The Used Car Index

2004 BMW X3 problems

NHTSA lists 138 complaints for the 2004 BMW X3, 13 of them mention a crash and 13 mention a fire. 17 complaints mention an injury, with 17 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW X3.

At a glance

Complaints
138
With crash
13
With fire
13
With injury (complaints)
17
Injuries
17
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
200,000
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
60

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
SEATS3323.9%
AIR BAGS3223.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1813.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING118.0%
POWER TRAIN118.0%
STRUCTURE85.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL85.8%
VISIBILITY75.1%
ENGINE64.3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING64.3%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
AIR BAGSFRONTAL14
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
SEATSFRONT ASSEMBLY5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY3
SUSPENSIONREAR3
VISIBILITYPOWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS3
VISIBILITYWINDSHIELD3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMIGNITION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM2

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

08V384000

Date: 2008-08-05. Systems: AIR BAGS.

Defect: 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 WARNIN (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

EA08001

Opened: 2008-01-04. Closed: 2008-12-31.

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

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 O

Systems: AIR BAGS.

Linked campaign numbers: 08V384000.

Manufacturer communications

60 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
EQUIPMENT17
AIR BAGS7
VISIBILITY7
POWER TRAIN6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3

10253326

Date: 2024-04-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard.

10249437

Date: 2024-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

10249027

Date: 2024-01-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle A A?A A A A discharged batteryA A?A A A A compl

10247574

Date: 2023-12-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.

A noise can be heard from underneath the seat while the seat is being moved either forwards or backwards. This can occur to the driverA A?A A A A s and/or the passengerA A?A A A A s front seat.

10244239

Date: 2023-10-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY.

This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry

10225114

Date: 2022-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.

The front sunroof glass seal has shrunk, creating a gap which can cause wind noise or excess water entry.

10225126

Date: 2022-09-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.

10224185

Date: 2022-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Leak Diagnosis Module with hose assembly (NVLD, shown) to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date.

10224186

Date: 2022-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE.

Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle's Radiator Grille Upper and Lower Active Air Flaps to: 15 years/150,000 miles as determined by the vehicle's original in-service date. 1. Air

10218420

Date: 2022-07-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT.

The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE) function. For this purpose the SIM card must perform an IMS registration in the mobile communication network. Due to a pro

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
X3138

Same model, other years

All model years | All BMW models

Other BMW models, 2004

Sources

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