2013 BMW X3 defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 2013 BMW X3. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  Engineering Analysis EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · still open

  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…

• Loss of power assist braking
  Preliminary Evaluation PE13030 · opened Sep 6, 2013 · closed Oct 25, 2013 · led to recall 13V454000

  In a letter dated September 26, 2013, BMW Group submitted a safety recall notice to NHTSA identifying a defect condition in the vacuum pump oil supply that may result in loss of power assist braking in 76,191 model year (MY) 2012 through 2014 BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, X1 SAV, X3 SAV, and Z4 vehicles equipped with 4-cylin…