2015 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | RWD | 21 / 28 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | AWD | 21 / 28 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel | Auto (S8) | AWD | 27 / 33 / 30 | Diesel | $3,150 |
| 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 17,000 and 87,500 miles. Median 57,000, from 53 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 68,000 | 38,400–102,500 | 10 |
| Electrical | 56,500 | 15,800–79,500 | 10 |
| Engine | 76,000 | 56,500–120,000 | 9 |
| Fuel system, diesel | 99,000 | 78,200–113,200 | 8 |
| Airbags | 45,000 | 5,000–58,500 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 21% |
| Electrical | 17% |
| Speed control | 17% |
| Brakes | 17% |
| Airbags | 17% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 7
24V608000 Aug 2024 Engine And Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Pump
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
21V907000 Nov 2021 Fuel System, Diesel
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.
Risk. A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in J
21V586000 Jul 2021 Fuel System, Diesel / Delivery / Fuel Pump
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Risk. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
18V755000 Oct 2018 Engine And Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.
Risk. The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
16V683000 Sep 2016 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 BMW X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, X3 xDrive28d, X4 xDrive28i and X4 xDrive35i vehicles, and model year 2014-2015 X5 xDrive35i, X5 sDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, and 2014 X5 xDrive35d 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, free of charge. The recall began on November 1, 2016. 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.
14V648000 Oct 2014 Visibility / Rearview Mirrors/Devices / Exterior
Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 X3 and X4 Sports Activity Vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014 to July 29, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been produced with a driver's side exterior rearview mirror that was designed to meet non-US market requirements. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk. The driver may not notice that vehicles viewed in the mirror are closer than they appear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side exterior rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | High pressure fuel pump failure | 2023 | – |
| Open | Desiccated air bag inflator rupture | 2021 | – |
Manufacturer communications 304
BMW filed 304 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Fuel gauge fails to show correct level of fuel when filling fuel tank but would update itself
- Due to transmission oil heat exchanger's faulty thermostat or engine faulty characteristic map
- Engine Oil Quick Reference Chart and Drain Plug Torque: The current version of ISTA/D has an…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 Sdrive28I SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| BMW X3 Xdrive28D SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
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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