2020 BMW X3 problems
The 2020 BMW X3 has 142 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (25%) concerns electrical system. Next are engine (19%) and drivetrain & axles (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 142 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 25% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 27,000 miles 40 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 17 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 10 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 40 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 27,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 55,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2020 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 22 model years of the BMW X3 with enough data (102 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 16 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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 was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000.
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. The fire department arrived within 10 minutes and was able to extinguish the fire. The contact stated no one was injured nor was medical attention sought. A fire report was filed.
The contact owned a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated after parking her vehicle at her residence, the vehicle caught fire around the engine independently. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire and police report were filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure.
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the message "Drivetrain Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the heat management module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure but offered no assistance and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,400.
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while starting. The contact then stated that while at a relative's home, the vehicle failed to start after multiple attempts, with white colored smoke coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved DTC: 216113, 21611A, 21A511, and 216115. Due to the failure, the vehicle remained at the relative's home.