2025-2026 BMW X3 Steering Power Assist System Recall (25V857)
BMW of North America, LLC · 36,922 vehicles · Reported December 11, 2025
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling 36,922 2025-2026 BMW X3 vehicles. While the vehicle is stationary, unexpected steering wheel movement (rotation) may occur. Unintended steering wheel movement while the vehicle is stationary increases the risk of an injury and on the road, a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 25V857 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V857000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | Not listed |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 11, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2025-2026 BMW X3 |
| Units affected | 36,922 |
| Component | Steering > Linkages > Drag > Power Assist System |
| Safety risk | Unintended steering wheel movement while the vehicle is stationary increases the risk of an injury and on the road, a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2025-2026 BMW X3 in recall 25V857?
While the vehicle is stationary, unexpected steering wheel movement (rotation) may occur.
BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2025-2026 X3 vehicles. While the vehicle is stationary, unexpected steering wheel movement (rotation) may occur.
Is it safe to drive a 2025-2026 X3 with recall 25V857?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Unintended steering wheel movement while the vehicle is stationary increases the risk of an injury and on the road, a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Unintended steering wheel movement while the vehicle is stationary increases the risk of an injury and on the road, a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your X3 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the power assist system, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V857?
Recall 25V857 covers 36,922 vehicles: 2025-2026 BMW X3.
NHTSA lists 36,922 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | BMW | X3 |
What is the fix for the X3 steering power assist system recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
The steering system software will be updated, free of charge, either over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 2, 2026.
When was recall 25V857 announced?
BMW of North America, LLC reported recall 25V857 to NHTSA on December 11, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 6, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 14, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per BMW of North America, LLC's filing). |
| December 11, 2025 | BMW of North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V857000. |
| February 6, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 10 months ago. If your X3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my X3 is part of recall 25V857?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V857 is open on your X3, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2025-2026 X3 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should X3 owners do about recall 25V857?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V857000 applies to your X3.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized BMW dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the power assist system happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are X3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 13 of them about the steering.
Since recall 25V857 was reported on December 11, 2025, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the steering and were received on or after December 11, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related steering issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 55 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 13 of them involve the steering. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 BMW X3: 38 complaints in total, 8 about the steering
- 2026 BMW X3: 17 complaints in total, 5 about the steering
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
When parking, parked or when I put it in drive and turn the wheel to drive off turning Steering wheel there is a deep gridding noise.
2025 BMW X3 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11657070, filed April 27, 2025
I am reporting a persistent and concerning mechanical issue with my 2025 BMW X3. A clunking noise is occurring frequently, particularly over uneven road surfaces and during normal driving maneuvers such as turning, accelerating, or braking at low speeds (generally below 20 mph).
2025 BMW X3 owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11682922, filed August 25, 2025
Started the car and received a "Changed Steering effort" error. Car is currently undrivable as the power steering is not working at all.
2025 BMW X3 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11698707, filed November 11, 2025
Can recall 25V857 make my X3 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Steering defects go straight to safety. Under California's lemon law, a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create a presumption after just two repair attempts, if the manufacturer was also notified directly.
This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2025-2026 BMW X3 to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your X3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
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Frequently asked questions about recall 25V857
Did the recall 25V857 fix work?
Since recall 25V857 was reported on December 11, 2025, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed February 6, 2026.
Is the 25V857000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my X3 is part of recall 25V857000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V857000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or BMW. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.