2008 BMW X3
The 2008 BMW X3 appears in 3 NHTSA recall campaigns (air bags and engine and engine cooling) and in 34 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is air bags: 630.4 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 160.2 per 1,000 across all 2008 model-year vehicles and against 237.6 per 1,000 for the BMW X3 line as a whole.
That is about the same as the average of 32.7 complaints per model year across the 23 BMW X3 model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2017 (19); the most recent in the file is dated 11 Dec 2018.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC.
- 17V683000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)Reported 30 Oct 2017 · 740,561 units
Defect, as filed: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC.
Defect, as filed: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2008 BMW X3 (black) against all 2008 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2008 | X3 line | All 2008 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 630.4 | 237.6 | 160.2 |
| Engine | 152.2 | 116.4 | 62.5 |
| Seats | 87 | 130.7 | 9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43.5 | 30.5 | 26.6 |
| Power Train | 43.5 | 64.9 | 75.7 |
| Service Brakes | 21.7 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 29 | 630.4 | 237.6 | 160.2 |
| Engine | 7 | 152.2 | 116.4 | 62.5 |
| Seats | 4 | 87 | 130.7 | 9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 43.5 | 30.5 | 26.6 |
| Power Train | 2 | 43.5 | 64.9 | 75.7 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 21.7 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 21.7 | 45.8 | 34.8 |
34 unique complaints, 46 component mentions; 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other BMW X3 model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 129 | 200,000 |
| 2005 | 1 | 100 | 200,000 |
| 2006 | 2 | 127 | 285,302 |
| 2007 | 3 | 53 | 885,828 |
| 2008 | 3 | 34 | 885,828 |
| 2009 | 3 | 10 | 885,828 |
| 2010 | 4 | 13 | 1,043,624 |
| 2011 | 4 | 59 | 1,087,076 |
| 2012 | 2 | 23 | 195,453 |
| 2013 | 7 | 81 | 1,002,576 |
| 2014 | 6 | 29 | 996,274 |
| 2015 | 7 | 30 | 1,019,111 |
| 2016 | 5 | 28 | 1,015,452 |
| 2017 | 6 | 19 | 1,015,555 |
| 2018 | 11 | 10 | 574,604 |
| 2019 | 10 | 6 | 568,311 |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 | 824,229 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | 597,640 |
| 2022 | 7 | 0 | 618,925 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 411,069 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 40,950 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | 41,835 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 36,935 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All BMW X3 model years · BMW: 250 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2008 BMW X3 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 20V017000, was reported to NHTSA on 15 Jan 2020 and concerns air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Across all model years the BMW X3 line has 60 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2008 BMW X3?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 2008 BMW X3 complain about most?
Air Bags: 29 of 46 component mentions (630.4 per 1,000). Next is engine with 7. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.