2020 Bmw X3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2020 Bmw X3 has 133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: the back up camera fails to show the images and pdc sensors do not beep. even when in reverse the cameras malfunction and freeze. was parking in a tight spot and none of the pdc sensors and cameras worked. even with option to automatically come on the pdc and camera system did not turn on even at ve. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.

9 fire reports 3 crash reports

133

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

33 complaints

25%

• THE BACK UP CAMERA FAILS TO SHOW THE IMAGES AND PDC SENSORS DO NOT BEEP. EVEN WHEN IN REVERSE THE CAMERAS MALFUNCTION AND FREEZE. WAS PARKING IN A TIGHT SPOT AND NONE OF THE PDC SENSORS AND CAMERAS WORKED. EVEN WITH OPTION TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON THE PDC AND CAMERA SYSTEM DID NOT TURN ON EVEN AT VE
• MEDIA COUNSEL KEEP SHUTTING DOWN
• ALARM SPONTANEOUSLY TRIGGERED (WHISTLING SOUND AND FLASHING LIGHTS) TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD COME TO A STOP AND WAS IN PARK (PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE), WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING IN DRIVE-READY MODE. THE ALARM TURNED OFF BY ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS. THE SECOND TIME, THE ALARM TRI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE BACK UP CAMERA FAILS TO SHOW THE IMAGES AND PDC SENSORS DO NOT BEEP. EVEN WHEN IN REVERSE THE CAMERAS MALFUNCTION AND FREEZE. WAS PARKING IN A TIGHT SPOT AND NONE OF THE PDC SENSORS AND CAMERAS WORKED. EVEN WITH OPTION TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON THE PDC AND CAMERA SYSTEM DID NOT TURN ON EVEN AT VE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

25 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. ADDITIONALLY, A LINCOLN MKZ PARKED ADJACENT TO THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT
• The contact owned a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated the vehicle was stationary at a parking lot, when the front passenger informed her that there was smoke coming from under the passenger’s side hood. The contact stated a bystander attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but failed
• BMW recalled our car twice to replace the hybrid battery. Purchase in late July 2020; first recall about August 2020; second recall about September 2021. BMW replaced the hybrid battery as part of the second recall. Since then the vehicle check engine light has intermittently illuminated. The servic

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. ADDITIONALLY, A LINCOLN MKZ PARKED ADJACENT TO THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints

12%

• TRUNK OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING.
• WHILE DRIVING HOME, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE (EXPLOSION) AND AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD, WE FOUND THE SUN ROOF HAD A LARGE HOLE. WE WERE VERY CONFUSED AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED, AS THE BMW X3 IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD.
• WHILE DRIVING, SUNROOF EXPLODED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TRUNK OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

13 complaints

10%

• Vehicle engine RPM will arbitrarily increase from 500-600 RPM to 1200-1500 RPM while idling in drive and at operating temperature, such as at a stoplight or in a drive-through. The vehicle also makes a distinct clunking sound under normal stop-and-go driving conditions.
• The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop, there was a loud, popping sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the upper rear differential mounting bolt head had sheared off. Th
• The issue is with the rear differential carrier bolt, Part # 33176760336. This bolt shears at the hex head and causes the differential assembly to misalign with the rest of the driveline components and causes further failures of the driveshaft and other items. Just in the past month I have seen seve

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Vehicle engine RPM will arbitrarily increase from 500-600 RPM to 1200-1500 RPM while idling in drive and at operating temperature, such as at a stoplight or in a drive-through. The vehicle also makes a distinct clunking sound under normal stop-and-go driving conditions.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

8 complaints

• THE BACK UP CAMERA FAILS TO SHOW THE IMAGES AND PDC SENSORS DO NOT BEEP. EVEN WHEN IN REVERSE THE CAMERAS MALFUNCTION AND FREEZE. WAS PARKING IN A TIGHT SPOT AND NONE OF THE PDC SENSORS AND CAMERAS WORKED. EVEN WITH OPTION TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON THE PDC AND CAMERA SYSTEM DID NOT TURN ON EVEN AT VE
• The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was
• The accident happened at Noon on [XXX] at the Amazon Fresh/Post office parking lot’s far right exit lane facing [XXX] The address is [XXX] . We were leaving the parking lot and I stopped at the exit lane with 2 cars in front of us. After the first car exited, the second car, a black Ford Explorer,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 133 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: THE BACK UP CAMERA FAILS TO SHOW THE IMAGES AND PDC SENSORS DO NOT BEEP. EVEN WHEN IN REVERSE THE CAMERAS MALFUNCTION AND FREEZE. WAS PARKING IN A TIGHT SPOT AND NONE OF THE PDC SENSORS AND CAMERAS WORKED. EVEN WITH OPTION TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON THE PDC AND CAMERA SYSTEM DID NOT TURN ON EVEN AT VE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED, IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. ADDITIONALLY, A LINCOLN MKZ PARKED ADJACENT TO THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TRUNK OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: Vehicle engine RPM will arbitrarily increase from 500-600 RPM to 1200-1500 RPM while idling in drive and at operating temperature, such as at a stoplight or in a drive-through. The vehicle also makes a distinct clunking sound under normal stop-and-go driving conditions.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)