BMW iX3 revealed two major safety concerns when it was launched, German authorities requested a recall

This year's most important strategic model of BMW, the iX3 electric SUV, is the first mass-produced car based on the Neue Klasse new-generation platform. However, two serious safety issues have arisen after its recent launch. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority pointed out that some vehicles may electrify body panels during the charging process, putting owners at risk of electric shock. In addition, the installation of side airbag fixing bolts does not comply with specifications and may not deploy normally as designed when encountering a collision, affecting the protective effect.

Not long after BMW’s new iX3 was launched, two safety recalls broke out.

According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority, there is a problem with the onboard charger, which may cause voltage to be generated on the vehicle body sheet during charging. If the car owner touches the vehicle body during charging, there is a possibility of electric shock. BMW will directly replace the entire set of onboard chargers for all affected vehicles. The affected vehicles involve 145 BMW iX3s produced between November 25, 2025 and February 20, 2026.

Charging may cause sheet metal parts to become charged, putting car owners at risk of electric shock.

In addition, the side airbag fixing bolts of some iX3 vehicles are not installed according to the specified torque value. In the event of a collision, the side airbag may not deploy normally as designed, affecting the protection effect. At the same time, the gas generator (Gas Generator) that generates inflatable gas may not be firmly fixed and shift, and then hit the vehicle occupants when the airbag is activated, causing additional injuries.

The recall of side airbags is wide-ranging, covering vehicles produced between December 18, 2025 and May 8, 2026. A total of 4,843 vehicles are affected worldwide. The original manufacturer will recall the vehicles to inspect the side airbag fixing bolts, and reinstall or correct related components if necessary. However, there have been no reports of any accidents, casualties or property damage.

Since the iX3 is a key pioneer in BMW's launch of a new generation platform, all aspects of the vehicle's performance have attracted global attention. These two consecutive major recalls are bound to cast a shadow on the iX3's launch. After all, reliability performance is the focus of many car owners. At the same time, BMW's implementation of a delivery freeze (Delivery Stop) measure on dealer inventory vehicles will also affect the delivery time of prospective car owners.