This page covers 8 recalls and 111 owner complaints for the 2011 BMW X3.
Engine and engine cooling issues dominate complaints filed for the 2011 BMW X3. Owners most frequently report stalling while driving, sometimes at highway speeds, often accompanied by a whining noise before the engine cuts out. A recurring theme involves the PCV heater overheating, with several owners describing smoke from under the hood, failure to start, and in some cases damage to nearby fuses or wiring. The engine cooling side draws similar complaint volume, with stalling and drivability problems commonly mentioned together. Steering complaints make up the third-largest group, though the narratives there are less concentrated around a single symptom. The PCV-related overheating pattern is the most specific and frequently described failure mode, with owners reporting it can disable the vehicle entirely and affect the electrical system in the process.
111
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 BMW X3 has 8 recalls, the most serious being a driver's airbag inflator that can break apart during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin, and a PCV valve heater that can short circuit and start an engine fire even when the vehicle is parked.
A separate airbag concern involves the passenger side, where a dashboard defect can cause the front passenger airbag to deploy incorrectly in a crash, raising the risk of injury to that occupant. On the child restraint side, the lower anchor bars used with rigid ISOFIX-style child seat connectors can become damaged during normal use, reducing their ability to hold a child seat securely in a crash. The electric power steering control module can malfunction and cut out while driving, leaving the steering wheel significantly heavier and harder to turn. There is also an engine concern: bolts in the VANOS variable valve timing unit can loosen or break, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly.
At a glance
What can fail
The aluminum bolts securing the variable camshaft timing adjustment housing can loosen and break over time, potentially causing the unit to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace all four VANOS bolts at no cost to you.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The heater inside the positive crankcase ventilation valve may short circuit, potentially causing it to malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the PCV valve heater at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's frontal airbag inflator housing may be incorrectly welded and could separate from its base plate during deployment, potentially sending metal fragments toward occupants.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the driver's frontal airbag.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lower anchor bars used to secure child car seats may crack or bend when using European-style rigid ISOFIX connectors.
What the fix does
Dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to strengthen the lower anchor bars and vehicle body.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lower anchor bars used to install child seats with European-ISOFIX connectors can become damaged during normal driving, which could reduce how well the child seat stays in place during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to strengthen the lower anchor bars and where they attach to the vehicle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The dashboard may have a manufacturing defect that prevents the passenger front airbag from deploying properly during a crash, increasing injury risk to the front passenger.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace your dashboard.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Electric Power Steering control module may malfunction and shut off while driving, causing loss of power steering assist.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the Electric Power Steering unit.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A control module in the electric power steering unit may malfunction, causing sudden loss of power steering assistance.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair the electric power steering control module at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
