2004 BMW X3 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 219 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 BMW X3. The most-reported areas: Exterior Lighting (50), Air Bags (48), Seats (35).
Key takeaways
- 219 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 14 involve a crash, 16 a fire, 20 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 50 | 23% |
| Air Bags | 48 | 22% |
| Seats | 35 | 16% |
| Electrical System | 31 | 14% |
| Power Train | 13 | 6% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 | 5% |
| Structure | 10 | 5% |
| Visibility | 9 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 4% |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 | 3% |
| Engine | 6 | 3% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 BMW X3 4-DR. w/SAB | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Vehicle Speed Control - filed 2025-09-06
Odometer failed - unable to get this fixed!
Electrical System,air Bags,seats - filed 2023-07-25
AIRBAG LAMP REMIANS ON DUE TO FAILED PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. HONOLULU BMW DEALER CLAIMS RECALL 08V384000 WAS PERFORMED JULY 18, 2008- WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME DATE LISTED IN THE RECALL AS BMW'S REPORT DATE TO NHTSA. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND PROCEDURE DID NOT GET PUBLISHED OR BEGIN FOR NEARLY A YEAR LAT...
Air Bags - filed 2022-11-01
The contact ownd a 2004 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, she dozed off behind the wheel when the vehicle crashed into the rear of a tow truck. As a result, the front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an injury to the head and bodil...
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More for the 2004 BMW X3
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.