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2004 BMW X3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 BMW X3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 86.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

106 reports with mileage · 32 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seats. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports13 fire reports17 injury reports

Suspension complaints

5 reports
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60,000 miles · Mar 27, 2012
Suspension

I HAVE BEEN ALERTED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC A FEW YEARS AGO AND IN 2011 BY MY LOCAL BMW DEALER THAT MY LEFT REAR COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN DUE TO RUST. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE FOR ALL BMWS THAT OPERATE IN THE NORTHEAST DUE TO SALT. THE DEALER'S MEMO TO ME STATES: "IF NOT REPLACED, WORN …

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I HAVE BEEN ALERTED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC A FEW YEARS AGO AND IN 2011 BY MY LOCAL BMW DEALER THAT MY LEFT REAR COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN DUE TO RUST. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE FOR ALL BMWS THAT OPERATE IN THE NORTHEAST DUE TO SALT. THE DEALER'S MEMO TO ME STATES: "IF NOT REPLACED, WORN COIL SPRINGS WILL NOT ALLOW THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM TO MOVE AND ADAPT TO CHANGING ROAD IRREGULARITIES". THE BMW DEALER WANTS $640.24 TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SPRINGS. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 80,000+ MILES ON IT AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED, AS HAS BEEN OUR OTHER VEHICLES, NONE OF WHICH THAT HAS HAD SUSPENSION PROBLEMS DUE TO SALT/RUST. ONE VEHICLE HAS 280,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN/PERFORMANCE FLAW THAT MAY HAVE BAD CONSEQUENCES FOR BMW OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453173

75,000 miles · Feb 3, 2011
Power TrainSuspensionVisibility

FRONTAL DIFFERENTIAL AND WINDOW MOTOR WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME. THE SUV ONLY HAS 80, 000 MILES AND IS HAVING ALL KINDS OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ALREADY. I BOUGHT A BMW BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY BUILD GOOD CARS NOT LEMONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10380174

48,000 miles · Oct 8, 2010
Suspension

BROKEN REAR SPRING ON 2004 BMW X3 WITH 50,000 MILES. DEALER STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 3 SERIES AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE X3. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359861

42,000 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Power TrainSuspension

MY TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE AT 40MPH ON FLAT OR SLIGHT DECENT WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. BMW HAS REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION, TRACTION UNIT, ABS SENSOR UNIT, TO SAY THIS IS NORMAL WITH THE 2.5 ENGINE. I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THIS IS THE CASE. NOW, SINCE THE REPAIR MY RE…

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MY TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE AT 40MPH ON FLAT OR SLIGHT DECENT WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. BMW HAS REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION, TRACTION UNIT, ABS SENSOR UNIT, TO SAY THIS IS NORMAL WITH THE 2.5 ENGINE. I FIND IT SURPRISING THAT THIS IS THE CASE. NOW, SINCE THE REPAIR MY REAR SUSPENSION MAKES NOISES, LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TIGHTENED IT UP, BUT IT IS BACK TO THE SAME PROBLEM. I SEE THERE IS PENDING LAWSUITS OVER THE REAR SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, NOTHING IS FIXED AND NOW NEW PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS, IT SEEMS THEY ARE UNDER ADVICE FROM BMW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246384

57,000 miles · Sep 21, 2007
Suspension

A PIECE OF THE STRUT COIL SPRING FELL OFF WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED. IT APPEARS TO BE RUSTED AND JUST CRACKED OFF. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP SHOWING THEM THE PIECE I FOUND AND THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND IT WILL COST ME OVER $500.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I ONLY HAVE 57,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I DON'T FEEL…

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A PIECE OF THE STRUT COIL SPRING FELL OFF WHILE MY CAR WAS PARKED. IT APPEARS TO BE RUSTED AND JUST CRACKED OFF. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP SHOWING THEM THE PIECE I FOUND AND THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND IT WILL COST ME OVER $500.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I ONLY HAVE 57,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AS THE COIL APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10203670

Official recalls

1

08V384000 · Air Bags:frontal

Aug 5, 2008

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 WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.

Consequence & remedy

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.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA08001 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination

Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Dec 31, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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 OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags

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 OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

Air Bags:frontal

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 OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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 OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.