Received a safety recall notice in october 2017 and bmw has yet to have a remedy/solve for the issue. We are over 6 months since the recall and this is far past a reasonable amount of time to address a safety issue.
The worst 2009 BMW X3 SAV problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags10
- Electrical3
- Seats3
- Acceleration1
- Engine1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags10
- Electrical3
- Seats3
- Acceleration1
- Engine1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
Recalls 2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
- Remedy
- This recall supersedes and expands previous the federal safety agency recalls 17V‑683 and 19V‑273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous the federal safety agency recalls 17V‑683 and 19V‑273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 22V119000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 16V071000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2009 BMW X3 SAV
Defect investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 BMW X3 SAV 33
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the...
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few...
- Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been...
- Bmw: selective catalyst reduction module (SCR) has a stored fault, pressure build up is low, causing...
- Bmw: experiencing loss of engine power, service engine soon lamp is illuminated, a noise, like rattling,...
- Bmw: the camshaft (VANOS) adjustment units, on certain vehicle, had the limited warranty extended, without...
- Bmw: some vehicles, with 552 option, are experiencing a malfunction of LED headlight on one where it...
- Bmw: on some vehicles, when starting, low beam, with 0552 option, would briefly flashes, due to a faulty...
- Bmw: in some vehicles, when the k CAN2 wiring is shorted, no communication with any control modules (box...
What 2009 BMW X3 SAV owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Bmw sent letter 3/2016 about recall and continue to tell me that they do not have the parts for my cars recall.I have check several times during the last year locally and then another nearby dealership close by in another town. They said they would place me on a call list and that has been 7 mths ago. I feel like they are waiting for me to get rid of the car, but in the meantime I am at risk if I get into an accident. What do I do? Thanks in advance for your advice
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 bmw x3 sav. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags). The parts to do the repairs were unavailable for the driver side air bag inflator. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The federal safety agency investigations pe07045 and ea08001 determined micro-cracks could develop in the side flanks of the front occupancy sensor mat causing a broken circuit and deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air bag light. When both of the lights are illuminated, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy in a frontal crash. The federal safety agency recall campaign number 08v384000 was issued however only covers model years 2004-2006 of the bmw x3 sav. Request the federal safety agency conduct further investigations to expand the existing recall to cover all 2004-2009 model years of the first generation bmw x3 sav which many owners online can concur exhibit the same symptoms of this serious manufacturing defect that poses a severe safety risk.
S10 appropriate handling- copy of a letter to president and ceo of bmw of north america ludwig weillisch regarding the availability of the safety parts needed for the airbags on his vehicles. *smd the consumer stated he and his family own three bmw's that are all affected by the recall.
2009 bmw x3. Consumer writes in regards to replacement parts not available to repair driver front air bag module recall notice. *smd the consumer stated the air bag light has been on for the last 2-3 years.
Takata recall bmw not offering loaner program and also no date available for drivers front airbag parts even though original recall notice was march 2016.
"takata recall" I have been notified of a recall. However, five months later bmw has not replaced the air bag. This is a danger to me and my passengers. What is the federal safety agency doing about this?
The vehicle was parked and unmoved in my driveway for several days. It suddenly broke out in flames (originating in the engine compartment). The fire grew quite large and the car exploded (the police officer's word). Security cameras on the property show no one in the area to tamper with the car. This was spontaneous combustion. A google search of "2009 bmw x3 fire" shows many other similar incidents.
Takata recall - I received a recall notice from bmw, call the local dealer, have been placed on a waiting list because they do not have parts. I am concern that if the air bag inflates there is a risk of death because of what has happen with other vehicles effect by this recall.
Compare the 2009 BMW X3 SAV
Other model years
Questions about the 2009 BMW X3 SAV
Is the 2009 BMW X3 SAV reliable?
Owners have filed 16 complaints about the 2009 BMW X3 SAV, fewer than a typical X3 SAV model year.
What is the 2009 BMW X3 SAV year score?
The 2009 BMW X3 SAV scores 82 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW X3 SAV: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 BMW X3 SAV?
Airbags, with 10 complaints. Next is electrical (3).
How many recalls does the 2009 BMW X3 SAV have?
2 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2009 BMW X3 SAV airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V071000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW X3 SAV have bad airbags?
The BMW X3 SAV model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (41 complaints), 2008 (29 complaints) and 2010 (15 complaints).
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