High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
Transfer case fluid has been replaced as well as drivetrain fluid in the front and rear and and the car is still having slight issues shuttering when stopping.
Transfer case fluid has been replaced as well as drivetrain fluid in the front and rear and and the car is still having slight issues shuttering when stopping.
On April 26, 2025, while driving my 2022 BMW X3, the vehicle suddenly emitted smoke and caught fire. Fortunately, all five passengers, including myself, were able to exit the car before it became fully engulfed in flames. The car was destroyed and is a total loss. The BMW app later displayed a “drivetrain malfunction” message, which did not appear until after the fire had already started. The vehicle was still under the manufacturer’s 48-month new vehicle warranty and had no open recalls at the time. Routine maintenance and service had been performed at authorized BMW dealerships. I am concerned this fire may have resulted from a manufacturing defect, especially in light of similar reports and recalls involving fuel rail cracks or leakage in this model/year. No injuries were sustained, but this was a terrifying and traumatic incident, and I am now left with significant financial loss. What I am requesting: I ask that NHTSA investigate whether this fire was caused by a manufacturing defect common to the 2022 BMW X3 and whether a broader recall or corrective action is warranted
On April 26, 2025, while driving my 2022 BMW X3, the vehicle suddenly emitted smoke and caught fire. Fortunately, all five passengers, including myself, were able to exit the car before it became fully engulfed in flames. The car was destroyed and is a total loss. The BMW app later displayed a “drivetrain malfunction” message, which did not appear until after the fire had already started. The vehicle was still under the manufacturer’s 48-month new vehicle warranty and had no open recalls at the time. Routine maintenance and service had been performed at authorized BMW dealerships. I am concerned this fire may have resulted from a manufacturing defect, especially in light of similar reports and recalls involving fuel rail cracks or leakage in this model/year. No injuries were sustained, but this was a terrifying and traumatic incident, and I am now left with significant financial loss. What I am requesting: I ask that NHTSA investigate whether this fire was caused by a manufacturing defect common to the 2022 BMW X3 and whether a broader recall or corrective action is warranted
After taking off from a stop light, heard a loud bang and after taking it to the dealer it turns out to be a broken rear right axle and diff retaining bolt. My car is a 2022 MY with 20k miles on it. This was the first time I have done a "hard launch". The car is bone stock, with no modifications whatsoever and all maintenance and repairs done at the bmw dealership. I am going after a warranty claim as this should be covered.
After taking off from a stop light, heard a loud bang and after taking it to the dealer it turns out to be a broken rear right axle and diff retaining bolt. My car is a 2022 MY with 20k miles on it. This was the first time I have done a "hard launch". The car is bone stock, with no modifications whatsoever and all maintenance and repairs done at the bmw dealership. I am going after a warranty claim as this should be covered.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The service vehicle warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a message displayed on the instrument panel “Drivetrain Malfunction”. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,712.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The service vehicle warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a message displayed on the instrument panel “Drivetrain Malfunction”. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,712.
When the vehicle is moving at a speed of 4mph and lower, it is impossible to shift the vehicle from neutral to drive without applying the brakes. I was pulling out onto a 4 lane road from a side street when I accidentally bumped the transmission gear shifter into the "N" neutral position. When I realized this (I was only going 4 mph at the time) I tried to shift it back into drive but it would not work. The vehicle made a sound that I was doing something wrong. I tried to shift it again (vehicle was probably now moving around 3 mph) and it gave me that same warning sound but this time I looked at the instrumentation panel and saw that the warning text displayed on the panel said that I needed to apply the brakes before I could shift it from neutral to drive. When I applied the brakes the vehicle came to a complete stop because I was going only 3mph and at that point I could shift the vehicle into drive. I believe that if I had pulled out with cars coming at a high rate of speed that I could have been hit on the drivers side because I had come to a complete stop in the right hand lane of the roadway. I could only imagine what could have happened to an inexperienced driver because I somewhat panicked and I have over 35 years of driving experience. This safety issue was brought up to BMW through their customer service/satisfaction center. The representative that I spoke with said he would forward the concern to their "research and design" unit but didn't know if they would respond. I have not brought the issue up with the dealership where I purchased the vehicle because I notified BMW directly. I am concerned that this design fault will one day cause catastrophic injuries.
When the vehicle is moving at a speed of 4mph and lower, it is impossible to shift the vehicle from neutral to drive without applying the brakes. I was pulling out onto a 4 lane road from a side street when I accidentally bumped the transmission gear shifter into the "N" neutral position. When I realized this (I was only going 4 mph at the time) I tried to shift it back into drive but it would not work. The vehicle made a sound that I was doing something wrong. I tried to shift it again (vehicle was probably now moving around 3 mph) and it gave me that same warning sound but this time I looked at the instrumentation panel and saw that the warning text displayed on the panel said that I needed to apply the brakes before I could shift it from neutral to drive. When I applied the brakes the vehicle came to a complete stop because I was going only 3mph and at that point I could shift the vehicle into drive. I believe that if I had pulled out with cars coming at a high rate of speed that I could have been hit on the drivers side because I had come to a complete stop in the right hand lane of the roadway. I could only imagine what could have happened to an inexperienced driver because I somewhat panicked and I have over 35 years of driving experience. This safety issue was brought up to BMW through their customer service/satisfaction center. The representative that I spoke with said he would forward the concern to their "research and design" unit but didn't know if they would respond. I have not brought the issue up with the dealership where I purchased the vehicle because I notified BMW directly. I am concerned that this design fault will one day cause catastrophic injuries.
Limpmode: Life Threatening failure of vehicle shutting down accelerating in heavy traffic in speeds over 70 mph. On 9 Nov 22 I was driving on interstate to take my wife to her radiation appointment. Within 1 mile of exit, traveling in far-right lane in 4 lanes of heavy traffic with an additional two lanes of heavy traffic merging in from the right, I had to get over into the merging oncoming traffic. When I went to accelerate to merge right into the heavy traffic, my BMW dash lit up red and the acceleration was shut off leaving the car coasting. I could not accelerate, stuck in my lane the car started slowing from 70+mph traffic down to 60mph, 55 mph and I was able to get over into exit lanes at 45 mph with car still decelerating up exit ramp. I pulled off to the exit ramp onto the side of the road into the grass/pavement to safety. The BMW’s failure to operate was a life-threatening incident for me, my wife and mother in the car in the middle of very heavy traffic. In addition, all on-coming vehicle traffic was put at risk of life threatening injuries with a high risk of rear end multiple collisons. I sat looking at the dash reading and it read a few minor problems with sensor for pedestrians and cameras and if it proceeded to fail to contact maintenance, however the car was ok to drive. I shut the car off and restarted it and was able to get my wife to her appointment. I drove the car home with no issues. Vehicle was towed to dealership the next day at Century BMW where it was purchased and informed by BMW Mfg not to touch the vehicle. BMW N.A. sent engineers to dealership to investigate cause. BMW N.A. could not recreate environment, however choose to do repairs thought best to resolve issue. BMW N.A. sent report to dealership for parts order and repairs. My many requests for trouble code reports from BMW N.A. and Century BMW starting from 24 Nov 2021 to Jan 2022 were ignored. 18 Feb 22 Partial Rpt. received by accident from service rep.
Limpmode: Life Threatening failure of vehicle shutting down accelerating in heavy traffic in speeds over 70 mph. On 9 Nov 22 I was driving on interstate to take my wife to her radiation appointment. Within 1 mile of exit, traveling in far-right lane in 4 lanes of heavy traffic with an additional two lanes of heavy traffic merging in from the right, I had to get over into the merging oncoming traffic. When I went to accelerate to merge right into the heavy traffic, my BMW dash lit up red and the acceleration was shut off leaving the car coasting. I could not accelerate, stuck in my lane the car started slowing from 70+mph traffic down to 60mph, 55 mph and I was able to get over into exit lanes at 45 mph with car still decelerating up exit ramp. I pulled off to the exit ramp onto the side of the road into the grass/pavement to safety. The BMW’s failure to operate was a life-threatening incident for me, my wife and mother in the car in the middle of very heavy traffic. In addition, all on-coming vehicle traffic was put at risk of life threatening injuries with a high risk of rear end multiple collisons. I sat looking at the dash reading and it read a few minor problems with sensor for pedestrians and cameras and if it proceeded to fail to contact maintenance, however the car was ok to drive. I shut the car off and restarted it and was able to get my wife to her appointment. I drove the car home with no issues. Vehicle was towed to dealership the next day at Century BMW where it was purchased and informed by BMW Mfg not to touch the vehicle. BMW N.A. sent engineers to dealership to investigate cause. BMW N.A. could not recreate environment, however choose to do repairs thought best to resolve issue. BMW N.A. sent report to dealership for parts order and repairs. My many requests for trouble code reports from BMW N.A. and Century BMW starting from 24 Nov 2021 to Jan 2022 were ignored. 18 Feb 22 Partial Rpt. received by accident from service rep.