KnownCarProblems2005 BMW X3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 BMW X3, most often about the seats (47% of complaints, typically around 95,000 miles). It is 9th of 23 X3 model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2005 BMW X3 problems
Seats
48 complaints · 47%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
The driver's seat (bottom) contains a heating element. When on, even on the lowest setting, a hot spot develops near the left rear side that is so hot I have to shut off the heater out of fear of a fire.
The drivers seat warmer caught fire and burned on the left hand side of the seat. The seat warmer wires were exposed and burned the seat and through my pants.
Air bags
30 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Front passenger side air bag is turned off (light notification), when no one is in passenger seat and no items are on seat the warning light goes on and buzzer will not stop, as if some weight is on seat. BMW has issued recall for this problem (76536 & 72651), but not for this VIN. This is a severe safety issue since…
There is a recall on the BMW 2005 X3 passenger airbag. My car is not included in the recall but, has the same problems as the cars with the recall. The airbag light goes on, it goes off, it goes on, it goes off and then finally it stays on so the airbag doesn't work. I brought it into the dealer and they confirmed it…
Electrical
18 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2005 BMW X3. The contact stated that the driver and passenger side heated seat function overheated. In addition, the air bag warning light remained illuminated and the key became difficult to release from the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the wiring…
Seat warmer caught on fire! While parked in the driveway with the engine running, I turned on both manufacturer-installed front seat warmers (outside temp. 36 degrees farenheit) for my son and I. I felt a pinching on upper left thigh / buttock. Thought it was a bug. Shifted in the seat, and felt it again, more painful…
Engine
8 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system.
The service engine light soon came on. The dealer diagnosed that the following two need replaced 1) valve cover gasket to fix engine oil leak 2) dmtl pump I cannot comprehend these failures from a brand known for quality at such low milegae. Google search shows many bmws have had these failures but surprisingly there…
The bolt holding the timing chain together broke causing the timing chain to break which resulted in complete engine failure. The estimate to repair or replace the engine was $8322. BMW was contacted to help with the repair costs but refused to help repair the damaged engine. There are numerous reports of other BMW…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Hatch back is leaking water into the hatchback of X3. Water leakage in front of car from hood into bilateral sides of dash board which damaged carpet and belongings.
BMW X3 2005. Purchased last december with 43,115 miles. Currently has 48,000+. Car has been in shop four times for interior of car being wet. Last visit to mechanic was last week and it is wet inside again. Mechanic has checked and cleaned drainage tubes. Has checked sunroof. Has not found a specific mechanical reason…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 5%I was in a unsafe area so I locked the doors an closed all the windows with my keys inside with me to wait for my husband to return. When he returned a few mintues later I could not open the car to let him in. I was locked inside my car with keys in hand. Power windows would not open,sunroof would not open, door locks…
Airbag warning light illuminated and will not turn off. BMW diagnosed problem as failure of passenger seat mat sensor. Now passenger airbag status lamp will not turn off.
Transmission
4 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Auto type: 2005 BMW X3 sav. The vehicle has had a history of failures with the operation system with regard to the transmission function and most recently we experienced a brake failure. When the brake pedal was pushed the vehicle accelerated. We had the vehicle towed in for repair and was told that they could find…
2005 BMW X3 transfer case failure. Power will stop being transferred to the wheels properly causing the vehicle to hesitate or stop in traffic.
Seat belts
3 complaints · 3%Front passenger side air bag is turned off (light notification), when no one is in passenger seat and no items are on seat the warning light goes on and buzzer will not stop, as if some weight is on seat. BMW has issued recall for this problem (76536 & 72651), but not for this VIN. This is a severe safety issue since…
The contact owns a 2005 BMW X3. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact read the ownerâs manual and saw that the failure indicated that the driverâs side seat belt receiver was faulty. The dealer was made aware of the failure and ordered the driverâs…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 BMW X3 recalls
Air bags: frontal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Bmw airbag light illumination
Summary
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/
Bmw airbag light illumination
Summary
In certain my 2005 through my 2006 bmw vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) for the passenger frontal airbag may malfunction and render the passenger airbag inoperative.in june 2006, bmw issued a technical service bulletin (si b 72 02 06) regarding the illumination of the airbag warning light and the passenger airbag status lamp.illumination of these lights warn that an open electrical circuit may be present within the passenger seat mat sensor.when both of the lights are illuminated, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy in a frontal crash.certain bmw vehicles in addition to the subject vehicles contain the same seat mat sensor.these are the my 2004 5-series, 7-series
Questions about the 2005 BMW X3
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 BMW X3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: seats (48 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles); air bags (30 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles); electrical (18 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 BMW X3 have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 5, 2008 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the BMW X3?
- It is 9th of 23 X3 model years by number of complaints, with 103 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.