,100–77,100 | 9 |
| Steering | 63,100 | 7,800–77,900 | 8 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 45,500 | 24,900–100,000 | 7 |
| Speed control | 24,900 | 8,000–45,200 | 5 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Speed control | 44% |
| Steering | 33% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 33% |
| Brakes | 22% |
| Engine | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 2
17V495000 Aug 2017 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
16V333000 May 2016 Child Seat / Latch Strap
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 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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Desiccated air bag inflator rupture | 2021 | – |
Manufacturer communications 353
BMW filed 353 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Grating or Scraping Noise When Turning Steering Wheel
- Shudder from the Driveline on Vehicles with xDrive
- SUBJECT N20 and N26 Differential Pressure Sensor Fault 195002 Stored in DME
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 Xdrive28I SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| BMW X3 Xdrive35I SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
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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