Most common 2017 BMW X3 problems
Share of the 92 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW X3 complaints by model year
Best X3 years: 2023, 2012, 2014. Years to avoid: 2021, 2019, 2025, 2020, 2013. Compare all years →
2017 BMW X3 recalls (6)
Electrical system › Wiring › Connectors/plugs/receptacles
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.
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.
Fuel system, diesel
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755.
Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge.
Steering › Electric power assist system
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling one model year 2017 BMW X3 xDrive 28i vehicle manufactured on June 7, 2016. This vehicle has electronic power steering (EPS), and the contact pins on the EPS control unit may not have been welded properly resulting in increased resistance.
Remedy: The vehicle was repaired at the dealership before sale. Therefore, an owner notification notice will not be issued for this campaign. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Child seat › Latch strap
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2017 BMW X3:
High pressure fuel pump failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2017 BMW X3 owners say
Engine & cooling all 39 →
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA 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 contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact used the parking brake to assist while stopping the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the brake pads needed to be replaced. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, the chassis failure and traction control failure warning lights light illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic and was diagnosed with brake failure. The contact was unsure of the parts that needed to be replaced to repair the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and while the vehicle was idling, the engine was running loudly. The vehicle was taken to Whitt's Auto Service Center, where an unknown repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The check engine and the coolant temperature warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer and another dealer, BMW of Montgomery (731 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117) were 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. …
Electrical system all 30 →
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA 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 contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact used the parking brake to assist while stopping the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the brake pads needed to be replaced. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, the chassis failure and traction control failure warning lights light illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the mechanic and was diagnosed with brake failure. The contact was unsure of the parts that needed to be replaced to repair the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and while the vehicle was idling, the engine was running loudly. The vehicle was taken to Whitt's Auto Service Center, where an unknown repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The check engine and the coolant temperature warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer and another dealer, BMW of Montgomery (731 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117) were 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. …
Fuel & propulsion system
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated, but the message "Fuel Pump Fault" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel pump and fuel control module regulator wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V586000 (Fuel System, Diesel); but the VIN was not included. …
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) 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 contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine coolant warning light illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2017 BMW X3 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 BMW X3 a good car?
Based on 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 X3 rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the X3 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 BMW X3?
The engine & cooling — 39 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (30) and fuel & propulsion system (17).
How many recalls does the 2017 BMW X3 have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2017 BMW X3, the most recent from August 13, 2024 (connectors/plugs/receptacles). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW X3?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2012 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2019, 2025, 2020 and 2013. See the full BMW X3 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 BMW X3 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 70% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.