2011 BMW X3 Complaints

Background •Per a letter sent out to the NHTSA on April 9, 2014 a recall was issued for several vehicles as the housing bolts for the vanos cams were deemed to be faulty and could loosen or shear off causing a stall. oNHTSA Campaign 14V176000 and all defect notices, recall acknowledgements, etc which are currently extant on the NHTSA website. ?Technical Service Bulletin SI B11 07 14 dated 10/14 oIncluded in this recall are X3 28i with engine type N52 manufactured between 1/2010 – 9/2011. oA 10-year extended warranty was issued for vehicles not specifically covered under the recall. oMy vehicle was manufactured and put into service 1/2011. oNo one to date has given a clear answer on why my VIN wasn’t listed as part of the recall. Incident •My wife and daughter were driving on the highway when the car stalled putting them in danger. They were able to pull off to the side without incident but were unable to start it again. •I had the car towed to BMW Fairfield where the team under Nate Sanchez diagnosed the issue. The was no check engine light, no drop in performance nor any indication at all that something was wrong before this happened. In fact, I had the car at Dave Parker’s Eurasian Autoworks for an AC diagnostic. They thoroughly checked the vehicle and could find no faults. oThe cause of failure was the bolts shearing off the Vanos cam, exactly as stated in the recall. oThe engine was inspected with an Otoscope and no additional engine damage was apparent. oTotal cost of the repair is estimated at $6100 Involving BMW NA Customer Service •Customer service was engaged to attempt to find a goodwill solution to the manufacturers defect. oCustomer service communication was spotty at best. When first I called, they told me that the car was covered under the extended warranty for the entirety of 2021. Upon the dealership calling, they were told that the warranty had expired. Throughout the process, deadlines for information were promised and then w

WHILE DRIVING ON A MOTORWAY AT MODERATE SPEEDS OF ABOUT 45 MPH, VEHICLE STARTED THROWING DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL DEACTIVATION WARNINGS AND STARTED CUTTING OUT POWER TO THE WHEELS ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE SMOOTHLY. STRANDED ON THE MOTORWAY FOR A WHILE AND THEN AFTER SWITCHING OFF AND SWITCHING ON THE IGNITION COUPLE OF TIMES, VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE FORWARD IN LIMP MODE. HAD TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP. THEY SAID THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED AND STOPPED SENDING ANY SIGNALS TO ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THEY REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL.

FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DROPPED AND WILL NOT ROLL UP. WAS ON A CITY STREET IN MOTION WHEN OCCURRED.

I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING ON THE PARKING LOT AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED AND I AM NOT ABLE TO TURN AT ALL. I TURNED OFF THE CAR (LUCKILY, NO CAR AROUND ME) AND RESTART IT THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. LATER TODAY (11/20/2020), I PULLED OUT FROM MY DRIVER WAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN I RESTART MY CAR THE ISSUE DISAPPEARED. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE AND UNFORTUANTELY MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. PLEASE HELP!! THE REPAIR COST FOR REPLACING SUCH MODULE IS THOUSANDS. THANKS!

TAIL LIGHT SEEMS TO CONSTANTLY HAVE PROBLEM. I HAVE FIXED IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND AFTER FEW DAYS/WEEKS MY NEIGHBOR COMPLAINS AND I HAVE BEEN FLAGGED MULTIPLE TIMES ON ROAD ABOUT RUNNING TAIL LIGHT NOT WORKING. ISSUE SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE THERE EVEN IF I CHANGE THE WHOLE PANEL OR THE LED PANEL. IT IS AN LED LIGHT THAT SHOULD NEVER GO OUT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MY CAR BEHIND ME ALWAYS SEE IT AS NOT WORKING TAIL LIGHT.

I AM CONSTANTLY GETTING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGES. THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE IS REALLY BAD. NOT GETTING FULL POWER. CAR HAS STARTED SHAKING A LITTLE. ALSO EXHAUST SOUNDS LOUDER THAN IT SHOULD.

THE ERROR "CHASSIS STABILIZATION" POPPED UP WITH MULTIPLE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER. STEERING, ACCELERATION, AND BRAKING WERE EFFECTED. AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN AND WARNINGS APPEARED. THEY ALSO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY DURING DRIVING, MOST OFTEN IN THE FIRST 2 MINUTES OF DRIVING.

VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION IN WIRING HARNESS FROM LEAKING REAR WIPER FLUID LINE. THE WIPER FLUID LINE IS BUNDLED TOGETHER INSIDE THE VEHICLE WIRING HARNESS. WIPER FLUID LINE DEFECTIVE AT TIME OF VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. DESIGN ENGINEERING BLUNDER TO PACKAGE A FLUID LINE INSIDE AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS. ROOT CAUSE FOR FAILURE IS MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT MANUFACTURER UNWILLING TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO LAPSED WARRANTY PERIOD NOT MILEAGE CRITERIA. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AT 24,779 MILES. MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION IS ATTACHED. VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS, DRIVING STABILITY SYSTEMS, CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION, HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED AND DO NOT FUNCTION. DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEMS AND WARNING LIGHTS ALL STAY LIT ON THE DASH. NO WAY TO TELL IF ANY OF THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, EMISSION SYSTEMS, SENSORS AND ACTUATORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY.

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED WITH A MESSAGE "CHASSIS STABILIZATION MALFUNCTION....". ALMOST HAD A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT WILL COST $6000!! A 8-YR OLD BMW WITH STEERING FAILURE. NHTSA MUST FORCE BMW TO FIX THIS RECURRING MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE THERE IS FATALITY.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING INADVERTENTLY POPS UP WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND/OR WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT.