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U.S. public vehicle records

2019 Bmw X3: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

167 owner complaints analyzed

10 distinct recall campaigns

9,325 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 56 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 167 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues1810.8%
Braking behavior169.6%
Transmission and shifting74.2%
Steering behavior53.0%
Engine operation31.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
44
Unknown Or Other
42
Engine
31
Structure:Body
20
Service Brakes
12
Structure
9
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
7
Power Train
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System44
Unknown Or Other42
Engine31
Structure:Body20
Service Brakes12
Structure9
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking7
Power Train7

Electrical System: 44; Unknown Or Other: 42; Engine: 31; Structure:Body: 20; Service Brakes: 12; Structure: 9; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 7; Power Train: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
37
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
6
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00037
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9996
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 111 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2019
29
2020
11
2021
10
2022
11
2023
9
2024
28
2025
45
2026
24
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201929
202011
202110
202211
20239
202428
202545
202624

2019: 29; 2020: 11; 2021: 10; 2022: 11; 2023: 9; 2024: 28; 2025: 45; 2026: 24

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11181661 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)

THE TAILGATE OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A SHORT LOCAL DRIVING BEFORE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. ABOUT 5 MINS IN THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE TAILGATE OPENED BY ITSELF. THE CAR FELT VERY NOISY AND HARD TO CONTROL (I WAS ON A WINDY HIGHWAY). I HAD TO EXIST THE HIGHWAY, STOP ON A LOCAL STREET, AND CLOSE THE TRUNK. THE SAME RANDOM OPENING ALSO HAPPENED ONCE IN MY GARAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED, A WEEK AGO. WITH TWO RANDOM OPENING HAPPENED IN ONE WEEK, I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING IT. YOU NEVER K…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181661 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11182646 · 2019-02-26 (February 26, 2019)

WHEN DRIVING ON A SUNNY DAY ON OCCASION THE SUN IS REFLECTED FROM THE HEAD UP DISPLAY UNIT INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES OR FIELD OF VISION CAUSING A DISTRACTION AND DIFFICULTY SEEING THE TRAFFIC AHEAD. THE ATTACHED PICTURE WAS TAKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY, BUT TYPICAL OF THE EVENT WHEN DRIVING 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE SUN REFLECTION IS SHOWN BOTH AT THE HEAD UP UNIT AND ON THE WINDSHIELD (POSITIONED NEAR THE FRONT OF THE HOOD BETWEEN THE ACTUAL HEAD UP DISPLAY AND THE HEAD UP UNIT) HEADING TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S HE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11202802 · 2019-04-22 (April 22, 2019)

WHEN SLOWLY DRIVING UP A HILL, THE TAILGATE OPENED AND THE CONTENTS IN THE BACK FELL OUT.

Owner-reported narrative. 835 miles reported. Look up ODI 11202802 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11203708 · 2019-04-25 (April 25, 2019)

THE TAILGATE OPENS ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THE KEY FOB BEING NEAR A PERSON OR ANYTHING PRESSING ON IT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW DEALERS WILL NOT FIX IT, IF THEY DO NOT SEE IT IN PERSON. SO, FAR THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY OR IN A PARKING LOT.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203708 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11205139 · 2019-05-01 (May 1, 2019)

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITHOUT CAUSE. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE NEVERTHELESS THE BRAKES WERE AUTOMATICALLY EMPLOYED SUDDENLY SLOWING THE CAR. SPEED AT TIME OF THE EVENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH. THERE WAS A WARNING SIGNAL AND DASHBOARD ICON FOR THE AEB SYSTEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205139 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11205853 · 2019-05-06 (May 6, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LIFTGATE SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE PUSH TO START WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACKIE COOPER BMW MINI (14145 N BROADWAY EXT, EDMOND, OK 73013, [phone removed]), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *BF CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE REAR HATCH OPENED AND SPILLED …

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205853 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11209562 · 2019-05-23 (May 23, 2019)

THE PLASTIC COVERS OVER THE LOWER CHILD SAFETY RESTRAINT BUCKLES RIPPED OUT DURING DRIVING, CAUSING THE CHILD SEAT TO BECOME LOOSE AND UNSAFE. THE ANGLE OF THESE COVERS FORCES THE CHILD SEAT LOWER BUCKLE TO ANGLE HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDS. THESE COVERS ARE ONLY SECURED BY A THIN PLASTIC TAB, SO IF THE PRESSURE OF THE STRAP PULLS UPWARDS ON THE COVER AND BREAKS THE TAB DURING AN ACCIDENT OR REGULAR USAGE, THE CHILD SEAT STRAPS WILL BECOME LOOSE AND THE CHILD WILL BE AT SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY. THE CHILD SEAT I HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH WAS A COMMON, B…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11209562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11210576 · 2019-05-29 (May 29, 2019)

PROBLEM IS MORE NOTICEABLE DRIVING AT 80MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE VEER LEFT AND RIGHT AND CONSTANT VERY SMALL TURNINGS NEED TO BE APPLIED TO KEEP CAR CENTERED, MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN PASSING BETWEEN TWO TRUCKS OR WHEN MODERATE WIND IS ENCOUNTERED. TOOK TO THE DEALER, THEY DROVE THE CAR AND MECHANIC STATED NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND. HOWEVER, I NEVER HAD THIS SAME PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER SUV I OWNED IN THE PAST. IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE THIS IS OCCURRING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11210576 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

10 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

18V374000 · Lane Departure: Lane Keep: Steering Assist

Reported: 2018-06-06 (June 6, 2018)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i, X3 sDrive30i, and X3 M40i vehicles equipped with the "Active Lane Keeping Assistant" option. The steering wheel may be incompatible with the lane keeping assistant function and may not detect if the driver's hands are off the wheel.

Consequence: If the sensors do not properly detect the driver's hands are off the wheel, the driver may not be alerted by one or more warning signals, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V453000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper

Reported: 2018-07-06 (July 6, 2018)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and certain 2019 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the rear brake circuit, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V291000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Reported: 2019-04-10 (April 10, 2019)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, possibly affecting the deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag.

Consequence: If the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, the occupant has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V563000 · Seats

Reported: 2019-07-31 (July 31, 2019)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 X3 sDrive30i, xDrive30i and M40i and 2019 X4 xDrive30i and M40i vehicles. The front seatback frames may have been improperly welded, allowing the seatback to unexpectedly fold forward or rearward.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury if the seatback folds forward or rearward.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seats, free of charge. The recall began September 27, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V684000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Reported: 2019-09-27 (September 27, 2019)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Consequence: 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 Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V152000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Reported: 2020-03-18 (March 18, 2020)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 X4 xDrive30i and X4 M40i, and 2018-2020 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3M vehicles. The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.

Consequence: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V096000 · Back Over Prevention:Software | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Reported: 2021-02-19 (February 19, 2021)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles. When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence: 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 customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V521000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2021-07-08 (July 8, 2021)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i and 2019 X4 xDrive30i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant classification system may have been improperly assembled, which could result in the misclassification of the seat as unoccupied, and deactivate the front air bag.

Consequence: A deactivated front air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat foam, which includes the occupant classification system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V534000 · Structure

Reported: 2024-07-17 (July 17, 2024)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2023 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.

Consequence: Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V764000 · Structure

Reported: 2024-10-15 (October 15, 2024)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2022 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the rear cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.

Consequence: Interior rear cargo rail detachment during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicles in this recall were previously remedied for this issue under recall number 24V-534 and will need to have the new repair completed.

NHTSA campaign record ↗