2021 Bmw X3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Bmw X3 has 136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: our car has just shutdown altogether waiting at a traffic light. also, the main console above the steering wheel has gone completely black several times while driving.. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 4 crash reports

136

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

28 complaints

21%

• OUR CAR HAS JUST SHUTDOWN ALTOGETHER WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ALSO, THE MAIN CONSOLE ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE COMPLETELY BLACK SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING.
• I was at a stop light and when the light changed I stepped on the gas. The car suddenly turned completely off. I had no steering, no braking no ability to turn the hazard lights on. I was in the middle of the street with traffic behind me and my child was in the back seat with me. The car comple
• The high voltage battery recall has been open for 1 year, which any reasonable person would agree is far in excess of a reasonable amount of time as the issue is one that could lead to a fire / death.

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

“OUR CAR HAS JUST SHUTDOWN ALTOGETHER WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ALSO, THE MAIN CONSOLE ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE COMPLETELY BLACK SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

17%

• Exploding rear passenger window glass sent fine glass particles and glass chips everywhere. Was driving from 5300 ft elevation to 10800 ft elevation so it appears to be caused by faulty glass and air pressure change causing an outward push of air pressure. Nothing hit the window. This was my first
• I was driving on I-10 W in Phoenix Arizona with my husband on Thursday June 10th, 2021 when we heard a loud glass shattering sound. I immediately looked for a place to park or exit. I thought maybe someone was shooting at our vehicle in the freeway. I tried changing lane as quickly as possible to
• My sunroof exploded while driving on the interstate. There was a very loud boom almost like a gunshot. All of the glass came crashing down into the cabin. This was an extremely dangerous situation as I was traveling on the interstate. There was no warning, no rocks or any other object hit the glass

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

“Exploding rear passenger window glass sent fine glass particles and glass chips everywhere. Was driving from 5300 ft elevation to 10800 ft elevation so it appears to be caused by faulty glass and air pressure change causing an outward push of air pressure. Nothing hit the window. This was my first ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

21 complaints

15%

• I was at a stop light and when the light changed I stepped on the gas. The car suddenly turned completely off. I had no steering, no braking no ability to turn the hazard lights on. I was in the middle of the street with traffic behind me and my child was in the back seat with me. The car comple
• The high voltage battery recall has been open for 1 year, which any reasonable person would agree is far in excess of a reasonable amount of time as the issue is one that could lead to a fire / death.
• The check engine light is on. We have taken the vehicle to 2 different BMW dealerships and the problem persists. I have contacted BMW of North America and they have not responded. We are hesitant to drive this vehicle since it is unknown why the "check engine" light is on. Thank you.

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

“I was at a stop light and when the light changed I stepped on the gas. The car suddenly turned completely off. I had no steering, no braking no ability to turn the hazard lights on. I was in the middle of the street with traffic behind me and my child was in the back seat with me. The car comple”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

11 complaints

• The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that the tailgate would fall on the contact without warning upon use. On one occasion, the tailgate had fallen on her left arm and the contact had to wrestle her arm out of the vehicle as the tailgate sensor failed to recognize her arm. Once her arm
• I was driving down the street from my home and I slowed down turned right and my car was out of control I steered to the curb. I got out and saw that the tire had blown-up and a large piece of the tire which was cut in half was on the ground. I couldn’t drive the car I called a tow truck driver who
• The contact owns a 2021 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

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

“The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that the tailgate would fall on the contact without warning upon use. On one occasion, the tailgate had fallen on her left arm and the contact had to wrestle her arm out of the vehicle as the tailgate sensor failed to recognize her arm. Once her arm”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

8 complaints

• MY CAR'S SPEEDOMETER ONLY DISPLAYS SPEED IN 10 MILES INCREMENTS, WHICH MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACT CURRENT SPEED OF THE CAR. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN SPEED IS BETWEEN 50 AND 60 I CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT MY ACTUAL SPEED IS, 52 OR 58. BMW FOR SOME STRANGE REASON SELLS AN OPTIONAL PACKAGE WHICH ENAB
• 3 TIMES TODAY SHORTLY AFTER ENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL AND SETTING IT TO 75MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED QUICKLY TO OVER 90MPH AND HAD TO BE MANUALLY DISENGAGED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND DIDN'T PRESS ANY OF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS EXCEPT TO DISENGAGE IT WHEN IT DANGER
• ON APRIL 12, 2021 I WAS DRIVING MY 2021 BMW X3 AND AS I WAS PULLING UP INTO A PARKING STALL, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A BRICK WALL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“MY CAR'S SPEEDOMETER ONLY DISPLAYS SPEED IN 10 MILES INCREMENTS, WHICH MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACT CURRENT SPEED OF THE CAR. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN SPEED IS BETWEEN 50 AND 60 I CAN ONLY GUESS WHAT MY ACTUAL SPEED IS, 52 OR 58. BMW FOR SOME STRANGE REASON SELLS AN OPTIONAL PACKAGE WHICH ENAB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 136 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: OUR CAR HAS JUST SHUTDOWN ALTOGETHER WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ALSO, THE MAIN CONSOLE ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE COMPLETELY BLACK SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: Exploding rear passenger window glass sent fine glass particles and glass chips everywhere. Was driving from 5300 ft elevation to 10800 ft elevation so it appears to be caused by faulty glass and air pressure change causing an outward push of air pressure. Nothing hit the window. This was my first
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I was at a stop light and when the light changed I stepped on the gas. The car suddenly turned completely off. I had no steering, no braking no ability to turn the hazard lights on. I was in the middle of the street with traffic behind me and my child was in the back seat with me. The car comple
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that the tailgate would fall on the contact without warning upon use. On one occasion, the tailgate had fallen on her left arm and the contact had to wrestle her arm out of the vehicle as the tailgate sensor failed to recognize her arm. Once her arm
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)