The Lemon Index2020 BMW X3.
The 2020 BMW X3 is better than average by owner complaints: 43 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 77, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 16 recalls, and it gets 16 to 27 mpg combined. The best BMW X3 year is 2012.
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Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 110 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every BMW X3 year. 2020 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 7K to 55K miles on the car (35 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 16
- electrical 2025
The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.
- 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.
Show all 16 recalls
- seats 2023
The seat frame may not have been welded properly to the seat rails.
- engine 2021
During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist.
- 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.
- back over prevention 2020
A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured.
- electrical 2020
Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.
- electrical 2020
Loose welding beads may form a conductive path between the hybrid battery cells which could lead to a short-circuit.
- back over prevention 2020
These vehicles were not programmed with rearview camera software during assembly, therefore, when the transmission is shifted to reverse, a rearview image is not displayed.
- steering 2020
In certain driving conditions, such as high temperatures and rough road surfaces, a steering gear tie rod may become damaged, possibly resulting in a fractured tie rod.
- seat belts 2020
The sensors in the front seat belt buckles may inaccurately detect a belted occupant as unbelted, possibly causing the air bag and seat belt pretensioners to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
- electrical 2020
The instrument panel casing may not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.
- steering 2019
The steering rack pinion teeth may break under load, resulting in a loss of steering control.
- back over prevention 2019
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- suspension 2019
The front axle swivel bearings may not have been properly heat treated during manufacturing, reducing their strength and possibly causing them to break.
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 286 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- ENGINE SPEED DEPENDENT NOISE DURING AUDIO PLAYBACK: Integration level updated
- REAR VIEW CAMERA FAILS TO DISPLAY IMAGE: This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 5)…
- Ccm displayed "increased battery drain" caused by controller
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 RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| BMW X3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| BMW X3 30e xDrive SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2950–5000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Rear differential disconnected from vehicle due to mounting bolt snapping, rear differential was also previously replaced by bmw before I purchased vehicles due to rear differential failure
2020 BMW X3 owner · NHTSA complaint 11525877
More owner reports
Tailgate opened spontaneously while driving on a city street. Had to stop and close the tailgate from the outside (interior switch did not work).
NHTSA complaint 11376857
Was driving the vehicle home and while driving I heard a loud pop and a thump. Had the vehicle towed home to see that the real differential bolt had sheared off the head!
NHTSA complaint 11531228
Quick answers
Is the 2020 BMW X3 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 77; 100 is average, lower is better). The best BMW X3 year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2020 BMW X3 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (23%), electrical (21%) and airbags (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 BMW X3 have?
16 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 BMW X3 get?
16 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 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 2020 BMW X3 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 7,000 and 55,000 miles. The middle report was at 21,000 miles, from 35 complaints.
Does the 2020 BMW X3 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 23% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 BMW X3 cost in fuel a year?
About $2950 to $5000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 BMW X3 have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
What BMW X3 year is better than the 2020?
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