NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 BMW X3 SAV Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 BMW X3 SAV has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 56 owner complaints on file as of October 21, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 BMW X3 SAV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 BMW X3 SAV owner complaints

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 BMW X3 SAV, describing incidents dated December 1, 2008 to April 6, 2018.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 29 complaints
Engine 9 complaints
Power Train 6 complaints
Seats 5 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 4 complaints
Unknown or Other 4 complaints

Of the 56 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 56 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11089086 · Filed April 20, 2018
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS PART OF THE "SEAT MAT", WHICH IS UNDER RECALL. BMW SENT AN INITIAL NOTICE OF RECALL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. AS OF APRIL 20, 2018 THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THIS RECALL. OVER 7 MONTHS! NO ONE AT THE DEALER OR BMW USA CAN GIVE…
ODI #11084806 · Filed April 12, 2018
LAST WEEK DASH 4X4 LIGHT COMES ON A,UDIBLE RAPID CLICKING SOUND COMES FROM REAR JUST AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF...I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO WEST PATERSON MOTORS IN WOODLAND PARK, NJ FOR DIAGNOSTICS. MECHANIC STATES COMPUTER CODES INDICATE IT'S TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, AND TO REPLACE IT COSTS OVER $…
ODI #11084794 · Filed April 12, 2018
I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO BLOOMFIELD NJ DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN 2013, 2014, 2015 DUE TO VEHICLES INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS SWIFTLY, RMP GOING TO 34,000 AND TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING GEARS. I DRIVE ABOUT 6,000MILES PER YEAR SOMETIMES LESS. ALL DEALER WOULD SAY "VEHICLE PERFORMS AS…

Read all 56 complaints

PCV Heater May Short Circuit

NHTSA #22V119000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Emission Control — Crankcase (PCV) · NHTSA notice

Reported March 2, 2022 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 917,106 vehicles

Repair completion: 35.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

Owners notified July 22, 2022

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Safety consequence

An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Manufacturer remedy

This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #16V071000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported February 5, 2016 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 840,000 vehicles

Repair completion: 49.28% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)

Owners notified November 1, 2016 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 BMW X3 SAV. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

56 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 BMW X3 SAV.

Air Bags

ODI #11089086

Incident: April 4, 2018 · Filed: April 20, 2018

THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS PART OF THE "SEAT MAT", WHICH IS UNDER RECALL. BMW SENT AN INITIAL NOTICE OF RECALL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. AS OF APRIL 20, 2018 THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THIS RECALL. OVER 7 MONTHS! NO ONE AT THE DEALER OR BMW USA CAN GIVE US A STRAIGHT ANSWER AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. THE Q AND A PART OF THE NOTICE INDICATES NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THIS IS FIXED! WHY IS BMW BEING ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO DELAY FIXING THIS SAFETY DEFECT? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE NHTSA IS DOING TO MAKE BMW REPAIR THIS IN A TIMELY MANNER!

Power Train

ODI #11084806

Incident: April 6, 2018 · Filed: April 12, 2018

LAST WEEK DASH 4X4 LIGHT COMES ON A,UDIBLE RAPID CLICKING SOUND COMES FROM REAR JUST AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF...I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO WEST PATERSON MOTORS IN WOODLAND PARK, NJ FOR DIAGNOSTICS. MECHANIC STATES COMPUTER CODES INDICATE IT'S TRANSFER CASE FAILURE, AND TO REPLACE IT COSTS OVER $ 2,600.00 ! HOW DOES THE VEHICLE SUCH AS BMW GETS AWAY WITH SUCH POOR QUALITY, PARTS THAT FAIL SO SOON, SO EXPENSIVE? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? PLEASE RECALL TRANSFER CASE PLEASE, THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 85,000 MILES ON ODOMETER YET ...

Power Train

ODI #11084794

Incident: June 20, 2016 · Filed: April 12, 2018

I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO BLOOMFIELD NJ DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN 2013, 2014, 2015 DUE TO VEHICLES INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS SWIFTLY, RMP GOING TO 34,000 AND TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING GEARS. I DRIVE ABOUT 6,000MILES PER YEAR SOMETIMES LESS. ALL DEALER WOULD SAY "VEHICLE PERFORMS AS DESIGNED"....OR "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". AROUND JUNE 20, 2016 WHEN IN THE DRIVEWAY I PUT GEAR IN REVERSE BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. I CALLED BMW DEALER DESCRIBING THE INABILITY OF MY CAR MOVING IN REVERSE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED ITS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TRA-PAR TRANSMISSIONS IN BELLEVILLE NJ ON JUNE 23, 2016 CONFIRMED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REPLACED IT JUNE 27, 2016 FOR $ 3, 092.19 !!! COME TO FIND OUT THROUGH READING COPIES OF RECEIPTS DEALER HAD NOT DESCRIBED ISSUES AS THERE WERE ON THEIR WORK ORDERS! AFTER I READ MOST OF THEM, THEY DON'T EVEN MENTION THE TRUE REASON WHY THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN ! I'M VERY DISGUSTED WITH THEM AND I FIND BMW DEALER STALLING TACTICS AND DECEPTION CRIMINAL.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11084277

Incident: October 30, 2017 · Filed: April 10, 2018

RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED IN NOV 2017. DEALER HAS YET TO REPAIR. IS THIS LENGTH OF DELAY ACCEPTABLE?

Seats; Engine

ODI #11082069

Incident: November 17, 2017 · Filed: March 29, 2018

I HAVE 2 DANGEROUS RECALLS. ONE-NO ONE CAN SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AND THE SECOND, MY ENGINE CAN BE ON FIRE DUE TO A PVC VALVE. BMW HAS NO REMEDIES AND IT HAS BEEN OVER 4 MONTHS, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. SOMEONE HAS TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON BMW TO GET THIS FIXED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags; Unknown or Other

ODI #11043612

Incident: June 30, 2017 · Filed: November 6, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - I CALLED EAST BAY BMW AND BMW OF CONCORD DEALERSHIPS SINCE RECEIVING SAFETY RECALL IN JUNE 2017 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A CALL BACK REGARDING THE PARTS ARRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOT NOVEMBER AND I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED A SINGLE PHONE CALL.

Electrical System; Unknown or Other; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10993087

Incident: May 22, 2017 · Filed: June 4, 2017

SINCE PURCHASE IN 2013 FROM A DEALER, WITH ONLY 43000 MILE CHANGED BATTERY TWICE AT BMW PETER PAN, REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, WINDOW REGULATOR, REPLACED STARTER , PLUS OTHER SERVICES AND WINDOW WIPERS ARE FAULTY, T-CASE ACTUATOR REPLACED, SWAY BAR REPLACED, TOTALING $9531.38. I TRIED TO COMPLAIN TO BMW CORPORATION FOR SELLING A LEMON CAR . PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO I CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS CAR. RIGHT NOW IT ONLY HAS 57K MILES ON IT AND I AM BEING TOLD IT NEEDS MORE WORK.

Air Bags

ODI #10991788

Incident: May 26, 2017 · Filed: May 26, 2017

NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 . ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AND STILL NO RESOLUTION FROM BMW MEANWHILE WE ARE AT RISK EVERYDAY. I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST SEE A SCHEDULE FOR REPAIR RATHER THAN THEM USING ATTRITION TO MITIGATE THEIR COST.

Engine

ODI #10985117

Incident: May 11, 2017 · Filed: May 12, 2017

ENGINE BOLTS ARE LOOSE OR HAVE FALLEN OUT.

Air Bags

ODI #10970534

Incident: November 1, 2016 · Filed: April 4, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3 SAV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. ONE DEALER STATED THAT BMW HAD NOT YET RELEASED THE PARTS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Other BMW X3 SAV model years

Check your 2008 BMW X3 SAV VIN

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