BMW is recalling nearly 37,000 2025 and newer X3s due to incredibly bad steering

BMW is recalling 36,922 2025 and 2026 X3s due to an alarming potential flaw that could cause the steering wheel to jerk violently like a glitching racing simulator. BMW believes all 36,922 vehicles are eligible the recall have the problem, but fortunately the glitch only seems to occur when the affected vehicles are stationary, so BMW is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the glitch. Our own Andy Kalmowitz didn’t experience the flaw during his week with the disappointing 2025 X3 30 xDrive, but several X3 owners have posted videos of the phantom jerking, showing the surprisingly violent flaw in action.

BMW says the fault lies in the X3’s steering system software, which it says “may not be robust enough.” The recall report says the problem occurs when one of the two channels in the steering torque sensor fails while the vehicle is stationary during start-up or in drive mode, but stationary. The software diagnostics may not properly detect the condition, sometimes causing unintended steering wheel movements.

No, the solution to the problem is not to restart the owner’s steering subscription. It’s a simple Over-The-Air update that can be performed at home, but owners can also have the update performed at a dealer for free.

BMW first became aware of the fault when an X3 experienced an unintended movement of the steering wheel while starting up at a car assembly plant on August 22 last year. It was not until September 1 that BMW began a technical investigation, and in mid-September BMW issued a dealer supply freeze and an assembly plant freeze. BMW issued the voluntary recall on December 4 and BMW became aware of approximately 21 cases possibly related to this issue that occurred between August 22 and December 4.

Dealers should already be aware of the issue, but owners won’t be notified until February 2, which is also the date VIN search tools will show the recall. The vehicles involved in the recall were manufactured between August 14, 2024 and October 20, 2025.