2009 BMW X3 problems
The 2009 BMW X3 has 26 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (35%) concerns air bags. Next are electrical system (19%) and engine (19%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 26 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 35% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a fire. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 87% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 21st most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the BMW X3 with enough data (0 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 BMW x3. While driving approximately 20 MPH, white smoke emerged from the engine compartment. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed sparks from the engine to the ground as a fire ignited. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The contact also received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 17v683000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing.
While driving in heavy tragic, smelled something burning, went to pull out of tragic and felt my [xxx] on fire, the heat seater burned a hole in the seat and melted seat cover to my pants causing much discomfort and ruined jeans. Reported it to BMW and they offered to disconnect the electricity to the seat. Not satisfied, not impressed. Very dangerous. Vehicle was on highway when incident happened. Was lucky to get out of tragic to exit. While driving put my hand to feel problem and burned finger tip.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 BMW x3. The contact stated that while her son was driving, the RPM revved without warning, and the vehicle independently decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the BMW of lynchburg located at 2643 lakeside dr - #6944, lynchburg, va 24501, where it was diagnosed that the module motor on the 4-wheel drive transfer case disconnected and placed a strain on the drive train. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.