2017 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 73 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 2 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 3, 2022
When I was driving on suburban roads with speed limit of 45 mph, I received a waring from my vehicle saying "engine high temperature, drive moderately". After sometime, it said "engine overheated stop carefully". During the first warning, I felt loss of acceleration power and during the second warning I felt completely no power in acceleration that too when I was yielding for a left turn which was life threatening, luckily the oncoming traffic slowed down. Otherwise I would have ended up in life threatening crash. During both warnings, I checked the engine temperature gauge in the instrument cluster and the engine temperature was not even 50% of the maximum temperature in the gauge. After the warning, I slowly made it to a nearby parking lot and opened the hood and did not physically feel any excessive heat for an engine not to function. I regularly service my vehicle and my vehicle is not due for any kind of service for the next 2000 mile as per the onboard vehicle status. The next day I started the vehicle to help it to climb the tow truck ramp and at that time, for the very first time I received a warning saying engine coolant is very low. I have never received this warning since I have owned the car until then. I have two concerns, 1. The temperature gauge did not show a high temperature, only 24 hours after the electronic engine high heat notification, the low coolant warning came in which is weird and my vehicle isn't due for any service. 2. None of the above should result in a sudden loss of acceleration power which could have resulted in a fatal crash in my case. I'm a mechanical engineer with a strong background in automotive occupant safety (airbags/seatbelts) and that's why I see this a very serious incident that needs to be looked into so that it doesn't occur for anyone else in the future.
Engine, May 16, 2022
My BMW had a pinhole in the radiator caused by driving on the highway and being impacted by a small foreign object. Apparently a foreign object (rock?) impacted the radiator creating a tiny leak. BMW repaired the vehicle (new radiator) and installed a "Rock Guard" without discussing this new Guard with me. Rock Guard Part # 17-11-8-185-042. This $1,900 repair is a known defect in the design which is why BMW adds the Rock Guard when replacing radiators. After the repair, research indicates this is a common issue for this model car. Loss of coolant could have resulted in an overheated engine leading to vehicle damage or possible failure of the engine while driving. There were not any warnings provided by the vehicle's systems due to the loss of coolant from the pinhole in the radiator. The symptom that lead to the discovery was the air conditioning system stopped cooling. The loss of the ability to cool the engine stops the AC from working. Taking the car in for service for the AC is what lead to the discovery of the leak in the radiator.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 24, 2022
Water pump keeps going bad 2nd time replacing in 2 years rough idle and failed part problems that BMW service team does not understand. Vehicle has stalled at 0 rpm I'm thinking there is an issue with the engine also reported by previous owner and I also have the same complaints, as well the foot release which I was was told was an option never worked. Please search vin [XXX] for all incident reports with this vehicle. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 22, 2022
On February 5, 2022 while driving on 70 mph on I64 my vehicle shut down due to the recall causing the the high-pressure fuel pump to shut down causing the engine to stall and a message that there was a powertrain malfunction and the vehicle would not start back or go into gear. The interstate was very busy and I could have been hit by a tractor trailer or another vehicle at high speed. I received a recall notice that stated there was a remedy available November 2021, but when I called the dealership I was told there were no parts available and they would call me when parts became available. A month went by and the issue with the recall happened leaving me in a very dangerous situation. The car was towed to Moses BMW on 2/6/22 and over 30 parts have been ordered. I have been told that there is no estimate on when the parts would arrive. There is a second safety recall with no remedy that has been present October 2018 and Moses BMW sold me the vehicle in June 2020. I received a notice January 2022. This recall is for the EGR Cooler developing an internal leak possibly causing the vehicle to catch fire. I have asked BMW to buy the vehicle back due to safety reasons and the long wait time to fix the one recall and no fix for the other, and they refuse. In addition, they sold me a vehicle that was under recall and according to S.1634 - Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act that was against the law.
Engine, Mar 16, 2021
EVERYTIME I START UP THE ENGINE, THE IDLE IS IN HIGH RPM LIKE 1200-1300RPM EVEN IT IS WARMED AND THEN GRADUALLY GOES BACK TO NORMAL AFTER A MINUTE. AND IN COLD START THERE IS A LOUD THUD SOUND UNDER THE CAR AND SEEMS LIKE THE CAR ENGAGE AND THEN DISENGAGE, ONLY IN COLD START.
Engine, Apr 7, 2020
WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, LIQUID FROM THE WATER PUMP CAUSED THE FILER TO BE DAMAGED AND RESULTS IN A FIRE SMELL THROUGHOUT THE CARE. *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 18, 2019
WHILE THE CAR WAS PLUGGED IN OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE, (IT IS A HYBRID), A TERRIBLE ODOR WAS RELEASED AND CARBON MONOXIDE WAS DETECTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TWICE (THIS OCCURRED TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW) AND DETECTED HIGH LEVELS OF CO FROM INSIDE THE CAR AND FROM THE HOOD. WE NEEDED TO EVACUATE THE HOUSE EACH TIME. GAS COMPANY AND PLUMBER CONFIRMED THERE WAS NO OTHER ISSUES IN GARAGE. UPON REMOVAL OF THE CAR, ISSUES NO LONGER PERSIST. BMW CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT I REFUSE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK, GIVEN SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, TURNED OFF, LOCKED, AND CHARGING OVERNIGHT.
Engine, Jul 22, 2019
RECALL CAMPAIGN # 18V-755 EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR). I HAD WAITED 7 MONTHS TO GET THE FIX COMPLETED. I WROTE A LETTER TO THE CEO OF BMW USA. THEY HAD A REPRESENTATIVE ASSIGNED TO MY CASE. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY AND GAVE THEN 30 DAYS TO FIX IT WHICH EXPIRED ON JULY 15TH. THEY INSPECTED IT WHICH DOESN'T SHOW FAILURE BUT IT IS STILL A CONCERN AS IT SAYS - "IT WOULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A FIRE". THEY STILL DON'T HAVE A FIX THAT HAS BEEN BROADLY ROLLED OUT. I AM IN FEAR OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO BUY BACK MY VEHICLE AS I AM THE ORIGINAL LESSEE. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS THEY ARE PRIORITIZING THE FIXES TO THEIR RESALE VEHICLES AND NOT VEHICLES ALREADY ON THE ROAD. IF YOU NEED COPIES OF MY CORRESPONDENCES WITH BMW I WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT. *JS
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 25, 2019
RECEIVED LETTER FROM BMW IN THE FALL OF 2018 STATING THE NATURE OF THE RECALL AND THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER 2018. AS OF THIS MORNING, PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND WAS TOLD IT'S AT LEAST 3-4 WEEKS AWAY. IS THIS TYPICAL WAIT TIME TO ADDRESS RECALL ISSUES?
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 30, 2016
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WITH TWO PASSENGERS AND THE CAR SUDDENLY BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. I MANAGED TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD ON A VERY BUSY STREET. I CONTACTED BMW AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THE YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. I COULD NOT GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. AFTER ABOUT 15 MIN THE CAR STARTED AND I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO MY HOUSE WHICH WAS CLOSE TO WHERE IT DIED ON THE ROAD. A TOW TRUCK IS ON ITS WAY TO BRING IT TO FLEMINGTON BMW. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 5:05 PM TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS (TAWNY) WHO PROVIDED ME WITH YOUR WEBSITE. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO SERVICE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULT CODES WITH THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONALLY FINE. THEY ASKED IF I MIGHT HAVE ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE CAR OFF WHILE DRIVING. BMW TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE BUT THIS COULD BE DETERMINED THROUGH ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. I TOLD BMW THAT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT UNLESS THEY CAN DETERMINE WITH CERTAINTY WHAT IS WRONG. HAD I BEEN UNABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON BOTH INSTANCES WHEN IT BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND COULD NOT BE MOVED INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MIN BEFORE IT STARTED UP AGAIN.