Cargo rails are crucial for keeping loads secure and preventing heavy luggage from moving into the front seat area during sudden braking. However, BMW identified a potential issue where these rails might break off in the event of a heavy rear-end collision, posing a risk of injury.
A total of 291,112 X3s, built between March 2017 and September 2022 for the 2018-2023 model years, are subject to the recall. These vehicles will need to be returned to dealership service centers to have their cargo rail securing bolts replaced.
BMW emphasizes that the risk of the rails detaching is minimal and would only occur in a severe rear-end impact. The primary concern is not the rails themselves breaking free, but rather the possibility of any secured load coming loose.
The issue was first noted by BMW in August 2022 following a crash involving a 2022 model year X3. However, the vehicle could not be inspected for over 18 months as the owner was pursuing a legal case against BMW. Additional cases were filed in October 2023 and January 2024, and BMW engineers finally analyzed the SUV in March 2024, leading to the recall this month.
Prior to the recall announcement, some users on the X3 forum on Bimmerpost shared that their deliveries of pre-owned X3s were halted in July because BMW had stopped all sales until the issue was resolved.
Source: Carscoops
