BMW / X3 / 2019

2019 BMW X3 problems

Owners have filed 229 complaints about the 2019 BMW X3 with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 20.5% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of structure at 14%. A further 18.3% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints229

Crashes9

Fires1

Injuries6

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Electrical system 20.5% · 47

Unknown or other 18.3% · 42

Structure 14.0% · 32

Engine 13.5% · 31

Forward collision avoidance 5.7% · 13

Service brakes 5.2% · 12

Power train 3.1% · 7

Engine and engine cooling 2.6% · 6

Severity

Of those complaints, 9 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 6 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 15 model years of the BMW X3 in this data, 2019 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 2013 draws the most.

Filings are rising — 137 in the last three years against 36 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 9,000 miles.

In owners' own words

The contact owns a 2019 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel was flickering on and off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Electrical system · reported at 80,000 miles

My digital gauges were frequently going off center in my vehicle. I scheduled service with the dealer however they did not have a loaner available for weeks so they scheduled the appointment for a few weeks out, my car subsequently completely died on the road and after a minute or two I was rear ended by a truck and the car was completely totaled. Electrical system

Tailgate suddenly opens without warning. Happened twice this month while car was parked and engine was turned off, as well as while car was stopped, in Park, and engine was running. Note that this happened repeatedly during the first year of ownership, and BMW Monterey (California) tried at least 4 times to fix it. Claimed it was finally fixed, and it did not recur for some months, but once again it is happening. Structure

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other BMW X3 years

2016 120 complaints · 19.2% electrical system 2017 138 complaints · 21.7% electrical system 2018 103 complaints · 19.4% electrical system 2020 141 complaints · 24.8% electrical system 2021 142 complaints · 21.1% electrical system 2022 104 complaints · 15.4% forward collision avoidance

Compare all 15 model years →