The Lemon Index
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Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2023 2023
Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2022 2022
The mechatronics unit inside the transmission may not have been assembled properly, which could result in an internal leak.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
Transmission shifts erratically, hesitates on occasion and when cold it causes the engine to rev in excess of 3,000 rpm before shifting.
2007 BMW X3 owner · NHTSA complaint
Transmission won't shift smoothly between the gears. This is a major safety issue. Between gear 1 and gear 2. It seems to want to stall at the start.
2007 BMW X3 owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which BMW X3 years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst BMW X3 years are 2007, 2013, 2011.
What are common BMW X3 transmission problems?
Owners most often describe delay or hesitation, lost power while driving, hard or jerky shifting.
Which BMW X3 years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the BMW X3 years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2024, 2018, 2020.
See every problem, not just the transmission: BMW X3 reliability by year. How we count