While driving on a two-lane 40 MPH road in the left lane the vehicle suddenly lost power, stopped in traffic, and displayed a transmission warning message. Multiple warning lights were "on" and the car would not restart. Additionally, the vehicle would not come out of "Park." Occupants needed to await police who stopped traffic in order for occupants to be able to exit the vehicle safely. The vehicle was towed to BMW of Atlantic City located at [XXX]. Technician found ground missing at EGS, inspected ground strap on transmission and found it severely corroded. Technician replaced ground strap and vehicle was repaired. Was advised by dealer service department that when this situation occurs, the only way to get the transmission into neutral in an emergency is to disconnect the transmission linkage under the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2016 BMW X3 electrical problems
23 complaints (28% of all complaints for this car).
- owner complaints
- 23
- of this car's complaints
- 28%
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
BMW X3 electrical problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 BMW X3 electrical
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Electrical system: wiring: connectors/plugs/receptacles
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 24V608000 · Recall details
What 2016 BMW X3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2016 BMW X3. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair and stated that since the vehicle was manufactured in Canada, the recall repair could not be performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The low-pressure fuel temperature/pressure sensor failed internally, causing diesel fuel to intrude via capillary action into the engine wiring harness and ultimately contaminate the Digital Diesel Electronics (DDE) control unit (ECU). The failed components (sensor, harness, DDE) are available for inspection upon request at BMW of Loveland, CO. My safety was put at risk in two primary ways: Engine Stalling Risk: The DDE is the engine control unit. As the fuel contaminated the electrical connections, the engine's reliability was compromised, creating a significant risk of sudden engine stalling while driving in traffic or at high speeds. Fire Hazard: The intrusion of diesel fuel—a combustible fluid—directly into the electrical wiring harness and the DDE created a clear fire hazard. Fuel near active electrical components poses a serious safety risk. Inaccurate Temperature Readings: The EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) sensor received incorrect readings due to the DDE/wiring issue, leading to potential engine damage due to excessively high exhaust temperatures. The problem has been confirmed by BMW of Loveland. The Service Director and their technical team identified the root cause in less than one day and confirmed it requires the replacement of the sensor, harness, and DDE. This was also validated by an internal BMW technical support case (TSARA). Gebhardt BMW failed to diagnose the issue correctly over three prior attempts starting in June 2023 through Aug 2025. Prior symptoms appeared over a period of months and included: Intermittent check engine light/MIL. Multiple, confusing diagnostic fault codes (related to air mass, charging pressure, and DPF efficiency). Increased frequency of DPF regeneration intervals.
The contact owns a 2016 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 not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The complete A/C unit has completely gone out and I am just now getting notice after almost a year of a coolant pump recall that could potentially create a fire hazard. I am told that to date a remedy has still not been available.
The contact owns a 2016 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 not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The electric water pump, has shorted internally , even with the vehicle off , this caused the battery to run down.
The contact owns a 2016 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 dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 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 dealer was not contacted. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 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 not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Questions about the 2016 BMW X3 electrical
Does the 2016 BMW X3 have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 23 complaints about the electrical of the 2016 BMW X3, 28% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 BMW X3 electrical problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2016 BMW X3 electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 24V608000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW X3 have the most electrical problems?
The BMW X3 model years with the most electrical complaints are 2019 (47 complaints), 2020 (35 complaints) and 2021 (35 complaints).
Other 2016 BMW X3 problems
Engine 31Brakes 10Fuel system 10Transmission 9Seat belts 6Acceleration 4Airbags 4Steering 3Body 2Tires 2Wheels 2Lights 1
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