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NHTSA Safety Recalls

BMW X3 Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 53 recall campaigns for the BMW X3, across 17 model years from 2004 to 2025. The 2020 has the most (16); the fewest among years with a recall is 2004 (1).

BMW X3 years to avoid by our method: 2019 (2.1× the median year).

Model years
17

2004–2025, with a recall

Recall campaigns
53
Most recalls
2020

16 recalls

Owner complaints
2,015

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 2,015 complaints with NHTSA about the BMW X3 across 23 model years; the most, 226, concern the 2013.

Owners marked a crash on 105 of the BMW X3 complaints (5%) and a fire on 109.

Across all BMW X3 model years, owners name the engine most often (at least 449 complaints), then the electrical system (418).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the BMW X3 in 2025: 278, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the BMW X3 is structure, in 11 model-year listings.

The newest BMW X3 recall, 26V524000, was reported on August 12, 2026 and concerns the steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm.

BMW X3 years to avoid

The 2019 BMW X3 stands out most: 61 complaints between 2018 and 2022, 27% of them naming the electrical system.

The 2019 also carries 10 recalls, against a median of 5.5 for the ranked BMW X3 years.

The best-measured BMW X3 years are 2014 (0.5×), 2018 (0.7×) and 2011 (0.7×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the BMW X3, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
2026022—not ranked
2025938—not ranked
2024342—not ranked
2023415—not ranked
202278354
1.5×
20211011353
1.9×
20201611043
1.8×
2019avoid1017161
2.1×
2018117620
0.7×
201769229
0.9×
201658231
1.0×
2015010529
1.0×
201408616
0.5×
2013022627
0.9×
20120429not ranked
2011011318
0.7×
20104320not ranked
20093190not ranked
20083660not ranked
20073980not ranked
200621435not ranked
200521039not ranked
2004113847
1.7×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.BMW X3 years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the BMW X3

  • STRUCTURE11
  • BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA9
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY7
  • AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION5
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE4
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)4
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL4
  • SEATS4
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY3

BMW X3 model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every BMW X3 recall campaign (53)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the BMW X3, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
26V524000August 12, 2026steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm2024–2025crash13
26V056000January 30, 2026electrical system: starter assembly2021–2023fire and injury87,394
25V857000December 11, 2025steering: steering control module2025crash and injury36,922
25V636000September 23, 2025electrical system: starter assembly: relay2020–2022firepark outside199,674
25V247000April 16, 2025service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc2025crash26
25V202000April 1, 2025electrical system: starter assembly2025crash and fire4,557
25V154000March 12, 2025service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2025crash192
25V109000February 21, 2025electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables2025crash and fire114
25V106000February 20, 2025latches/locks/linkages: doors: lock2022–2024injury40,736
24V909000December 5, 2024suspension: front: wheel bearing2025crash2
24V856000November 12, 2024air bags: side/window: curtain2025crash and injury2
24V772000October 17, 2024air bags: passenger side frontal: cushion2025crash and injury7
24V764000October 15, 2024structure2018–2022crash and injury8,725
24V608000August 13, 2024engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump2016–2017fire720,796
24V534000July 17, 2024structure2018–2023crash and injury282,387
23V821000December 6, 2023power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)2023crash552
23V770000November 16, 2023steering2024crash201
23V707000October 20, 2023engine and engine cooling: engine2010crash157,796
23V211000March 29, 2023seats2020–2021crash and injury51
22V513000July 20, 2022fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2022fire5
22V070000February 9, 2022power train: automatic transmission2022crash and injury4
21V907000November 19, 2021fuel system, diesel2016–2017fire50,404
21V598000August 2, 2021engine2020crash50,024
21V586000July 29, 2021fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump2016–2017crash11,216
21V521000July 8, 2021air bags: frontal2018–2019crash and injury138
21V199000March 24, 2021fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2021fire17
21V096000February 19, 2021back over prevention: sensing system: camera2019–2021crash and injury13,858
20V598000September 30, 2020back over prevention: sensing system: camera2020–2021crash and injury312
20V601000September 30, 2020electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery2020–2021fire and injury4,509
20V490000August 18, 2020electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery2020–2021fire713
20V443000July 29, 2020back over prevention: sensing system: camera2020crash5
20V355000June 15, 2020steering: linkages: tie rod assembly2020crash2,779
20V164000March 19, 2020seat belts: front: buckle assembly2020crash and injury3,316
20V152000March 18, 2020electrical system: instrument cluster/panel2018–2020crash and injury15
20V017000January 15, 2020air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2007–2010injury and death59,965
19V738000October 16, 2019steering: rack and pinion: pinion shaft2020crash20
19V684000September 27, 2019back over prevention: sensing system: camera2018–2020crash257,473
19V678000September 25, 2019suspension: front2020crashdo not drive368
19V563000July 31, 2019seats2018–2019crash and injury20
19V291000April 10, 2019air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module2019crash and injury50
18V755000October 25, 2018engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)2016–2017fire44,368
18V453000July 6, 2018service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper2018–2019crash5,594
18V431000June 21, 2018exterior lighting: turn signal2018crash5
18V374000June 6, 2018lane departure: lane keep: steering assist2018–2019crash51
18V154000March 7, 2018structure: body2018crash17,008
17V719000November 15, 2017electrical system: instrument cluster/panel2018crash3,188
17V683000October 30, 2017engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (pcv)2007–2010fire740,561
17V605000September 28, 2017air bags: sensor: occupant classification2006–2010crash and injury85,302
16V704000October 3, 2016steering: electric power assist system2017fire103
16V333000May 23, 2016child seat: latch strap2016–2017crash and injury188,668
08V384000August 5, 2008air bags: frontal2004–2006—200,000
07E069000equipment2005injury—
26V438000electrical system: starter assembly2021–2022, 2024fire and injury—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the BMW X3. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 21, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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