2015 BMW X3: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 23, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · NJ · fire

Vehicle was idle in the driveway next to my home and had not been driven since the night before. That morning, I started to smell what I thought was an electronic overheat of some sort in the house. When I inspected outside, the entire front end of the vehicle was on fire and the fire department needed to respond. The fire spread rapidly along the side of my home causing significant damage to my property as well as my neighbor's property. Our safety was put at risk because this fire could have occurred overnight while my wife, children and I were sleeping since the vehicle was not being operated at the time the fire happened. Representatives from my insurance company removed the vehicle and had it inspected at their facility, where they determined the vehicle to be a total loss as the entire front half of the car burned. Further, I did not receive notice of the known recall on my vehicle (with no know remedy as yet) which could be the cause of the fire, until a week after the incident occurred in October.

Filed Jan 23, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 50,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, there was a burning odor coming through the vents on the dashboard. The contact stated that she had not observed any warning lights being illuminated. The contact stated that the odor was intermittent but had been occurring for almost 4 months. The contact had stopped driving the vehicle out of concern that the vehicle might catch on fire. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted. The contact was advised by the dealer that a second letter would be sent when parts were available for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jan 16, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · GA · fire

The vehicle was driven 30 miles and parked at 9am weather was in the 30s-40s F. There were no check engine light, warning lights or abnormal readings on the gauges during the commute. At approximately noon, the vehicles was started and idled for approximately 20 min, it was not driven or moved from the parking spot, the car did not reach full operating temp. Smoke with a burnt plastic and electrical odor was noted emanating from under the hood while parked idling. The car was immediately shut off and exited. The driver went inside to get help. After returning to the vehicle in approximately 5minutes it was fully engulfed in flames. The fire department came to put out the fire. The vehicle is a total loss. The fire damaged adjoining vehicles and the property where it was parked. The vehicle was towed back to my residence where it remains for evidence. Upon review of BMW recall 24v-608 i performed an inspection of the water pump electrical connection plug and identified there is evidence of an electrical short on the plug which appears to have burnt through the connector prior to the major engine compartment fire. I have contacted BMW to file a complain and have followed up multiple times with the point of contact identified to me by BMW, but have been unsuccessful to date to establish communications with the BMW representative.

Filed Jun 7, 2023 · Fuel system · 117,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The contact stated while her husband was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle started to decelerate independently. The driver stated that he started to smell a smoke odor inside the cabin of the vehicle and saw smoke coming from under the hood. The contact stated that no visible flames were seen. The contact stated that the drive train warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road and exit the vehicle safely. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler, the valve cover, and intake manifold was melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

Filed Dec 14, 2022 · Engine · CA

the federal safety agency Recall Number 21V907 It has been over a year since I received notification that there was a recall on my vehicle. I have contacted BMW for this to be repaired several times, but the local dealer always says, "We're sorry, there aren't any parts available for your recall." This recall is NOT being performed in a timely manner and based on my interpretation of the recall notice that keeps appearing in my mailbox every few months, my car may burst into flames at any moment. I'm living in fear. Please help.

Filed Sep 27, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · 76,000 miles · NC · fire

The contact owned a 2015 BMW X3. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 65 MPH with her in the front passenger seat, the vehicle stalled. A message indicating a power train malfunction was displayed. The contact's husband was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact noticed dark smoke coming through the AC vents. The contact stated upon opening the hood, her husband saw fire. The contact immediately exited the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. However, the engine compartment and the front passenger's side end of the vehicle had melted. A fire department was filed. There was no police report filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

When driving for more than 10 minutes I am noticing smoke coming from the near the engine compartment and strong smell of burning plastic. It smells and appears as if something will catch on fire if I don’t shut off the vehicle. A similar issue was previously reported for older models, which had led to a recall. In that recall the problem stemmed from a manufacturing defect involving the PCV valve heater, which helps recirculate waste gases within the engine. The heater could short-circuit, overheat, and catch fire. This defect is now effecting my own vehicle, which is a 2015 BMW X3.

Filed Apr 21, 2022 · Fuel system · 69,000 miles · MA · fire

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The contact stated that while the family was sitting inside the vehicle with the engine idling, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with an EGR valve failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) for which the VIN was included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000. (RECALLRELATED INCIDENT) TS

Filed Oct 25, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 76,000 miles · MI · fire

Bmw diesel recall - while driving on highway my vehicle caught fire and burned. The car is a total loss. There was no warning lights when the car was started to indicate anything was wrong. The car lost power at 72 MPH and my husband was able to get the car to the shoulder of the highway.

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 90,000 miles · FL · fire

On march 4, 2018, while at a red light at an intersection in boca raton, fl, all of sudden, no warning, my bmw x3 started to smell of smoke, then smoke started to come out of the hood. I had to barely make it to the side of the road, leave it at an entrance of a plaza, which then began to smoke overwhelmingly. Once I made it out of the car, the flames came out of the hood and the car became fully engulfed within seconds.

Filed Nov 17, 2017 · VA

Burning smell , inside and out side