NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the rear cargo rail may fail during a rear crash, causing the cargo rail to detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts at no cost.
This page covers 11 recalls, 158 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2019 BMW X3.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2019 BMW X3 complaint set is led by electrical and structural issues, with water intrusion standing out as the most consistent theme. Owners frequently report that the roof-mounted shark fin antenna develops a sealing failure that allows water into the telematics control box beneath it, corroding the electronics and triggering a persistent "Emergency Call System Malfunction" warning on the dashboard. When this happens, the SOS emergency call function stops working and Bluetooth microphone functionality can drop out as well. Some owners also report sunroof-related water entry contributing to the same problem. On the engine side, a recurring concern involves the oil pump in B58-equipped models, where owners describe a sudden loss of oil pressure, with failures often reported during cold starts in low temperatures.
158
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 BMW X3 has 11 recalls, with the most serious concerns centered on occupant protection: front passenger airbags that may fail to deploy in a crash, a passenger seat sensor that can misclassify the seat as empty and deactivate the airbag entirely, and front seatbacks that can fold forward or rearward on impact.
The instrument panel trim can also break apart when the passenger airbag deploys, sending small fragments toward occupants. Two related recalls cover the rear cargo rail, which can detach during a rear crash and become a projectile inside the cabin. On the braking side, rear brake caliper pistons may lack sufficient coating and can reduce stopping performance. Vehicles equipped with the Active Lane Keeping Assistant have a separate concern: the steering wheel sensors may not detect when the driver's hands leave the wheel, preventing the system from issuing a warning. Two recalls address rear visibility, with the backup camera failing to display an image or showing a reduced view when reversing. There is also a recall for the lane departure steering assist software tied to hand-detection reliability.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the rear cargo rail may fail during a rear crash, causing the cargo rail to detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts at no cost.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash, causing the cargo rail to detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat occupant classification system may have been assembled incorrectly, causing it to misidentify an occupied seat as empty and disable the front airbag.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat foam containing the occupant classification system at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
When shifting into Reverse, the rearview camera display may show a partially obscured image or fail to illuminate, reducing rear visibility.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and update the rearview camera software as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel casing may not be properly tightened to the passenger air bag, creating a potential hazard during deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the instrument panel casing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The backup camera display can be adjusted to hide the rear view image, and the vehicle remembers this setting when put in reverse, leaving the screen blank.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the backup camera software at no cost to restore the display functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seatback frames may have improper welds, causing the seatback to unexpectedly fold forward or rearward while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front seats at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument trim panel may interfere with proper deployment of the front passenger airbag during a crash.
What the fix does
BMW dealers will replace the instrument trim panel before the vehicle is sold.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, which could affect whether the passenger's front air bag deploys correctly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear brake caliper pistons may lack sufficient coating, which could reduce how well the rear brakes work.
What the fix does
Dealers will bleed the rear brake circuit at no cost to restore proper brake function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering wheel may not work properly with the lane keeping assistant, so the system cannot detect whether your hands are on the wheel.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your steering wheel and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
