2017 BMW X3 Engine Problems

17 complaints about Engine

17
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Engine Complaints (17)

Jul 14, 2025

I am unable to drive my 2017 BMW x3 Vin Number 5uxwx9c37h0t22306 anymore I recently took my vehicle to a mechanical and they told me that my Engine Coolant Pump is no longer good. I checked for any recalls, and the recall is Engine Coolant Pump which the description explains everything that's happening to my vehicle. This issue has been ruled non fixable, and I will like a responsible solution to this problem.

Jun 21, 2025

VEHICLE IS OVERDUE FOR SAFETY RECALL REPAIRS. IT’S BEEN NEARLY A YEAR engine coolant pump

May 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V586000 (Fuel System, Diesel); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Feb 18, 2025

Safety recall issued in Aug 2024. To date, no remedy or parts are available to correct defect. NHTSA Recall Number 24V608.

Jan 27, 2025

Recall: ENGINE COOLANT PUMP

Jan 26, 2025

The recall is almost 6 months old. This vehicle is used as a rental, and it can’t be rented out until something is fixed.

Dec 2, 2024

CARVANA - SOLD ME A 2ND LEMON. Vehicle has significant oil leak. Front of engine as well as underside of engine is covered in oil. Alternator is saturated in oil. (Eventually burning out the alternator) Serpentine belt is also saturated in oil making it swell and becoming soft. Also makes the belt slippery and outside edge of belt is damaged. Right rear tire is about to come apart very soon. The steel belt is serpentine from the tire. (Unsafe) Vehicle currently has 25 intermittent and pertinent codes. Drivers door and drivers side rear door are different color white they have been repainted. Emblem on driver side door is crooked. Vehicle is ready for rotors front and rear. They are grooved Brake pad replacement automatic with rotors. 60MPH road test revealed car is a little bouncy or chattering indicating one of the following: 1. Unbalanced Tires 2. Bad Tires 3. Bent Wheels

Dec 2, 2024

Service due light keeps coming on, Brakes are squeaking, AC not blowing out properly check both front and rear, Back up camera is staying on even when she is in park, light on usb port are not working, emergency SOS call doesn't work, driver side door lock not working properly. Tires keep going down. Symptoms: Service due light keeps coming on, Brakes are squeaking, AC not blowing out properly check both front and rear, Back up camera is staying on even when she is in park, light on usb port are not working, emergency SOS call doesn't work, driver side door loc A/C EVACUATE AND

Jun 18, 2024

White smoke started coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle while driving it. When at a stop light, it was emitted at an alarming rate such that it necessitated stopping the vehicle immediately. No warning indicators on the dashboard were illuminated however the smoke was sudden and alarming. The vehicle was stopped on a very busy road during rush hour. A tow truck was used to take the vehicle to an independent service center. It was found that the valve cover was cracked and the camshaft adjuster seal flange gasket was insufficient causing oil to leak. The service center found the valve color leaking oil onto the catalytic converter. Leaking oil can be a fire hazard.

Feb 16, 2021

BMW IS USING INFERIOR PARTS AND METAL. I RECENTLY HAD ENGINE WORK COMPLETED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HEAT EXCHANGE IS FAULTY AND STAYS OPEN WHICH OVERHEATS THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT OTTO'S BMW TOLD ME THAT IF THE HEAT EXCHANGE IS OPEN IT CAN SEIZE THE ENGINE. TO REPAIR THIS IT COST $1802.74 AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A BMW. I HAD HAD BMWS IN THE PAST AND NO ENGINE WAS EVER A PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. THEY SHOULD BE REPRIMANDED FOR THESE LATENT DEFECTS. I WAS RIDING AND THE LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE WENT ON AND IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO OTTO'S BMW. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BUT THIS COSTLY REPAIR SHOULD BE PAID BY BMW-USA. THESE CARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIGH END VEHICLE THAT CAN LAST FOR OVER 175K MILES. NOT THIS VEHICLE. IT IS PROBLEMATIC AND THERE ARE TWO CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS OUT THERE REGARDING THIS EXACT PROBLEMS. BMW MUST BE FINED AND MAKE GOOD ON THESE PROBLEMS. ANYTHING LESS WE THE CONSUMER GETS COMPROMISED.

Mileage: 89,304

Oct 30, 2020

WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE REVS UP AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. I NEED TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR PERSON IN A CRESS WALK. EVEN WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES HARD, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT BMW DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR, BUT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC AND MAY ONLY OCCUR ONCE A MONTH, IT DOES NOT DO IT WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR.

Mileage: 20,000

Jun 10, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. INSTEAD, THE VEHICLE LURCHED/ ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE CONTACT PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE TACHOMETER REVVED TO HIGH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF AKRON (500 W EXCHANGE ST, AKRON, OH 44302, (330) 752-2224), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,200. *BF CONSUMER STATED 2ND INCIDENT OCCURED 1-31-19 AND 6-8-19 SAME AS DESCRIBED ABOVE- REPORTED TO BMW CORP IN NJ, NHTSA, AND BNW OF AKRON. ARRANGED FOR A LOANER. TOOK 2017 X3 ON 6/12 - RECEIVED REPORT OF NO PROBLEM IDENTIFIED (ATTACHED) ABOUT 15 OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO NHTSA FOR 2016, 17, 18 BMW X3. TOLD TO FOLLOWUP WITH DEALERSHIP. MY WIFE WAS A WITNESS TO THE 6-8-19 MAJOR INCIDENT AND WE BELIEVE THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED YET HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS IN LIFE OR DEATH. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Mileage: 9,000

Feb 13, 2019

THIS COMPLAINT IS A FOLLOW-UP TO EARLIER COMPLAINT TO NHTSA 11129293. AS NOTED, I EXPERIENCED 3 REVVING INCIDENTS IN WHICH THE ENGINE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO OVER 7,000 RPM AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. FORTUNATE, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON EACH OCCASION AND DID NOT SURGE AHEAD WHILE I PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. THE REVVING STOPPED ON ITS OWN AFTER A SHORT TIME. IN EACH INSTANCE I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALERSHIP--THE FIRST TIME IN SARASOTA, FL AND THEN TWICE IN ROCKVILLE, MD--AND BMW MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY CAUSE OR FLAW. FOLLOWING THE THIRD EVENT, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA DESPATCHED AN ENGINEER TO ROCKVILLE FOR A COMPLETE EXAM ON OCTOBER 4, 2018. THE ENGINEER REPORTED THE VEHICLE TO BE IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION IN EVERY RESPECT. BASED ON THIS REPORT, BMW NA REFUSED MY REQUEST TO TERMINATE MY LEASE EARLY, WITHOUT PENALTY. IT ALSO DISMISSED MY PERSONAL VIEW THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT THE ENGINEER OR BMW MECHANICS HAD BEEN UNABLE TO UNCOVER OR DUPLICATE. AS MY WIFE AND I WERE UNWILLING TO DRIVE A CAR ON PUBLIC ROADS THAT WE CONSIDERED TO HAVE A LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT, WE SUBMITTED TO BMW'S DEMAND THAT WE PAY OFF IN A LUMP SUM THE REMAINING TWO YEARS OF OUR LEASE THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2020, AMOUNTING TO OVER $17,000. BMW'S POLICY OF REFUSING TO ACCEPT RESPOSIBILITY FOR REVVING PROBLEMS UNDOUBTEDLY FORCES SOME DRIVERS TO KEEP DRIVING POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLES, RISKING PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM ALSO APPALLED AT THE LIKELIHOOD THAT BMW HAS LEASED OR RESOLD THE SAME VEHICLE, THEREBY PROFITING TWICE FOR THE PERIOD OF MY TERMINATED LEASE, WHILE FAILING TO REVEAL THE CAR'S HISTORY OF REVVING TO THE NEW OWNER/DRIVER. I HAVE DOCUMENTS SUCH AS THE BMW ENGINEER'S REPORT, EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, ETC. UNETHICAL

Mileage: 6,500

Oct 31, 2018 Fire

I LEASED A 2017 BMW X3 WITH 3370 MILES ON IT SO ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAVE A 7.6 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 230PM PST SOUTH ON THE 405 (HIGHWAY) IN LOS ANGELES. I PULL UP TO MY HOUSE AND PARK THE VEHICLE ON MY CITY STREET. I PARK TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND LOCK THE DOORS AND WALK INTO MY HOUSE. WITHIN 15 MINUTES, MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKS ON MY DOOR AND INFORMS ME THAT MY CAR IS ON FIRE. WHEN I LOOK OUTSIDE AT MY VEHICLE, IN BETWEEN THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND FRONT WINDSHIELD ARE SPITTING FLAMES OUT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT THEN PROCEEDED TO BURN FAST AND HOT AND THERE WERE 30 FOOT FLAMES THAT HAD RUINED OUR FENCE AS WELL AS SINGED OUR NEIGHBORS TREE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND FINALLY TOOK OUT THE FLAME BUT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUINED. THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP LATER BUT HE REFUSED TO TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE SAW SMOKE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT BACK ON FIRE ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW SIDE. AIRBAGS HAD ALSO STARTED BLOWING UP WHEN THE SECOND FIRE CAUGHT. I HAD PUT MY HEAD INTO THE WINDOW WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING THAT I COULD BUT WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF PULLING MY HEAD OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ANOTHER AIRBAG WENT OFF AND ALMOST TOOK OFF MY HEAD. THERE WAS A DUAL INVESTIGATION WITH BMW AND MY INSURANCE SAFECO. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. INITIAL REPORT SAID THE DEFECT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINE. IF THIS CAR WAS IN A GARAGE OR ANY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES. OUR STORY WAS ON THE NEWS AS WELL. THERE WAS NO KNOWN RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE CHECKED EVERYWHERE. HTTPS://ABC7.COM/LA-FAMILY-DEMANDS-ANSWERS-AFTER-PARKED-BMW-CATCHES-FIRE/4213154/ HTTPS://WWW.NBCLOSANGELES.COM/NEWS/LOCAL/BMW-SPONTANEOUSLY-COMBUSTS-PARKED-ON-LA-STREET-493018841.HTML HTTPS://KTLA.COM/2018/09/13/PARKED-BMW-MYSTERIOUSLY-CATCHES-FIRE-IN-WESTCHESTER/

Mileage: 7,000

Sep 13, 2018

THREE INCIDENTS OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF ENGINE, TWO WHILE PARKING ON CITY STREETS (APRIL 30 AND SEPT 12) AND ONE WHEN STOPPING AT RED LIGHT ON CITY STREET (AUG 1). CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND STARTED REVVING UNEXPECTEDLY AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO OVER 7,000 RPM. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND MAINTAINED BRAKE. REVVING STOPPED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLING WHEN I LIFTED FOOT FROM BRAKE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO BMW SERVICE FOR ONE PARKING INCIDENT AND THE INCIDENT WHILE STOPPING AT RED LIGHT. BMW MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. FOR LATEST INCIDENT HAVE CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY WILL SEND AN ENGINEER FROM HEADQUARTERS TO CHECK VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, NO COLLISION OR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE SOME DRIVERS WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM DEALING WITH SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED REVVING AND INDEED I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A REPETITION, ESPECIALLY IN CITY OR HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.

Mileage: 6,500

Jul 20, 2017 Fire

ENGINE SEIZED AT 65MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING COMMUTE TO WORK ON BUSY BOSTON HIGHWAY. NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL COLLISIONS AS VEHICLE COASTED TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A BMW DEALER THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER ADVISES AN "OVERSIZED BEARING WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE". ENGINE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE, ELECTRONICS AND COOLING SYSTEM DAMAGE ARE SUSPECTED BY THE DEALER TECH AND WILL REQUIRE MONITORING.

Mileage: 1,800

Jan 28, 2017 Crash

I WAS STOPPING MY CAR AT A RED SIGNAL BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I APPLIED BREAKS AND VEHICLE REACHED TO COMPLETE STOP. IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE PICKED UP AND STARTED MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH BREAKS ARE COMPLETELY PRESSED. I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE CAR REAR ENDING. SO, I RELEASED AND RE-APPLIED BREAKS. VEHICLE REACHED COMPLETE STOP AND AGAIN STARTED ACCELERATING FORWARD. I REPEATED THE PROCESS BUT THE THIRD TIME IT HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH : AUTO START/STOP ENGINE (WHICH STOPS THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR IS AT COMPLETE REST). AUTO HOLD (WHICH ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO TAKE THE FOOT OFF OF THE BREAK) BOTH THE FUNCTIONALITY ARE TURNED ON WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, BUT I DIDNT TAKE OFF MY FOOT FROM THE BREAK PEDAL. ALSO, AC WAS RUNNING. I FOUND ANOTHER DRIVER COMPLAINING THE SAME ONLINE. HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-766433.HTML

Mileage: 600