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2018 Bmw X3 Electrical Problems

15 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

15
Complaints
2
Recalls
Jan 2026Nov 2018
Date Range

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

Electrical Recalls (2)

RECALLCampaign #20V152000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i, and 2018-2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3M vehicles. The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

RECALLCampaign #17V719000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive, M2, and X3 xDrive 30i SAV vehicles. These vehicles may have an error in the software for the instrument panel, causing the display to not properly illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Owner Complaints (15)

highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jan 2026

On two separate occasions during very cold weather (below 20°F), your dashboard instrument cluster goes completely dark and stops working, leaving you unable to see your speed, engine RPM, fuel level, engine temperature, or mileage. Your turn signals also stop working during these episodes, though your headlights, iDrive screen, and climate control continue to function normally. Restarting the car doesn't fix the problem, but the dashboard returns to normal operation after the car sits in a warmer garage overnight. The issue appears to be temperature-related and may involve the dashboard's electrical connections or power supply needing inspection and possible repair.

NHTSA #: 11708423
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jul 2025

Your headlights are flashing on and off, which the owner believes may be caused by a faulty headlight switch. This is a safety concern because it could affect your visibility and potentially distract other drivers on the road. The fix would likely involve inspecting and possibly replacing the headlight switch.

NHTSA #: 11677099
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Sep 2025

Your daytime running lights stopped working, similar to a problem that occurred about 4 years earlier and was fixed under warranty. BMW is now refusing to cover the repair on your 7-year-old vehicle, leaving you to pay out of pocket. The repair will likely involve replacing the daytime running light bulbs or the headlight assembly.

NHTSA #: 11686663
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Sep 2025

Your left front daytime running lights have failed for the third time in 7 years, even after a warranty replacement less than 4 years ago. This repeated failure suggests a potential electrical or design issue with the daytime running light assembly on the driver's side of your vehicle. The fix will likely involve replacing the daytime running light unit and investigating the underlying electrical problem to prevent future failures.

NHTSA #: 11686664
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2025

My 2018 BMW X3 xdrive30i G01 series has been experiencing persistent overheating issues, even in cold temperatures as low as 40 degrees. The coolant reservoir boils vigorously while driving, but the temperature gauge does not indicate overheating, and no warning lights appear. The only alert displayed is a low coolant warning instructing to refill coolant or to top off. Recently, I noticed coolant and other fluids leaking from underneath the vehicle, along with a strong burning smell coming from the engine. Adding BMW brand antifreeze/coolant did not resolve the issue. Despite these ongoing issues, the authorized BMW dealership has refused to inspect the cooling system further because no fault codes appear. Independent repair shops have also been unable to diagnose the root cause. This presents a serious safety risk. The vehicle is overheating without warning, which could result in sudden engine failure while driving. The boiling coolant, burning smell, and fluid leaks also raise concerns about a potential fire hazard. This vehicle is now undrivable and unsafe. I urge NHTSA to immediately investigate potential cooling system and sensor defects in this model.

NHTSA #: 11648858
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2025

When the temperature is cold, the instrument cluster won’t turn on.

NHTSA #: 11636949
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2025

Digital dashboard which show speed, RPM, fuel, temp and other important information randomly goes blank while driving. It will come back on by itself or after restarting the car. This has happened many times.

NHTSA #: 11634837
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2024

The sos antenna in our x3 had a leak around the seal due to a poor design. Over time the tcb got corroded and caused an sos system malfunction. I have researched other cases in which a malfunction had not popped up, but still replicated the same issues as with the warning. Part of the module is the automatic sos help, if one were to get into an accident and rely on this system not realizing it was faulty, it could result in much slower response times if said person were unable to access a phone able to call proper emergency response teams.

NHTSA #: 11606354
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Feb 2024

2018 BMW X3 M40i - after the car was washed in a car wash, the tailgate started opening and closing on its own. Would open all the way up, wait a few seconds then close all the way down and lock itself. It happened about 20 times until it stopped on its own. This started immediately after the car was parked in the garage. Did not happen while driving. The button on the remote control was not pressed at all. The tailgate would beep and flash the taillights when opening and closing.

NHTSA #: 11573659
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2023

The trunk on the vehicle can be opened while on the freeway. If you bump the trunk open switch or key fob button the trunk will open even when the car is in motion leading to personal belongings being thrown all over the road. This is a massive issue that should have been caught and fixed immediately.

NHTSA #: 11534844
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2021

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. IT RESTARTED ITSELF AFTER SOME 30 SECONDS. WHEN IT REAPPEARS IT DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT SPEED, IT STARTS AT 0 AND WORKS ITS WAY UP TO THE CORRECT SPEED. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A PICTURE OF THE DASHBOARD AS IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS THIS CAR HAD PREVIOUS DASHBOARD PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH SLIDING TO THE LEFT. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR CORRECTION. THIS IS DIFFERENT. IT IS A MOMENTARY COMPLETE DASH FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 11387846
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2020

DIGITAL IMAGE OF SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEEDLES SHIFTED TO THE LEFT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY READ THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. CONSISTENT WHEN VEHICLE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION; NEEDLE POSITION WOULD CHANGE WHILE IN MOTION AND CHANGING SPEEDS BUT MAJORITY OF "NEEDLE" NOT VISIBLE. DID NOT RESET AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. DID RESET AFTER A FEW DAYS.

NHTSA #: 11366680
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Jun 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW X3. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE REARVIEW CAMERA SPONTANEOUSLY BLACKED OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE BMW CLEAR LAKE (400 GULF FWY S, LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573, (281) 557-7000) WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMERA NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,600.

NHTSA #: 11217855
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Nov 2018

AS I WAS MAKING A 10 MINUTE DRIVE, ON A HIGHWAY ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE DARK, IT JUST STARTED TO SNOW. SUDDENLY ALL OF THE FRONT SENSORS STARTED TO FLASH "TROUBLE" ON THE DASH. I CHECKED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND ICE HAD FORMED OVER THE SENSORS AND HEADLIGHTS. THAT RENDERED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE DARK SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT SHINE THROUGH THE ICE. AS FOR THE DISTANCE SENSORS, I GUESS THAT IS A DESIGH FLAW AS A FUNCTION OF HOW SNOW PASSES OVER THE SENSORS. I BELIEVE THAT THE LED HEADLIGHTS DO NOT GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO PREVENT ICE FROM FORMING ON THE LENS OF THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA #: 11153096
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT SPEED. THE DEALER (GAULT AUTO SPORT BMW, 2311 NORTH ST, ENDICOTT, NY 13760, (607) 748-9875) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,900.

NHTSA #: 11119677

Other 2018 Bmw X3 Issues