2020 BMW X3 Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 16 NHTSA recalls and 110 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
31/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2020 BMW X3
The 2020 BMW X3 shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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16
NHTSA Recalls
16 recalls on record
110
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
2
Crash Reports
6 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 BMW X3 (16)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized BMW dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW…
🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces of the panel to strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or…
🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Buckle Assembly
If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW…
🔧 Suspension: Front
Broken swivel bearings can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW has notified owners and instructed them to not drive their vehicles. Dealers will replace the front axle swivel bearings, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery
The debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.
Remedy: BMW will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery module free of charge. The remedy is currently being developed. Until the remedy is completed, drivers are instructed to not charge…
🔧 Steering: Rack And Pinion: Pinion Shaft
A loss of steering control increases risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW has notified owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
🔧 Steering: Linkages: Tie Rod Assembly
A damaged or fractured tie rod may affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW and Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear tie rods, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service…
🔧 Engine
Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Showing 10 of 16 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2020 BMW X3
Based on 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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BMW X3 — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked BMW X3 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a BMW VIN — free BMW VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2023, 2024 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 BMW X3
Is the 2020 BMW X3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 BMW X3 has 16 recall campaigns and 110 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2020 BMW X3 have?
The 2020 BMW X3 has 16 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 BMW X3?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 BMW X3 are: Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 BMW X3 safe to buy?
The 2020 BMW X3 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 16 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year BMW X3 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the BMW X3 are: 2023, 2024. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2019.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.