2019 Bmw X3
The Verdict
The 2019 Bmw X3 has 163 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (62 complaints) and electrical (47 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 61/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Bmw X3, consider the 2023 model year which has 93% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2023 has 93% fewer complaints
View the 2023 Bmw X3 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X4 M40i vehicles. The instrument panel assembly may have been improperly manufactured, possibly a...
Risk
If the front passenger air bag does not deploy properly in the event of a crash, the occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Reported Oct 4, 2019
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2019 Bmw X3. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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.
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.
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.
While driving our BMW 2019 X3 on the highway, other drivers honked to get my attention that our vehicle's rear hatch was partially open. When we came to a stop light, I had my son riding in the passenger seat press the hatch button on the key fob to close the hatch. Instead this fully opened the back hatch. We continued pressing the fob button in an attempt to get the hatch to close without having to exit the vehicle. Rather than exit the vechicle in the middle of the roadway, we drove about 50 yards until we could pull over safely. A motorcyclist had been following us, and came up behind and communicated that he wanted to press the button to close the hatch. After I gave my consent, he pressed the close button and the hatch closed and latched. My husband has previously had incidents where after parking the BMW, he finds the back hatch open. He's also researched online this is apparently an issue. Reference: [XXX] NHTSA claim XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear caliper locking up when in reverse. Knocking noise and crunching sound.
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.
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)
I'm reporting a safety issue with BMW vehicles equipped with the B58 engine, primarily 2019-2021 models. These vehicles have an oil pump with an internal plastic component that regulates oil pressure, and this part is fracturing in the field, causing sudden loss of oil pressure. The failure typically occurs during cold starts in low temperatures. When it fails, oil pressure becomes erratic or is lost entirely, often with little to no warning before engine damage or vehicle disablement. Warning signs, when present, include inability to measure oil level electronically, abnormal oil pressure, or sudden drive train malfunction warnings. These can rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe damage from oil starvation. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle can become disabled without warning while driving or after startup. This is especially hazardous when cars become immobilized in traffic or during winter conditions when failures occur most frequently, leaving occupants exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Pump replacement requires extensive disassembly and commonly costs $6,000-$8,000, assuming no engine damage. A critical concern: owners cannot determine if their vehicle has the original plastic pump or the later metal revision. BMW's VIN-based parts lookup now shows updated components even when original plastic parts remain installed, and BMW has removed the original plastic part number from dealer networks entirely. Failures are reported across multiple production years, and the scope of affected vehicles remains unclear. Because this condition causes sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning, especially in cold weather, I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety-related defect.
Main dashboard display is partially blocked by a message stating “emergency call system malfunction.” Apparently the roof mounted antenna’s seal fails and allows water into the electronics for the emergency call system. Upon failure, it also stops the Bluetooth microphone for the cell phone to stop working. The dealer quoted the repair at $3,200. Judging from a google search, this is a common problem among this generation of BMW vehicles.
The vehicle's Telematics Control Box (TCB), located beneath the roof-mounted shark fin antenna, failed due to water intrusion and internal corrosion. The failure produced the following fault codes confirmed by BMW of Norwood, MA: B7F341 (backup battery hardware defective), B7F33C (internal ECU error), and B7F327 (microphone short circuit to ground), along with cascading faults across multiple other vehicle modules. Symptoms included a persistent 'Emergency Call System Malfunction' warning on the instrument cluster, loss of GPS/navigation accuracy, and loss of odometer display. The shark fin antenna base seal — a foam tape and adhesive system — had likely deteriorated after approximately 6-7 years of service, consistent with a pattern of failures reported by numerous other owners of 2017-2023 BMW X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, M440i, M550i, 330, 340i, and 750i vehicles. BMW dealer quoted $3,300 for repair. An independent BMW specialist quoted $3,500. BMW North America declined to cover the repair as the vehicle is out of warranty, despite acknowledging the issue as known. This failure mode is the subject of active class action litigation (Craft v. BMW of North America LLC, Case No. 1:24-cv-06826, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey) and an ongoing investigation by Sauder Schelkopf LLC on behalf of affected owners. SAFETY CONCERN: The failure disables the Intelligent Emergency Call system, which automatically contacts emergency services in the event of a serious accident. Additionally, the persistent warning obscures the instrument cluster including the odometer display, impairing normal vehicle operation. Water intrusion reaching vehicle electronics represents a broader safety risk if it propagates to safety-critical modules. ACTION REQUESTED: Formal investigation into the adequacy of the shark fin antenna sealing design across affected model years, and consideration of a recall or extended warranty to cover TCB replacement costs for affected owners.
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.
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.
PHANTOM BRAKING ISSUE - Twice now while driving 50-55 MPH on clear roads the brakes slammed on without cause - COMPLETE SHUTDOWN - While going thru a restaurant drive thru - the car completely shut down and would not move forward - I had to back up in order to get out of drive thru - thankfully no one was behind me. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR - bringing it in for service
My 2019 BMW X3 (G01 chassis) displays a persistent "Emergency Call System Malfunction" warning on the instrument cluster that cannot be dismissed or reset by the owner. The warning appears every time the vehicle is started and remains on the dashboard throughout operation. This is a known defect caused by failure of the Telematics Communication Box (TCB) module, which is commonly triggered by water intrusion through a defective seal on the roof-mounted shark fin antenna housing. BMW has acknowledged this issue through Technical Service Bulletin SIB B65 12 22 (Roof-Mounted Antenna Housing Seal Not Adhering), yet has not issued a recall or offered a no-cost repair to affected owners. This defect presents the following safety concerns: 1. The persistent, non-dismissible warning light desensitizes the driver to critical dashboard warnings, undermining the purpose of the vehicle's warning system. When drivers are conditioned to ignore a permanent warning, they are more likely to overlook new, actionable safety alerts. 2. The emergency call (eCall) system itself is rendered non-functional, meaning the vehicle will not automatically contact emergency services in the event of a serious collision where the driver is incapacitated. 3. The warning creates a visual distraction on the instrument cluster during driving. BMW's only offered remedy is full replacement of the TCB module at a cost of 1,500â“2,500 to the owner, despite this being a manufacturing defect (faulty antenna seal adhesive) and not a wear item. The defective component is located under the headliner and is not accessible for owner maintenance. This issue is widespread across 2017â“2023 BMW models equipped with the shark fin antenna, including the X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, 3 Series, and 5 Series. A class action lawsuit has been filed against BMW of North America regarding this defect. Numerous complaints have been submitted to NHTSA and documented extensively on BMW owner forums. I am requesting that NHTSA
hello I am formally reporting: Safety‑Critical Failures and Applicable Federal Requirements the attached 2019 BMW X3 – VIN [XXX] 1. Rearview Camera Failure Federal Requirement: FMVSS 111 – Rear Visibility Relevant Obligations: - Rearview image must activate automatically when shifting into reverse. - System must provide a minimum field of view. - System must function reliably under normal operating conditions. Failure: The rearview camera failed completely, resulting in loss of federally required rear visibility. 2. Emergency Call (eCall) System Malfunction Federal Requirement: 49 CFR § 573 – Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility (NHTSA considers eCall part of the post‑crash safety architecture.) Relevant Obligations: - Manufacturers must investigate safety‑related failures. - Manufacturers must determine defect scope and affected population. Failure: The vehicle displays “Emergency Call System Malfunction” warnings, indicating loss of automatic crash notification capability. 3. Forward Collision Warning / Pedestrian Warning Failure Federal Requirement: FMVSS 126 – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) - NHTSA ADAS Safety Guidance (Forward Collision Warning, Pedestrian Detection) Relevant Obligations: - ADAS systems supporting collision avoidance must function reliably. - Failures must be investigated for potential safety defects. - Manufacturers must document defect determination and scope. Failure: The vehicle displays warnings indicating failure of forward collision warning and pedestrian detection systems, impairing collision‑avoidance capability. 4. Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Failure Federal Requirement: 49 CFR § 573 – Defect Reporting - NHTSA Safety Recall Rules (TCU failures affecting safety systems) Relevant Obligations: - TCU failures affecting safety‑critical subsystems must be investigated. - Manufacturers must determine whether the failure constitutes a defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I'm reporting a safety issue with BMW vehicles equipped with the B58TU engine, primarily 2019-2021 models. These vehicles have an oil pump with an internal plastic component that regulates oil pressure, and this part is fracturing in the field, causing sudden loss of oil pressure. The failure typically occurs during cold starts in low temperatures. When it fails, oil pressure becomes erratic or is lost entirely, often with little to no warning before engine damage or vehicle disablement. Warning signs, when present, include inability to measure oil level electronically, abnormal oil pressure, or sudden drivetrain malfunction warnings. These can rapidly progress to engine shutdown or severe damage from oil starvation. This creates a dangerous situation because the vehicle can become disabled without warning while driving or after startup. This is especially hazardous when cars become immobilized in traffic or during winter conditions when failures occur most frequently, leaving occupants exposed to freezing temperatures while awaiting assistance. Pump replacement requires extensive disassembly and commonly costs $6,000-$8,000, assuming no engine damage. A critical concern: owners cannot determine if their vehicle has the original plastic pump or the later metal revision. BMW's VIN-based parts lookup now shows updated components even when original plastic parts remain installed, and BMW has removed the original plastic part number from dealer networks entirely. Failures are reported across multiple production years, and the scope of affected vehicles remains unclear. Because this condition causes sudden vehicle disablement without adequate warning, especially in cold weather, I believe this warrants investigation as a potential safety-related defect.
Beginning in July–August 2025, my 2019 BMW X3 (VIN [XXX] ) began experiencing multiple safety‑critical system failures affecting federally regulated components. The rearview camera intermittently failed to activate and later stopped functioning entirely, resulting in loss of rear visibility required under FMVSS 111. The Emergency Call (eCall) system displayed repeated malfunction warnings, indicating loss of automatic crash notification capability. The vehicle also displayed “Driver Assistance Restricted,” “Collision Warning Malfunction,” and pedestrian detection failure messages, showing that forward collision warning and related ADAS functions were not operating properly. During the same period, the telematics control unit (TCU) lost functionality. This caused loss of ConnectedDrive services, backend communication, remote diagnostics, remote status reporting, and safety‑related over‑the‑air updates. These failures match known BMW defect patterns involving water intrusion into the antenna/telematics module and backend provisioning issues. I submitted a detailed written escalation to BMW of North America. BMW issued two brief responses on February 11–12, 2026 that did not address any of the safety issues, did not provide the engineering basis for excluding my VIN from the applicable recall, and redirected me to a dealer, which has no authority over recall determinations. BMW closed the case without providing any investigation results, defect determination, or technical explanation, contrary to obligations under 49 CFR § 573. These failures materially impair federally regulated safety functions, including rear visibility, collision avoidance, emergency crash notification, and telematics‑based safety communication. The pattern suggests a potential broader defect affecting additional vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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?
- Frontal Collision warning, Pedestrian warning - yes because safety features were shut off, back up camera doesn't work as well - yes - yes
Starting in July/August 2025, my 2019 BMW X3 (G01) suffered a total failure of multiple safety-critical systems, including the Emergency Call (eCall) system, the rearview camera, and frontal collision/pedestrian alert sensors. These failures were accompanied by a persistent "Emergency Call System Malfunction" warning on the dashboard. BMW Service Information Bulletin SIB 65 12 22 acknowledges a manufacturing defect where the roof-mounted antenna housing seal was "not optimal," leading to water ingress. This water ingress has damaged the Telematics Control Unit (TCB), which manages these safety features. I have contacted BMW North America and local dealerships; however, they have provided a written refusal to repair the damaged internal electronics because the vehicle is out of its original 4-year warranty. Safety Risk: This defect leaves the vehicle in a non-compliant safety state. In the event of a crash, the vehicle cannot automatically notify emergency services (eCall failure). Furthermore, the loss of the rearview camera and collision avoidance systems significantly increases the risk of a crash or injury. BMW is aware of the defect that causes these safety systems to fail but has not issued a safety recall to address the resulting hardware damage. This issue is currently the subject of the Craft v. BMW of North America class-action lawsuit.
163 total