FaultScore

Worst years for a BMW X3 SAV

Owners have filed 343 complaints about the BMW X3 SAV with NHTSA across model years 2007 to 2012. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2007 BMW X3 SAV

195 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

2011 BMW X3 SAV

18 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every BMW X3 SAV 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
2012 7 2 0 45,500 Engine & Cooling
2011 A 18 0 0 68,300 Engine & Cooling
2010 C 27 2 1 38,000 Airbags
2009 C 22 0 4 78,990 Airbags
2008 C 74 1 2 59,000 Airbags
2007 F 195 7 26 70,500 Transmission & Drivetrain

What breaks on a BMW X3 SAV

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

Airbags 99 28.9%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2007

Seats 51 14.9%

Worst in 2007

Engine & Cooling 42 12.2%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 2007

Steering 11 3.2%

Worst in 2007

Fuel & Propulsion 9 2.6%

Worst in 2008

Body & Structure 8 2.3%

Worst in 2007

Acceleration & Cruise Control 8 2.3%

Worst in 2007

Other & Unspecified 8 2.3%

Worst in 2008

Suspension 6 1.7%

Worst in 2008

Brakes 5 1.5%

Worst in 2007

Tires 3 0.9%

Worst in 2007

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 0.6%

Worst in 2008

Exactly what failed on a BMW X3 SAV

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

Automatic Transmission 31 59.6%
Body 7 13.5%
Seat Heater/Cooler 5 9.6%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 3 5.8%
Occupant Classification 1 1.9%
Driveline 1 1.9%
Sensor/Control Module 1 1.9%
Fuel Injection System 1 1.9%
Gasoline 1 1.9%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 1.9%

Complaints filed over time

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

Mar 2007 peak 13 May 2019

Compare the BMW X3 SAV

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