BMW Recalls Nearly 300,000 X3 SUVs Over Interior Cargo Rails That Can Detach in a Crash

A long row of unsold 2021 X3 sports-utility vehicles sits at a BMW dealership in Loveland, Colo., on March 28, 2021. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

BMW of North America has issued a recall of more than 291,000 SUVs in the United States because the interior cargo rail can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The recall covers certain X3 SUVs, including the X3 sDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M, from the 2018–23 model years, according to documents posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The luxury vehicle maker says approximately 291,112 vehicles were manufactured with rear cargo rails that can become damaged in a collision.

“This safety recall involves the attachment between the rear cargo rails and the vehicle body,” the Safety Recall Report states. “In an extreme rear crash, the attachment between the rear cargo rail and the vehicle body could become damaged.”

If the attachment becomes damaged the rail could separate from the body of the vehicle, increasing the chances of injury, the document explained.

BMW says dealers will replace the rear cargo rail bolts that attach to the vehicle body.

The company said it became aware of the problem nearly two years ago, following a crash involving a model year 2022 X3.

“At that time the owner, the owner retained legal counsel and, therefore, information regarding the incident could not be obtained,” the document reads.

In October 2023 and January 2024, BMW NA and BMW AG were, respectively, served with legal documents regarding the issue.

The documents don’t say whether anyone has been injured due to the problem. BMW did not immediately respond to a request for more information. 

Earlier this year, the company says it conducted a complete inspection of the vehicle involved in the crash and determined which vehicles were potentially affected by the defective part.

BMW said it would notify affected vehicle owners by letter on Aug. 30. Dealers were notified about the recall on July 17.

Earlier this week, Porsche issued a worldwide recall of more than 1,600 of its luxury Taycan electric vehicles after it discovered an issue with the car’s braking system in model years 2019 through 2024.

“Due to a manufacturing defect, the front brake hoses may be defective,” the Australian Department of Transport warned on its website. “A reduction in braking performance could increase the risk of an accident, causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”

Owners of the Taycan are encouraged to contact their local dealership to schedule the repair.

There have been multiple previous recalls on the Taycan including two in May involving an issue with the cell modules in the high-voltage battery.

Crystal-Rose Jones and the Associated Press contributed to this report.