TSB: BMW X3 (2011–2016)

Bulletin B631214 — May 1, 2015

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDB631214
ManufacturerBMW
ModelsX3
Model Years2011–2016
Date IssuedMay 1, 2015
Date Added to NHTSANovember 5, 2018
ComponentELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicles Affected30 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

Check Control Message with Rear Light Failure. Intermittently, a Check Control Message (CCM) is displayed for one or more rear light failures: ? Rear light ? Brake light ? Rear indicator One or more fault codes are registered in the Footwel

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
BMW X3 2016 126000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BMW X3 2016 125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BMW X3 2016 123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW X3 2016 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW X3 2016 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2015 126000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BMW X3 2015 125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BMW X3 2015 123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW X3 2015 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW X3 2015 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2014 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2014 126000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BMW X3 2014 125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BMW X3 2014 123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW X3 2014 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW X3 2013 126000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BMW X3 2013 125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BMW X3 2013 123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW X3 2013 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW X3 2013 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2012 126000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BMW X3 2012 125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BMW X3 2012 123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW X3 2012 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW X3 2012 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2011 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW X3 2011 126000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
BMW X3 2011 125000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BMW X3 2011 123000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW X3 2011 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Related BMW Recalls

CampaignModelYearComponentSummary
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K 1600 B 2017 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SEALS... BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2025 K 1600 GT, GTL...

What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized BMW dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (B631214) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.