- BMW issued a recalle for the 2025 X3 because a major suspension component was machined incorrectly.
- The swivel bearing assembly, or carrier, was found to have an oversized hole where the strut attaches and could crack.
- Fortunately, only two examples of the new-for-2025 X3 are affected and will have their carriers replaced at dealerships.
BMW’s all-new 2025 X3 has only just gone on sale in the US, but for some owners that smug new-car feeling is about to be ruined by a letter telling them there’s a dangerous problem with their SUVs.
The combustion-powered X3 was discovered to have been built with badly machined suspension swivel hubs, which is the bit all of the front suspension parts attach to and which turns with the wheel. You might also know it as the upright, knuckle, carrier, or some other name, but the main thing to know is that it’s a crucial bit of load-bearing equipment.
Related: BMW’s Massive Global Recall Could Cost Nearly $1 Billion
Technicians noticed during the assembly process that some of the left-hand swivel hubs weren’t right, and that the hole in the aluminum casting where the strut drops in was too large. There’s a lot of stress going into those carriers and BMW reasoned that over time the fault could lead to the component cracking and impacting the handling and controllability of the SUV. In a worst-case scenario, it could cause a driver to crash.
Thankfully there are no reports of that happening to any 2025 X3 owner, and when BMW checked its production records with logs from the parts supplier it realized that only two vehicles had been fitted with the dodgy carrier.
Unlike some automakers, which can take years to greenlight a fix after discovering a problem, BMW has been fairly quick to act. It identified the fault On November 7 and notified dealers of the recall on December 5, though it’s still not contacting the affected owners until January. Those owners will have to take their X3s in for a full replacement of the suspension carrier.
The fourth-generation X3 made its debut in June of this year bringing standard mild-hybrid power and BMW’s latest curved dashboard display. There are no EV powertrains though – if you want one of those you’ll have to wait until the iX3 arrives next year, marking the arrival of BMW’s Neue Klasse platform and styling previewed by the Vision Neue Klasse X concept.
