2016 BMW X3 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 11%of 82 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 43,462miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 BMW X3, 11% of the 82 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 43,462 miles.
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.
“My emergency brake keeps malfunctioning, I have been unable to use them for about 3 months now. Also starting around 2/20/21 when im at a red light for more than a minute and the light turns green, my transmission gets stuck and the car wont go, a warning sign comes on. Then I have to re put it in drive and can go.”
NHTSA complaint #11403050, filed 2021-03, 80,000 miles“Transmission - uncommanded change from drive to park the auto start/stop feature turns the car off when you stop and back on when you start. The fault is that it intermittently puts the transmission in park or neutral. It happens when you take your foot off the brake, while it is restarting the vehicle. It occasionally happens while you are just stopped and the engine restarts. Usually this is when you are trying to accelerate from a stop sign or traffic signal to get into traffic. …”
NHTSA complaint #11149963, filed 2018-11, 38,924 miles“While approaching a stoplight, braked, then went to accelerate and the vehicle totally shutdown and stopped while driving in traffic. This was a catastrophic failure, which could have killed both occupants of this vehicle. The check engine light was activated. Upon attempting to restart the vehicle to move it out of the way of traffic, the vehicle would not start. The transmission would not be placed in neutral nor could the parking brake be disengaged so the vehicle could be pushed out of the way of traffic. This was a very dangerous situation. …”
NHTSA complaint #11145186, filed 2018-11, 29,800 miles“A very dangerous and catastrophic situation is created when using the start/stop feature. When stopped at a traffic light or stopped in stop and go traffic on the highway this feature fails. Once this feature is engaged when the vehicle is stopped when the accelerator is pushed to start again the vehicle goes into park instead of accelerating. This presents a very dangerous and potentially catastrophic situation because you may be making a maneuver by acceleration to switch lanes or something similar and the car fails and goes into park and does not move. …”
NHTSA complaint #11129955, filed 2018-09, 48,000 miles“I have reached out to the manufacturer for a solution and they said to wait till there is a remedy. I’m scared to drive this car for fear that something could happen to me or my family.”
NHTSA complaint #11626359, filed 2024-11Related service bulletins
- 10204656Sep 1, 2021With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Gelis, et al. v…
- 10203331Sep 1, 2021BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the engine timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules to: 7 years/70,000 miles as determined by the…
- 10179810Aug 1, 2020N20 and N26 Differential Pressure Sensor Fault: 195002 Stored in DME: The Service Engine Soon (MIL) light is on with the following differential pressure sensor fault stored…
- 10175261Apr 1, 2020N47T/N57T EGR COOLER - LTD WTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS WITHOUT MILEAGE LIMIT: The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on.
- 10174009Apr 1, 2020TICKING NOISE WHILE CORNERING WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 3) replaces SI B34 05 17 dated September 2017. Ticking noise coming from…
- 10151077Feb 1, 2016This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI 12 33 14 dated December 2015. SUBJECT Fault Code 1D2008 Stored in DME. The Service Engine Soon light is on. Fault Code 1D2008: Map…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 11% |
| 2024 | 4 | 10% |
| 2023 | 1 | 7% |
| 2022 | 9 | 10% |
| 2021 | 5 | 4% |
| 2020 | 14 | 13% |
| 2019 | 7 | 4% |
| 2018 | 2 | 3% |
| 2017 | 2 | 2% |
| 2016 | 9 | 11% |
| 2015 | 9 | 9% |
| 2014 | 6 | 7% |
| 2013 | 60 | 27% |
| 2012 | 7 | 17% |
| 2011 | 23 | 20% |
| 2009 | 3 | 16% |
| 2008 | 5 | 8% |
| 2007 | 6 | 6% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 4 | 4% |
| 2004 | 11 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2016 BMW X3
23 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsTires
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 BMW X3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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