The Lemon Index2019 BMW X3.
The 2019 BMW X3 is about average by owner complaints: 61 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 85, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about body structure, it has 10 recalls, and it gets 23 to 26 mpg combined. The best BMW X3 year is 2012.
_M40i_front_4.19.18.jpg){kind=link}
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 171 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every BMW X3 year. 2019 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 40K miles on the car (56 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 6K–62K miles
Recalls 10
- body structure 2024
The attachment for the rear cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
- body structure 2024
The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
- airbags 2021
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.
Show all 10 recalls
- back over prevention 2021
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.
- electrical 2020
The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.
- back over prevention 2019
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- seats 2019
The front seatback frames may have been improperly welded, allowing the seatback to unexpectedly fold forward or rearward.
- airbags 2019
The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, possibly affecting the deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag.
- brakes 2018
The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
- lane assist 2018
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems BMW told dealers about
BMW sent dealers 330 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- False warnings that the front passenger seat is occupied without the seat belt buckled
- "?dynamic stabilty control warning on with limited power steering assist this service…
- Excess noise when defrost blower is at max
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| BMW X3 SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3050–3450 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Automatic braking spontaneously activated without cause. Happened 2 times. Most recent incident caused injuries to the driver and almost caused a severe accident. This is a full stop from approximately 40 mph
2019 BMW X3 owner · NHTSA complaint 11268819
More owner reports
While reversing our car in our garage, the car trunk pop open and hit our garage roof creating scratches and peeled paint on the trunk lid.
NHTSA complaint 11244804
When slowly driving up a hill, the tailgate opened and the contents in the back fell out.
NHTSA complaint 11202802
Quick answers
Is the 2019 BMW X3 reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 85; 100 is average, lower is better). The best BMW X3 year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2019 BMW X3 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are body structure (30%), electrical (25%) and brakes (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2019 BMW X3 have?
10 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2019 BMW X3 get?
23 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2019 BMW X3 safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2019 BMW X3 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,100 and 40,200 miles. The middle report was at 9,300 miles, from 56 complaints.
Does the 2019 BMW X3 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2019 BMW X3 cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 to $3450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2019 BMW X3 have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
What BMW X3 year is better than the 2019?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2018 and 2014.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works