BMW X3 rear turn signals flash wrong color
low How serious is it? About this label
This is a low-level safety concern — the mismatched colors may confuse drivers behind you and raise crash risk, but the notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
What's wrong, in plain English
On some BMW X3 models, the rear turn signals don't all light up the same color. When you signal, the outer light on the side panel glows red while the inner light glows amber at the same time. Turn signals are supposed to be amber so other drivers can tell instantly that you're turning. A signal showing two different colors at once doesn't meet the federal rules for vehicle lighting. Dealers will look at the rear turn signal lights and swap out any that are wrong.
What you should do
Affected vehicles (1)
Who to contact
BMW — official BMW recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-525-7417
The bigger picture
- Why do BMW lights keep failing, detaching, or shining wrong? · all 10 BMW recalls in this area
Official notice
- Component
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i and X3 M40i vehicles. The rear turn signals on the outboard side panel will illuminate red, while the inboard turn signals simultaneously illuminate amber. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Safety risk
- Turn signals that flash multiple colors may confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear turn signal lights, and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.