2019 BMW X3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2019 BMW X3 has a complaint index of 95, ranking 2nd worst among 21 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 170 complaints, 10 recalls, 5 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries for this year, with electrical system problems the top area at 30% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 95/100
- #2 of 21 X3 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 170
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 22 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2019 BMW X3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System51 (30%)
- Engine44 (26%)
- Other43 (25%)
- Structure & Body31 (18%)
- Brakes15 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras15 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (3%)
- Airbags4 (2%)
- Fuel System4 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Digital gauge cluster displays go off-center or blank unexpectedly, sometimes while driving.
- Vehicle has been reported to accelerate on its own after being placed in park.
- TCB module and antenna fail after water intrudes through the roof-mounted shark fin antenna, disabling emergency call features.
- Rear differential mount and driveshaft reportedly fail at highway speed, causing sudden loss of rear-end control.
- Tailgate has opened on its own while driving on the highway and while parked, sometimes spilling cargo.
- Automatic emergency braking has engaged suddenly with no vehicle or obstacle present.
2019 BMW X3 recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V764000Oct 15, 2024Structure & Body8,725 vehicles
Structure
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.
Risk: 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 24V534000Jul 17, 2024Structure & Body282,387 vehicles
Structure
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.
Risk: 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 21V521000Jul 8, 2021Airbags138 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
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.
Risk: 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.
2019 BMW X3 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2019 compared with other X3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 BMW X3 reliable?
- Compared to other X3 model years, the 2019 ranks poorly: it has a complaint index of 95, the 2nd worst of 21 years tracked, and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What are the main problems with the 2019 BMW X3?
- NHTSA complaints show the Electrical System as the top problem area, accounting for 30% of complaints (51 of 170), followed by Engine issues at 26% and Structure & Body issues at 18%.
- Does the 2019 BMW X3 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns tied to the 2019 X3, covering airbags, structure & body, and collision avoidance/camera systems, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
- What mileage do 2019 X3 problems typically show up at?
- The median mileage at failure across all complaints for this year is 9,325 miles, though Engine-related failures show a much higher median of 69,000 miles.
- How does the 2019 X3 compare to other years?
- The 2019 X3 has a complaint index of 95, worse than most other years; only the 2007 model year (index 100) ranks worse among the 21 years with data.