2007 BMW X3: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 1, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Intake crankcase heater element caught fire and burnt wires

Filed Nov 9, 2023 · Seats · MA

I was driving my daughter to school this morning and turned on the seat warmers/heaters. After a few minutes on the road, I started to smell something burning. I couldn’t identify the smell and wondered if it was coming from the heater. I touched the left edge of the driver seat and was immediately burned on my hand. I quickly turned off the seat heaters and noticed that the left edge of the seat was burning. Yes, the safety of me and my daughter was at risk. I swerved when it burned me. No accident, fortunately. This is a known issue from what I’ve researched and it seems a recall was issued in 2006. So why not for this year. Same seat. Very dangerous. Could have been much worse.No, it has not been inspected. The damage is obvious and the only solution is to disable/not use it until a recall is issued. There were no warning lamps, etc. And the fuse didn’t blow, either. Problem has been reproduced.

Filed Mar 29, 2023 · Engine · AK · fire

I received a Recall notice in April 2022 regarding the PCV valve issue stating there was an issue and no fix was avaliable. The veichle caught fire in the drive way on 1/14/2023 and spred to the garage. 2 weeks after the fire on January 31, 2023 I received a fix is avalible notice.

Filed Feb 17, 2023 · Engine · CA

The contact owns a 2007 BMW X3. The contact stated that on various occasions when starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure recurred, and the vehicle was stalling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced, and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer; however, the contact was informed that the recall remedy would not be completed due to the failures and was advised to file a complaint with the federal safety agency hotline. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Sep 29, 2022 · Engine · 58,000 miles · NM

The contact owns a 2007 BMW X3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH, the coolant temperature and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact then noticed smoke coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle and he smelled a burning plastic odor. The contact and his family exited the vehicle. The contact opened the hood and sprinkled water to prevent a fire. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Apr 20, 2022 · Engine · 170,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2007 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle overheated. The contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood. There were no warning lights on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over safely. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

Filed Apr 7, 2022 · Engine, Steering · MI

I just purchased a bmw x3 2007 the 2nd week of March 2022. Immediately, after driving home and parking the car. I turned the car off and the car began to make a loud noise and the engine start smoking very bad. I contacted bmw via email, and was told that there is not a remedy to the recalls effecting my car. The bmw x3 2007 is my only form of transportation and bmw cannot fix the problem. This car can catch on fire or worse kill me and children in the fire in the car. After research this is an ongoing problem with bmw. Bmw should be liable for any damages caused my this recall. I have car that i cannot drive because it is not safe to drive, by no fault of my own.

Filed Mar 10, 2022 · KS · fire

I drove my 2007 bmw to work and got to work and I walked inside my job and clocked in maybe 5-10 of being inside a customer came inside and said a car was on fire 🔥 and it was my car on fire My boss called 911 and the fire department got there and put the fire out and called my insurance and got told to call bmw bc there was a recall on my vehicle

Filed Jan 27, 2022 · Seats · 180,000 miles · IN · fire

The contact owns a 2007 BMW X3. The contact stated that while the heated seat was in the on position the driver's side seat became extremely hot and caught fire. The fire burnt through the seat and left a hole. There were no reported injuries. The driver was able to extinguish the fire. The contact called the local dealer and left a message but, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Dec 2, 2021 · IL · fire

On November 21, 2021 Will I was in church my vehicle caught on fire while it was park and not running. Before I went into church I was waiting for my friend and his wife in the parking lot for about 20mins, just sitting there without the car running. I did not see any fire/smoke or even smell any smoke when I got out of the car. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Nov 17, 2020 · Seats · 173,350 miles · CT

While driving, I turned on the seat warmer. Within a few minutes, I smelled burning and my left thigh felt hot. I turned off the seat warmer and the smell abated. The resulting burn mark was left in the seat.

Filed Mar 11, 2020 · Seats · 107,000 miles · GA

The driver's side seat heater got excessivly hot and almost burnt my side. I could smell a burning smell so I turned it off. Now you can see the imprint of the coil through the leather seat. I've been in contact with michael pigoncelli at bmw north america and he suggested I file a complaint with the federal safety agency. You issued a recall for this exact problem in 2004 with the bmw 5 & 7 series. I feel the issue never got resolved and it is still a problem. There should never be an interior part of a car that could catch on fire and burn someone regarless of the age of the car. I tried to get united bmw to do a "goodwill" fix, but they wouldn't. Mr. Pigoncelli is reaching out to united bmw to have a free diagnostic test run on the seat heater to determine the problem and estimate to fix it, but I don't feel I should have to pay for the entire repair cost.