2019 BMW X3: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2019 BMW X3: 10 recalls, 170 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
Recalls
10 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Lane departure Vehicle recall #18V374000 · 2018 · 51 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the sensors do not properly detect the driver's hands are off the wheel, the driver May not be alerted by one or more warning signals, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2018.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V453000 · 2018 · 5,594 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles May have an insufficient coating, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Why it matters: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the rear brake circuit, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2018.
Airbags, Electrical Vehicle recall #19V291000 · 2019 · 50 vehicles
What's wrong: The instrument panel assembly May have been improperly manufactured, possibly affecting the deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag.
Why it matters: If the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, the occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V563000 · 2019 · 20 vehicles
What's wrong: The front seatback frames May have been improperly welded, allowing the seatback to unexpectedly fold forward or rearward.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury if the seatback folds forward or rearward.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seats, free of charge. The recall began September 27, 2019.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #19V684000 · 2019 · 257,473 vehicles
What's wrong: The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 111, "rearview mirrors."
Why it matters: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019.
Airbags, Electrical Vehicle recall #20V152000 · 2020 · 15 vehicles
What's wrong: The instrument panel casing May not have been tightened properly to the passenger air bag.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces of the panel to strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020.
Backup camera, Backup camera Vehicle recall #21V096000 · 2021 · 13,858 vehicles
What's wrong: When shifting into reverse, a small portion of the rearview image May be obscured, or the screen May not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 111, "rear visibility."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #21V521000 · 2021 · 138 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A deactivated front air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat foam, which includes the occupant classification system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #24V534000 · 2024 · 282,387 vehicles
What's wrong: The attachment for the interior cargo rail May become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
Why it matters: Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #24V764000 · 2024 · 8,725 vehicles
What's wrong: The attachment for the rear cargo rail May become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
Why it matters: Interior rear cargo rail detachment during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (47): the most common themes are electrical failure (17), leaks (12), warning light on (7).
- Other / unknown (43): the most common themes are leaks (8), noise or vibration (7).
- Engine (34): the most common themes are leaks (14), overheating (11), warning light on (9).
- Body & structure (31): the most common themes are leaks (6), door / lock issues (5).
The 2019 BMW X3 has 170 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 23 X3 model years for complaints (1.9× the average X3 year). Complaints peaked in 2025 (45 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 9,325 miles. Neighboring years: 2018 (76 complaints, 11 recalls), 2020 (110 complaints, 16 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 | 30 | 26 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | Premium |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2019 BMW X3.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2019 BMW X3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 10 vehicle recalls for the 2019 BMW X3. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2019 BMW X3 problems?
Owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (47), other / unknown (43), engine (34).
What gas mileage does the 2019 BMW X3 get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2019 BMW X3 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.