FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW X3

Owners have filed 2,799 complaints about the BMW X3 with NHTSA across model years 2004 to 2026. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2019 BMW X3

229 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2010 BMW X3

41 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW X3 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 B 24 4 0 Steering
2025 C 67 7 3 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2024 D 51 9 0 17,451 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2023 C 13 3 0 Body & Structure
2022 C 107 2 8 51,000 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2021 C 143 5 4 28,883 Electrical System
2020 D 141 4 10 27,200 Electrical System
2019 D 229 9 1 9,000 Electrical System
2018 C 103 7 2 15,000 Engine & Cooling
2017 D 138 18 5 20,441 Engine & Cooling
2016 D 120 11 5 37,000 Engine & Cooling
2015 D 158 12 15 58,451 Engine & Cooling
2014 C 130 10 3 60,000 Engine & Cooling
2013 D 346 6 16 85,000 Engine & Cooling
2012 C 67 8 1 67,595 Airbags
2011 C 166 6 5 72,000 Engine & Cooling
2010 A 41 1 3 99,000 Engine & Cooling
2009 C 26 0 6 Airbags
2008 C 93 6 6 117,000 Airbags
2007 C 132 3 12 111,260 Engine & Cooling
2006 D 178 8 20 76,000 Airbags
2005 D 144 8 25 85,000 Seats
2004 D 182 18 16 70,000 Airbags

What breaks on a BMW X3

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 635 22.7%

Worst in 2013

Electrical System 396 14.1%

Worst in 2019

Airbags 332 11.9%

Worst in 2006

Worst in 2019

Worst in 2013

Seats 171 6.1%

Worst in 2005

Body & Structure 117 4.2%

Worst in 2019

Brakes 116 4.1%

Worst in 2013

Worst in 2015

Worst in 2022

Steering 90 3.2%

Worst in 2011

Worst in 2013

Lights 58 2.1%

Worst in 2011

Worst in 2004

Exactly what failed on a BMW X3

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 63 29.4%
Automatic Emergency Braking 30 14.0%
Frontal 30 14.0%
Warnings 19 8.9%
Occupant Classification 16 7.5%
Seat Heater/Cooler 16 7.5%
Adaptive Cruise Control 11 5.1%
Rearview System Braking 10 4.7%
Front Passenger 10 4.7%
Camera 9 4.2%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every BMW X3, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jun 2004 peak 52 Aug 2026

BMW X3 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the BMW X3

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.