Nearly 300k BMW X3 Vehicles Recalled Over Detaching Cargo Rails

BMW first learned of the potential problem in August 2022, but was unable to inspect the affected vehicle until this Spring.

Federal highway safety officials have announced a recall impacting nearly 300,000 BMW SUV’s that are equipped with cargo rails inside the vehicles, which may detach in the event of a crash, posing a serious injury for vehicle occupants.

The interior cargo rails are metal bars that are used to secure cargo in the affected vehicles. If the rails become detached in an accident, they themselves could pose an injury risk to vehicle occupants, or the cargo they were securing could become loose and also pose an injury risk.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the BMW X3 recall on July 23, after identifying incidents where the cargo rails became dislodged following a rear-end accident.

BMW Cargo Rail Investigation

BMW first became aware there may be a potential problem in August 2022, following a crash involving a model year 2022 BMW X3. However, at that time the owner retained legal counsel, and information regarding the incident could not be obtained.

According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, the vehicle was not made available to BMW for an engineering inspection until March 26, 2024, and no other accidents or incidents had been reported in connection to the problem.

Between April and June, BMW’s investigative team conducted thorough analyses of the technical details obtained from vehicle inspections. They examined crash test protocols, simulation routines, engineering data, production configurations, and assembly information. Utilizing this data, they identified the quantity and production dates of vehicles likely to be affected.

This analysis ultimately prompted BMW to recall approximately 291,112 vehicles this month, including certain 2018-2023 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles.

Owners will be notified by first class mail around August 30, which will instruct owners to schedule an appointment at any authorized dealer to replace the bolts on the cargo rail attachment for free. Owners who have already fixed this issue may be eligible for reimbursement.

Owners can reach BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 for assistance. Additionally, they may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov.