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2009 Bmw X3 Fuel System Problems

7 owner-reported fuel system complaints from NHTSA data

7
Complaints
1
Fires
Apr 2019Sep 2018
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (7)

criticalFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2019

Your car has stalled suddenly multiple times over the past 4 months. After the mechanic replaced the fuel pump once, the stalling happened again, and a second mechanic inspection found no problems — yet the car stalled again while you were driving on the highway. This recurring issue needs proper diagnosis to identify the root cause, as it could be related to the fuel system or engine components.

NHTSA #: 11197032
highFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2018

You drove your car 3 hours to a BMW dealership for scheduled recall work with no problems. By the end of the day, the dealership called to say your car was overheating and not drivable, claiming the water pump wasn't working. You're concerned the dealership may have caused this issue during the recall service, since your car ran fine when you dropped it off. Resolving this will likely require the dealership to inspect the water pump and cooling system to determine what happened during the service.

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NHTSA #: 11132392
highFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2018

Your fuel injectors have started leaking and become faulty, causing your engine to misfire. BMW issued a recall for similar problems on other 2009 X3s with the same engine, but the company has refused to cover your car under that recall. You'll likely need to have the fuel injectors inspected, cleaned, or replaced to fix the misfiring.

NHTSA #: 11113924
highFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2018

Your car has repeatedly stalled on the freeway, displaying a fuel pump warning message. The first mechanic found the tank empty, but after refueling and a fuel tank sensor replacement, the problem returned multiple times over several months. The issue appears to be a faulty fuel tank sensor giving incorrect gas level readings, causing your car to shut down even when fuel may be present.

NHTSA #: 11103364
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2015

WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION ENGINE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK CAR TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND THE PUMP AND TANK HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA #: 10744390
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN
FireFiled: Jul 2011

2009 BMW 328I WITH 17K MILES MALFUNCTIONED CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED. I WAS INJURED BY THE FIRE GETTING OUT. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS VEHICLE FIRE CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF THE CAR THERE WAS ADDITIONAL 20K PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE. IT WAS NOT CAUSED BY COLLISION OR OPERATOR ERROR. ON 15 NOV 2010 APPROX 7: 30PM AFTER ABOUT 8 MINS OF DRIVING MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THE SES LIGHT CAME ON. IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS I PULLED OVER OFF OF THE SHOULDER IN THE GRASS. THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP I TOOK MY FLASH LIGHT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD.I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING OR NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. AFTER A LITTLE TIME THE CAR STARTED BACK UP, THE SES LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON. IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE, I WAS OUT OF STATE AND BMW WAS CLOSED SO I TURNED BACK. I DROVE APPROX 1 BLOCK TO A DRIVEWAY WHERE I STOPPED AND CALLED MY HUSBAND TO SAY I WOULD NOT COME HOME UNTIL MY CAR COULD BE SEEN. I BEGAN TO DRIVE BACK TOWARDS LONGVIEW, TX. I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AT ABOUT 50 MPH MY CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE ENGINE MADE A LOAD NOISE AND THE RPM GAUGE WENT UP TO 7000 RPMS I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND NEEDED TO PULL OVER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED AT APPROX 40 MPH I PUT THE CAR IN 4TH GEAR AND IT REDLINED AGAIN. I PUT IT BACK INTO NEUTRAL THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR. STILL COASTING IN TRAFFIC I GOT OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I COULD . IT DIED ON TOP OF A BRIDGE WITH A NARROW SHOULDER. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHILE TALKING TO THEM I SEEN FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL AREA. WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I UNDID MY SEAT BELT OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND JUMPED OUT ONLY MY CELL IN HAND. THERE WAS A WALL OF FLAMES TALLER THAN ME I GOT BURNED GETTING AWAY FROM THE CAR I RAN THROUGH THE FLAMES INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE WHEN I HEARD THE 1ST EXPLOSION AND THE 2ND AS I RAN OFF OF THE BRIDGE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10412296
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: May 2010

2009 BMW 335I, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. 9500 MILES ON VEHICLE. ENGINE IS SLOW TO START. WHILE DRIVING AND RPM ABOVE 3000, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE REDUCES POWER SIGNIFICANTLY. IF PUMP WERE TO FAIL COMPLETELY, ENGINE WOULD DIE, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM ON HIGHWAYS WITH DENSE TRAFFIC. AFTER READING INTERNET BLOGS ON VEHICLE, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR BMW N54 ENGINES. SOME DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE PUMP REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH SAME OUTCOME EACH TIME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10333875

Other 2009 Bmw X3 Issues