42 of the
229 complaints about the 2019 BMW X3 are about the
other systems — 18% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
7,500 miles.
**Description of Incident** On **July 25, 2026**, I parked my 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i in a parking lot and turned the engine off. The vehicle was shifted into Park, locked, and I walked into a nearby store. At approximately 6:41 p.m., I received the update on my phone confirming that my vehicle had been locked. I remained inside the store for approximately six minutes. My purchase transaction was completed at approximately 6:47 p.m., at which time I immediately exited the store. When I returned to the parking lot, I found my vehicle fully engulfed in flames, not merely smoking. The fire had developed rapidly during the brief period the vehicle was parked and unattended. Prior to parking the vehicle, it had been operating normally. There were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel, including no check engine light, no engine overheating warning, no temperature warnings, and no other indications of a mechanical or electrical problem. The vehicle was not overdue for scheduled maintenance, and I had no reason to believe there was any issue that would place the vehicle at risk of catching fire. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire, which also spread to nearby parked vehicles. Based on the absence of any warning signs and the fact that the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked with the engine turned off for only a few minutes, I am requesting that this incident be investigated to determine whether it may have resulted from a vehicle defect.
NHTSA complaint #11752961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I bought my 2019 BMW X3 late 2025 before Christmas. The Carfax was fine and there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle had been serviced regularly at BMW facilities. Our family mechanic looked at the vehicle before I bought it and performed some basic diagnostics. The vehicle appeared fine. There were no error codes and all of the fluids were topped off. I don't know if the issues with the coolant were there before I purchased the vehicle or if they happened afterwards. There were no warning lights and everything looked good. This car is garage kept and is used a couple of times a week. I did my research on the internet and took my car in for an oil change at a highly-rated independent auto repair facility that specializes in European vehicles and are famous for providing dealership-level expertise, ASE-certified with factory trained technicians from Germany. On March 5th, 2026, when I went to pick up my car, they told me the bad news that is a well known manufacturer defect within the industry regarding these vehicles. They used plastic components in the engine compartment and in the cooling system, which makes the vehicles malfunction. From their report, with pictures, they state the following repairs need to be made, "During the vehicle inspection noticed active coolant leaks are present from multiple locations. The radiator plastic tank actively leaking coolant. The water pump change over valve leaking coolant. The turbocharger coolant line has a coolant crud build up . Oil filter housing and coolant flange on the cylinder block are discolored. For proper cooling system repair recommend complete update of the cooling system. Both balance shaft end caps leaking oil. Recommend replacement during cooling system update." They quoted me $8,914.86 for this repair. That's over HALF the value of the vehicle. They said the entire system needs to be replaced because ALL of the plastic parts in Florida's hot sun will fail. Sudden coolant failures in FL = DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #11748660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glen Mills, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious mechanical and safety issue involving my 2019 BMW X3. On or around January 21, 2024, while driving from my home, a warning signal suddenly appeared on my dashboard related to the vehicle’s cooling system/engine. Due to safety concerns, I pulled into a nearby Wawa parking lot, which was the safest available place to stop at the time. I turned the vehicle off and waited approximately 15 minutes before carefully driving the vehicle back home. After inspection and diagnosis, I was informed that the vehicle required extensive repairs, including an engine replacement and cooling system repairs. At the time the coolant warning appeared, the replacement engine reportedly had approximately 59 miles on it. I believe a sudden engine or cooling system malfunction while operating a vehicle presents a serious safety concern for drivers, passengers, and others on the roadway. In addition, I experienced issues involving the shark fin antenna on the vehicle, which I understand may be connected to broader complaints involving BMW vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter to determine whether these issues may indicate a broader defect or safety-related concern affecting other consumers. I am willing to provide supporting documentation including repair invoices, dealership records, photographs, and any additional information requested. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your commitment to vehicle safety.
NHTSA complaint #11740824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Painesville, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My SOS system has failed due to tsp/atm module defect from faulty shark fin component. My vehicle is off line and im unable to receive emergency services in case of an emergent situation.
NHTSA complaint #11740194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fuquay Varina, NC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2019 BMW X3 equipped with a B46 engine developed a significant coolant leak at approximately 80,000 miles. The vehicle displayed a low coolant warning, and coolant was visibly leaking underneath the vehicle. Around the same time, I began noticing excessive white exhaust/steam during cold starts and, for the first time since owning the vehicle, had to add engine oil between scheduled oil changes. The vehicle is currently undergoing inspection by an independent repair facility. Preliminary findings indicate concerns involving premature failure of critical plastic cooling system and/or oil filter housing components. Based on my research, these failures appear consistent with widespread complaints involving BMW B46/B48 engine cooling system and oil filter housing defects. I am concerned this defect could lead to sudden coolant loss, overheating, engine failure, or unsafe driving conditions. Prior to the coolant warning appearing, there were no significant alerts indicating a major or imminent cooling system failure. The apparent failure of critical plastic engine cooling components under normal driving conditions raises serious concerns regarding the durability and safety of these parts. I have photographs documenting the coolant leak, as well as detailed notes and diagnostic information from the repair facility, available upon request. The vehicle is available for inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11739354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Beverly Hills, MI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Our 2019 BMW X3 M40i shows "EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" which means the "SOS" system, which is crucial for post-collision response, fails. Erhardt BMW in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan confirmed water leakage due to defective sealing around the roof-mounted shark fin antenna damaged the Telematics Control Box (TCB) and now requires replacement. The estimated cost is $3,600. Some quick research revealed this to be a repeated problem with my vehicle. BMW has acknowledged it as a defect in 2017-2023 model year BMW M440i, M550i, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, 330, 340i and 750i vehicles and fix it at no cost, but only for citizens of [XXX] , as reported by [XXX] of [XXX] . For details, see: [XXX] . This seems unfair to non [XXX] residents like me [XXX] ). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11736041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norman, OK
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am reporting a water intrusion issue in my 2019 BMW X3 involving both the roof-mounted “shark fin” antenna and the sunroof. Water enters the vehicle during normal rain conditions and has caused failure of the emergency call (SOS) system. This presents a serious safety concern, as the emergency communication system may not function in the event of a crash or emergency. Water intrusion also creates a risk of electrical damage and potential malfunction of critical vehicle systems while driving. The vehicle has been properly maintained, and this issue appears to be related to known defects involving water leaks from roof components in BMW vehicles. The total repair cost to address these issues is $4,650.
NHTSA complaint #11727108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Longview, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving down the highway at about 60 mph, the vehicle made a loud noise like a gunshot, and the sunroof exploded. Fragments of glass fell from the sunroof onto the backseat and floor board and large chunks of glass fell after. There was not any indication that the sunroof was damaged prior to failure and there were no other cars around that could have caused a rock or other debris to fly up and hit the sunroof. Fragments of glass could have injured the driver and the noise startled the driver and could have caused a wreck.
NHTSA complaint #11726843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stillwater, MN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On returning to my locked vehicle that had been in the parking ramp for 3 days, I started the car and the display message indicated that my vehicle was completely out of gas and the oil was very low. The vehicle had nearly a full tank of gas when it was parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealership who assessed the vehicle. The service department indicated that the vehicle likely did not sound like it was running because of the idle feature, and as such, I may have thought I shut off the car, but that eventually the idle feature turned off, and the vehicle ran while it was locked until it was out of gas. The service man who sent me a video of my vehicle and described what happened, also showed me another BMW SUV in the hoist next to my vehicle and indicated that same vehicle had the same thing happen as well. BMW replaced the programing/encoding control units software that was original to the vehicle. They indicated that this would improve overall function of the vehicle. The cost of this replacement was $371. This sounds like a design flaw. How can a locked vehicle start back up after a period of time, by itself with no vehicle fob in the vicinity, and run for hours until it is out of gas and the oil is low?
NHTSA complaint #11713799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pequannock Township, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The emergency call system on the vehicle has failed and I am getting an error message. The service center at the dealership informed me that water ingress into the shark fin that houses the system caused the system to short and fail resulting in the need for a complete replacement of the system at a cost of $3100. BMW has issued a service bulletin (SIB 65 12 22-Roof Mounted Antenna Housing Seal Not Adhering) that states that the seal of the room-mounting antenna housing is separating from the vehicle. This will allow water ingress into the vehicle, possibly damaging components and equipment. With the correction of remove and reseal the roof-mounted antenna housing. During the service call, the technician confirmed this defect caused the issue. I contacted BMW and they refused to completely cover the repair stating it is not a safety issue. I disagree, I purchased the vehicle with advanced safety features. My wife travels with the car to rural areas and this feature is critical in her safety in the event of a crash. I feel BMW should cover the repair and that this issue is a safety concern for those who rely on an advanced safety calling system purchased with the car. In reviewing message boards, this seems to be an issue for many owners of BMW SUVs.
NHTSA complaint #11698189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plainview, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2019 x3 model has been leaking coolant from multiple places. I have already needed to replace the water pump at my mechanic and now there's an additional coolant leak and the radiator and radiator hoses are affected and may need replacement. My dealer has not reported this issue yet and no recall has been declared for my type of vehicle, but I cannot afford to fix this issue out of pocket and it's a manufacturer issue when making these materials for the car, no fault of the driver. This has now become an issue where my car is constantly leaking coolant and causing potential engine damage.
NHTSA complaint #11695887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Today, I placed my backpack containing my 2019 BMW X3 key fob in the back seat, closed the door, and proceeded to open the driver’s door as usual. Immediately, the car locked itself with the key fob still inside. This is a failure of the anti-lockout safety system. The vehicle’s Comfort Access/keyless entry system is designed to prevent the doors from locking when the key is inside, and it should never lock itself under these circumstances. This malfunction creates a serious safety risk, as occupants or pets could become trapped inside the vehicle. I am submitting this complaint to notify NHTSA of a potential safety defect in the BMW anti-lockout / Comfort Access system. I request an investigation to determine if this defect affects other vehicles of the same model and year.
NHTSA complaint #11687223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My X3 has 52,000 miles. During a recent road trip, an "Emergency Call System Malfunction" message appeared. When I returned home, I took the vehicle to the dealership. The advisor said the shark fin trim is loose on the roof causing water ingress into the vehicle causing damage to the aerial antenna and the TCB unit. The TCB unit is also known as the Telematics Control Unit that is responsible for vehicle safety and connectivity features, door locking mechanisms, and so on. The technician found faults in the aerial antenna and TCB. I understand from the service advisor that they see this fairly regularly. I have further learned that BMW issued a Service Information Bulletin admitting the problem to dealers and telling them it was a manufacturing defect during the painting process and lists the parts needed to fix it. The quoted cost to replace the damaged components and install/seal a new shark fin was over $4,000 (almost 10% of the car's original price). BMW knows this to be a problem and I think there should be a safety recall for it, regardless of whether the car is out of its original warranty period.
NHTSA complaint #11680698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montclair, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Shark Fin antenna water ingress causing Emergency Call Malfunction. Known issue with BMW and no warranty or recall due to failed seal allowing water to ingress into the Telematics Control Module disabling all cell service, hands free communication and tracking/navigation in case of an accident vehicle does not provide accurate location. Cost of repair is 3,000-5,000 due to water damage. Warnings come onto instrument cluster that can be removed and blocks mileage or any other settings to be viewed including cruise control settings
NHTSA complaint #11657255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Perkasie, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am writing regarding my 2019 BMW X3 which has suffered catastrophic electrical damage due to premature sunroof seal shrinkage. The failure has resulted in: Damage to the amplifier Damage to the auto system Non-functioning park assist warning tones and signal Integrity of panoramic sunroof stability The dealership has identified seal failure as the root cause. This is particularly concerning given that: These seals are designed and expected to last 20 years This is a documented issue affecting multiple BMW vehicles My vehicle is only 5 years old, far short of the expected seal lifespan The premature seal failure clearly indicates a manufacturing defect, not normal wear and Tear. The systemic nature of this defect which Causes a significant gap between actual and expected seal performance The extensive consequential damage caused by this manufacturing issue Is highly concerning snd should be immediately investigated and addressed.
NHTSA complaint #11642974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Wales, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2019 BMW X3 posted this error on the instrument display "Emergency call system malfunction". BMW service informed me that the shark fin roof mounted antenna is leaking. It causes issues with the SOS feature, navigation (reporting wrong location). There are numerous complaints on BMW owners message boards with the same problem. There is at least one BMW Service Information Bulletin (SIB) that applies to this issue for my vehicle. It is number B65 12 22. I was told this issue is not covered under my certified pre-owned warranty. This is a safety issue affecting thousands of BMW owners. BMW should do the right thing, issue a recall on the affected models and repair this problem. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11631848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Safety recall involving rear cargo rails hasn’t been rectified for 3 months now.
NHTSA complaint #11618591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baldwin Park, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have take out cargo on left side by self
NHTSA complaint #11607079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waukee, IA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle 2019 bmw x3 purchased from dealer with all maintenance performed per BMW specs at dealership, Warned of low coolant. Coolant was added, two days later 0n 6 25 2024 the light came on for low coolant checking vehicle saw large leak. Vehicle was towed to dealership. On 6 26 2024 the visual from BMW stated the the oil filter housing which is made of plastic and warps. They want to replace the oil filter housing but they say the manifold and transmission has to be remove to replace it at a cost of 3119 dollars as estimate. From dealership. The vehicle is low mileage purchased at 30 k from dealership and has been maintained with the reccomendations of the dealership. The time the vehicle will be in shop to do he work will be long and it till unclear of the extended warranty purchased from dealership at time of purchase will cover its replacement and th costs for labor.
NHTSA complaint #11597230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highlands Ranch, CO
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Since purchasing the vehicle, the illumination of the instrument cluster, information center screen, and sometimes the climate controls dim partially or completely during daytime driving. This occurs randomly and frequently at times. Reported this to BMW service at least three times since purchasing the vehicle. BMW service could not identify the issue but flashed the on-board software at least twice as a possible fix. Neither episode corrected the problem and BMW says they don't know what is going on since the issue has not reported an error code. I understand this issue, or issues generally similar, has been experienced by other BMW owners across this and other BMW model lines. BMW North America has washed their hands of this isse and the dealeers have no idea how to diagnose and fix it.
NHTSA complaint #11586885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Solana Beach, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The X3 suddenly slowed down to stoppage on an interstate highway, and the car "shifted" to Neutral by itself. I had to shift back to "Drive" and then drive away. It happened twice in September to October 2023, with my family and other kids in the car. Luckily there was traffic, driving speed was relatively low. Contacted two BMW dealerships and the only thing they could do was change the battery. They said maybe the battery wasn't functioning fully. However, BMW shouldn't stop my car on a highway just because the battery may be relatively low. No warning about battery was ever observed. Four pictures attached: Error Message 1 - Increased Steering Effort on 10.13.23 Error Message 2 - Transmission (suddenly "auto-shifted" to Neutral) Error Message 3 - Four-wheel-drive system Error Message 4 - Front monitor suddenly turned on?
NHTSA complaint #11568093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redwood City, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On the 2019 BMW X3, we’ve experienced the tailgate opening while the vehicle is in traffic, and the transmission is in ‘D’ drive. The safety hazard I’m suggesting be investigated is that the buttons on the remote key fob to the vehicle, including lock, unlock, tailgate, and panic, ALL work even if the vehicle is turned on and driving. This poses a serious safety risk to not only occupants of the vehicle, objects or animals that may be in the trunk, but also to other motorists on the road. We’ve personally had this happen three times, all in cases where we were in live traffic on an active roadway. One case in particular our dog was in the trunk and we had to pull over in the middle of traffic while the dog thankfully stayed seated in the trunk area. I believe this happens because it’s very common for the key fob to be in a pocket or purse while operating the vehicle, where it’s very possible for the buttons to be pressed inadvertently. In my opinion, the key fob should not be functional while the car’s ignition is on. No other car I’ve ever owned has had a key fob whose buttons still work while the ignition is on. Happy give further comment if need be. Thanks
NHTSA complaint #11567145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Naples, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
URO Parts Engine Oil Filter Housing There was no sensors that went off to indicate that there was an issue with my coolant or my oil and I went to drive my car and broke down on the side of the road. The dealership and the repair shop and mechanics I’ve called have told me that this is a common issue with Bmw because of how it's made. If I knew that there was a problem because of the sensors I would’ve never had to break down on the side of the road and be less stranded without a vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11530740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fremont, CACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We were towing a rental travel trailer (~3500 Ib), going east bound on highway 80 near Martinez, CA. The travel trailer suddenly went into oscillation, the amplitude got larger and larger, and finally both SUV and trailer landed on the sides on the embankment. The SUV was supposedly in "tow" mode, so the feature "Trailer Stabilization Control" should have been activated to reduce the sway/oscillation (and perhaps issued some warnings). However, we only got traction control alarm just prior to the crash.
NHTSA complaint #11491196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waldorf, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unable to feel vibration in steering wheel for the lane departure warning system.
NHTSA complaint #11486834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edina, MN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Was driving on the freeway, not more than 60mph, no over bridges, no potholes, no people, and heard some exploded over my head. I pulled the car over and saw the sunroof was shattered. I didn’t see any heavy object flying. After reaching home, I searched online what could be the reasons and found there were 100s of cases like this already reports.
NHTSA complaint #11467630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simpsonville, SC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The car sos system “masses a dos call” to the police department. After clsryfiyng the error, the car shows the following message: “ emergency call malfunction”. BMW disabled my car emergency system to avoid this problem again but tried to change me to fix the problem
NHTSA complaint #11456456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roswell, GA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunroof shattered randomly
NHTSA complaint #11429933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,332 milesOmaha, NE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE PREVIOUSLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHERE THE DASHBOARD GAUGES WERE SHIFTING A FEW INCHES TO THE LEFT AND LOST VISIBILITY TO THE SPEEDOMETER. THIS WAS RESOLVED AFTER A FEW VISITS WITH THE GAUGE CLUSTER BEING REPLACED. WE ARE NOW HAVING AN ISSUE WHERE OCCASIONALLY THE DASHBOARD GAUGE CLUSTER WILL GO COMPLETELY BLANK FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE IDRIVE COMPONENTS REMAIN ON DURING THIS TIME. IT'S DIFFICULT TO TAKE A PICTURE, AS IT ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY CONSISTENCY TO WHEN THIS OCCURS, BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN STATIONARY. THE TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED, IT DOES SEEM TO BE WHILE ACCELERATING AFTER A TURN.
NHTSA complaint #11399252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norfolk, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAILGATE OPENS ON ITS OWN. ONCE IN MOTION MORE OFTEN AFTER LOADING DOGS IN THE BACK, CLOSING IT AND THEN IT OPENS AS I OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. A FIX IS TO START THE CAR FIRST THE OPEN THE TAILGATE AND CLOSE THAT SEEMS TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #11398202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.