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Air bagsPart report

2016 BMW X3 Air bags Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
5%of 82 total for the year
Median mileage
14,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 BMW X3, 5% of the 82 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“2016 Bmw X3 xdrive28 I I pulled into a friend's driveway and applied the brakes approximately 2 feet from the closed garage door. My car leapt into the side of the house, then careened into the garage door. The car accelerated with such force that both airbags were deployed. I am sure that I did not hit the accelerator by accident. At the close proximity to the garage I could not have accelerated to cause such a violent crash that deployed the airbags. My car was declared a total loss . This was one of the more frightening experiences of my life. It all happened in a split second. …”

NHTSA complaint #11035564, filed 2017-10, 14,500 miles

“I had pulled into a parking lot traveling very slowly then turned left into a parking space with my foot on brake but just before coming to a complete stop the car suddenly surged forward at great speed, leapt over a concrete log designed to stop a vehicle and crashed into a concrete wall 3 feet in front of the car. My first reaction was to lift my foot from the pedal thinking I had depressed the accelerator in error, however the car increased speed and I just had time to glance down and ascertain that my foot was on the brake before the car plowed into the wall, deploying the air bags. …”

NHTSA complaint #10991289, filed 2017-05, 11,500 miles

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202615%
202425%
202245%
202111%
202087%
201942%
201857%
201778%
201645%
20151010%
2014910%
201384%
20121229%
201154%
20101031%
2009947%
20083248%
20073738%
20067653%
20053029%
20043223%

Other parts of the 2016 BMW X3

Electrical system
23 complaints
Engine cooling
18 complaints
Engine
13 complaints
Other or unknown
13 complaints
Brakes
10 complaints
Fuel system
10 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
9 complaints
Seat belts
6 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Body and structure
2 complaints
Tires
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 BMW X3

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology