IllustrationSTEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DURING VERY HOT WEATHER. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY KIND OF STEERING ADJUSTMENT. *JB
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all X3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
1325–50K
1850–75K
2075–100K
19100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
138 reportsINTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A QUICK STOP, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AND HEAVY BANG CAUSING YOU TO JERK FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE REAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AS NEW IN 2004. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AT EACH SERVICE CALL BUT NOT BEEN FIXED. *JB
MY WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SITS WHEN THE WIPERS ARE NOT BEING USED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEREFORE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY WHO SAID THAT WAS NORMAL USE AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE COVER…
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MY WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK DIRECTLY UNDER WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER SITS WHEN THE WIPERS ARE NOT BEING USED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEREFORE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY WHO SAID THAT WAS NORMAL USE AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER BACK THEY STATED THAT THEY LOOKED HARDER AND IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING FALLING ON IT. IT IS IN A LOCATION WHERE NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON IT UNLESS THE WIPERS WHERE REMOVED FROM THE CAR WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. THEY REFUSED TO FIX OR REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
AIR BAG WARNINGS IN 2004 BMW. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE TWICE AND WAS INGORNED. THEN, HAD ACCIDENT AND COMPLAINED AGAIN TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. RESULT-THEY COULD CARE LESS. SENT AT LEAST THREE EMAILS-NO ACTION, LITTLE RESPONSE . *AK
DRIVING @ 60-65 MPH ON HWY, FLAT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ON INSPECTION OF WHEEL THERE WAS SMALL PUNCTURE IN TIRE AND A LARGE, SILVER DOLLAR SIZE "BLOW OUT" OF WHEEL MID PORTION OF WHEEL REMOTE SITE FROM TIRE PUNCTURE. TIRE WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD. DENY DRIVING OVER ANY LARGE OBJECT TO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF WHEEL FAILURE. BROUGHT TIRE…
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DRIVING @ 60-65 MPH ON HWY, FLAT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. ON INSPECTION OF WHEEL THERE WAS SMALL PUNCTURE IN TIRE AND A LARGE, SILVER DOLLAR SIZE "BLOW OUT" OF WHEEL MID PORTION OF WHEEL REMOTE SITE FROM TIRE PUNCTURE. TIRE WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD. DENY DRIVING OVER ANY LARGE OBJECT TO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF WHEEL FAILURE. BROUGHT TIRE/WHEEL TO NTB (WHERE I BOUGHT TIRE). THEY BELIEVE THERE WAS A WHEEL FAILURE BASED UPON INSPECTION. SEVERAL PERSONS AT NTB LOOKED AT WHEEL THAT HAD SEEN FAILURES BEFORE AND ARE CONVINCED THAT THE WHEEL FAILED BASED UPON TRAJECTORY OF SMALL PUNCTURE AND THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF WHEEL BLOWOUT. REGARDLESS, TIRE IS COVERED BY ROAD HAZARD AND IS BEING REPLACED. WHEEL WAS BROUGHT TO BMW WHO DISASSEMBLED TIRE FROM WHEEL. THEY STATE THAT ONLY THING THAT COULD OF CASED THAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IS RUNNING OVER LARGE OBJECT SUCH AS REBAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE. IF RAN OVER ANY OBJECT ON HIGHWAY IT MUST HAVE BEEN SMALL SINCE THERE WAS NO SENSATION FELT, NO NOISE HEARD. ONLY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A FLAT WAS THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW HAS OFFERED TO INSPECT WHEEL HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT WHEEL IS DEFECTIVE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS WITH SAME DEFECT AND MAY NOT GET HONEST EVALUATION. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT TO DO WITH WHEEL. *NM
BLOW OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO CROSS OVER LANES AND ALMOST HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. TIRE,CONTINENTAL SIZE & NAME CONTI TOURING 205/50 R 17. *JB
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON VERY OCCASIONALLY (3-4 TIMES IN 13 MONTHS) WHEN A PASSENGER IS PROPERLY SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND TYPICALLY GOES OUT AND THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL NOT OCCUR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTE…
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PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON VERY OCCASIONALLY (3-4 TIMES IN 13 MONTHS) WHEN A PASSENGER IS PROPERLY SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND TYPICALLY GOES OUT AND THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL NOT OCCUR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SIMPLY SAY THEY CANNOT FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY CAN'T FIND. THE HAVE OPENED A "CASE" TO COLLECT INFORMATION BUT HAVE NOT RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT BMW IS COLLECTING INFORMATION. THEY CANNOT DEFINITIVELY TELL ME HOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL PERFORM IF THE LIGHT HAPPENS TO BE ON WHEN A VEHICLE CRASH OCCURS. THEY DO INSIST THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT SAYS THE AIRBAG IS OFF BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE SIDE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. MY PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS THAT THEY SEEM TO TREAT THIS ISSUE VERY LIGHTLY, BOTH AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND AT THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICES. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT TURNED THE DEFOGGER ON TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IN VEHICLE. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND REALIZED THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR THE REAR WINDOW. *AK
2004 BMW - FRONT AIR BAG DISABLE ENABLED BY IT'S SELF. HAS BEEN REPAIR TWICE ALREADY. NOW HAPPENING FOR A THIRD TIME
DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING TODAY TO TELL YOU MY PERSONAL EPXERIENCE WITH MY CAR. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 330CI ON JULY 18, 2003. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED TO ENGAGE WHEN I START UP THE CAR. AFTER I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A FIX, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CA…
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DEAR NHTSA, I AM WRITING TODAY TO TELL YOU MY PERSONAL EPXERIENCE WITH MY CAR. I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW 330CI ON JULY 18, 2003. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED TO ENGAGE WHEN I START UP THE CAR. AFTER I BROUGHT IT IN FOR A FIX, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED REPLACEMENT. IN DECEMBER 2003, THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED AFTER A FEW MONTH'S WAITING FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION. IN MAY 2004, THE CAR'S ENGINE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. AND BMW TOLD ME IT CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED. FROM MAY 2004 TO MARCH 2005, THE ENGINE STALL-IN-TRAFFIC PROBLEM HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. NO CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WAS EVER MADE. ON OCT 4, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS AGAIN IN THE MORNING. AND ALL THESE PROBLEMS LISTED HERE ARE JUST MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SMALL PROBLEMS SUCH AS DOOR GUARD COMPLETELY FALLS OFF. AT THIS POINT, AFTER THE PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR BECOMES CHRONICLE, I FEEL THAT MY SAFETY IS COMPROMISED, AND BWM WILL NOT HELP ME TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME! SINCERELY, JINWEN XIAO. *JB
Official recalls
108V384000 · 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
1EA08001 · 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.