The issue stems from a defect found in the design of the rear-row headrests.
BMW has announced a new service campaign involving the X3 crossover. The recall covers three versions of the model built between August 5, 2024, and May 20, 2025, totaling 609 vehicles. According to the company, a flaw was discovered in the construction of the rear headrests: during assembly, the left and right outboard headrests were installed incorrectly, leaving the internal pins improperly secured.
This kind of production error can weaken the headrest’s mounting. In a crash or a sudden impact, that could mean the rear passenger’s head doesn’t get the level of protection it should, raising the likelihood of injury. To fix the issue, BMW dealers will replace both outboard headrests and the entire rear-seat assembly with new components that meet all safety standards. The work will be performed at no cost to owners.
So far, there have been no reports of failures or accidents connected to the defect. Even so, BMW has chosen to act early rather than wait for problems to surface, aiming to ensure X3 owners can rely on the safety of their vehicles.