IllustrationCHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WITHIN SECONDS, SMOKE HAD ENGULFED THE ENGINE BAY. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES.
2004 BMW X3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 BMW X3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all X3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
1325–50K
1850–75K
2075–100K
19100–150K
7150K+
106 reports with mileage · 32 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seats. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports13 fire reports17 injury reports
Power Train complaints
11 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4X4 WARNING LAMP AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE CRASHES. AFTER THE MOST RECENT CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 4X4 WARNING LAMP AND THE ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE CRASHES. AFTER THE MOST RECENT CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND THE WARNING LAMPS CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE FOR THE ABS WARNING LAMP AND THE 4X4 WARNING LAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
FRONTAL DIFFERENTIAL AND WINDOW MOTOR WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THE SUV ONLY HAS 80, 000 MILES AND IS HAVING ALL KINDS OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ALREADY. I BOUGHT A BMW BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY BUILD GOOD CARS NOT LEMONS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL IN SNOWY CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL IN SNOWY CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,700. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 03/11/11*JB
MY TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE AT 40MPH ON FLAT OR SLIGHT DECENT WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. BMW HAS REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION, TRACTION UNIT, ABS SENSOR UNIT, TO SAY THIS IS NORMAL WITH THE 2.5 ENGINE. I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THIS IS THE CASE. NOW, SINCE THE REPAIR MY RE…
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MY TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE AT 40MPH ON FLAT OR SLIGHT DECENT WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. BMW HAS REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION, TRACTION UNIT, ABS SENSOR UNIT, TO SAY THIS IS NORMAL WITH THE 2.5 ENGINE. I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THIS IS THE CASE. NOW, SINCE THE REPAIR MY REAR SUSPENSION MAKES NOISES, LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TIGHTENED IT UP, BUT IT IS BACK TO THE SAME PROBLEM. I SEE THERE IS PENDING LAWSUITS OVER THE REAR SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOTHING IS FIXED AND NOW NEW PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMS THEY ARE UNDER ADVICE FROM BMW. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AND HEAVY BANG CAUSING YOU TO JERK FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE REAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS NEW IN 2004. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT EACH SERVICE CALL BUT NOT BEEN FIXED. *JB
DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING TODAY TO TELL YOU MY PERSONAL EPXERIENCE WITH MY CAR. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 330CI ON JULY 18, 2003. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED TO ENGAGE WHEN I START UP THE CAR. AFTER I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A FIX, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CA…
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DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING TODAY TO TELL YOU MY PERSONAL EPXERIENCE WITH MY CAR. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 330CI ON JULY 18, 2003. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED TO ENGAGE WHEN I START UP THE CAR. AFTER I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A FIX, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED REPLACEMENT. IN DECEMBER 2003, THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED AFTER A FEW MONTH'S WAITING FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION. IN MAY 2004, THE CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. AND BMW TOLD ME IT CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED. FROM MAY 2004 TO MARCH 2005, THE ENGINE STALL-IN-TRAFFIC PROBLEM HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. NO CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WAS EVER MADE. ON OCT 4, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AGAIN IN THE MORNING. AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS LISTED HERE ARE JUST MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SMALL PROBLEMS SUCH AS DOOR GUARD COMPLETELY FALLS OFF. AT THIS POINT, AFTER THE PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR BECOMES CHRONICLE, I FEEL THAT MY SAFETY IS COMPROMISED, AND BWM WILL NOT HELP ME TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME! SINCERELY, JINWEN XIAO. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 325XI IN MARCH OF 2004 FROM HUNTERDON BMW IN LEBANON, NEW JERSEY. AT 10,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SO THEY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME HUNTERDON BMW HAD MY CAR IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER 2 WEEKS AND REPLACED…
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I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 325XI IN MARCH OF 2004 FROM HUNTERDON BMW IN LEBANON, NEW JERSEY. AT 10,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SO THEY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME HUNTERDON BMW HAD MY CAR IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER 2 WEEKS AND REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED MY NEW TRANSMISSION WITH A USED TRANSMISSION, WHICH I TRIED TO FIGHT BECAUSE I BOUGHT A NEW CAR, NOT A USED CAR, BUT THEY KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS THEIR "POLICY". THEY ALSO REFUSED TO TELL ME HOW MANY MILES THIS TRANSMISSION HAD ON IT, THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME IF IT WAS EVEN A BMW TRANSMISSION, AND THEY REFUSED TO EXTEND MY WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO REFLECT THE AMOUNT OF MILES THAT WAS ON THE CAR. FURTHERMORE, AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR JUMPED/JERKED AT INTERMITTENT TIMES WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK ON IT, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ? AND TALKED TO ME AS IF IT WAS NOT HAPPENING. THIS LEAVES MY SAFETY AT STAKE WHEN I DRIVE. NOW, A FEW MONTHS LATER, I HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN: THE CAR SQUEAKS WHEN IT STARTS, THE SQUEAKING TURNED OUT TO BE THE AC & DRIVE BELT - SO THEY REPLACED IT. I PICKED UP THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT THE CAR IS STILL SQUEAKINGIT IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO BE IN. FURTHERMORE THE LOANER CAR, WHICH WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE, DROVE 100 TIMES SMOOTHER THAN MINE. HUNTERDON BMW SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.*AK
2004 BMW WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMITION, NO ENGAGEMENT OF THE D RIVE AFTER THE CAR IS SET FOR 12-24 HOURS.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR IS ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE WITHOUT HAVING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND SAFETY. THIS CAN BE DONE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING. *AK
Official recalls
108V384000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 5, 2008
BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA08001 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination
Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Dec 31, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.