Representative 2018 model. Photo: Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 BMW X3 recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 82
Latest campaign: Aug 13, 2024

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Engine and engine cooling	2	Aug 13, 2024	24V608000 18V755000
Fuel system, diesel	2	Nov 19, 2021	21V907000 21V586000
Child seat	1	May 23, 2016	16V333000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Aug 13, 2024Latest campaign


Aug 13, 202424V608000	Engine and engine cooling: cooling system pump An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 24V608000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit. Risk An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 24V608000 · Aug 13, 2024
Nov 19, 202121V907000	Fuel system, diesel A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V907000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold. Risk A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire. Remedy Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 21V907000 · Nov 19, 2021
Jul 29, 202121V586000	Fuel system, diesel: delivery fuel pump Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V586000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail. Risk Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 21V586000 · Jul 29, 2021
Oct 25, 201818V755000	Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system emission control The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V755000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold. Risk The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire. Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 18V755000 · Oct 25, 2018
May 23, 201616V333000	Child seat: latch strap Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V333000 What's wrong BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system. Risk Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash. Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Campaign NHTSA 16V333000 · May 23, 2016

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component82

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

82Complaints filed

7Involving a crash

3Involving a fire

2Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Electrical system	23	28	0	1	0
Engine and engine cooling	18	22	0	1	0
Engine	13	16	1	1	0
Unknown or other	12	15	0	0	0
Service brakes	10	12	6	0	0
Power train	9	11	0	0	0
Fuel system	6	7	0	0	0
Diesel	6	7	0	0	0
Seat belts	6	7	0	0	2
Fuel/propulsion system	4	5	0	1	0
Air bags	4	5	2	0	0
Vehicle speed control	4	5	1	0	0
Steering	3	4	0	0	0
Structure	2	2	1	0	0
Wheels	2	2	0	0	0

3 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Power train
“While driving on a two-lane 40 MPH road in the left lane the vehicle suddenly lost power, stopped in traffic, and displayed a transmission warning message.”
Filed 07/17/2026 · ODI 11751025
Fuel system
“The contact owns a 2016 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled with the drive train warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted.”
Filed 07/01/2026 · ODI 11747803
Engine
“Key Details of BMW EGR Recall: • Affected Models: Primarily 2013-2018 BMW 328d/xDrive, 535d/xDrive, 740Ld, X3 xDrive28d, and X5 XDrive35d.”
Filed 03/05/2026 · ODI 11722351

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2016 BMW X3 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 BMW X3 have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 BMW X3. The most recent, 24V608000 (reported August 13, 2024), concerns engine and engine cooling. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 BMW X3 recalls for?

The largest group is engine and engine cooling, with 2 campaigns. Others: fuel system, diesel (2), child seat (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 BMW X3?

Electrical system is the most-reported component, named in 23 complaints out of 82 filed with NHTSA (28%). Across all complaints, owners reported 7 crashs and 3 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 BMW X3?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the BMW recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised BMW dealer.

Check a specific BMW by VIN

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