Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2025 | 3 | 8% | 2,000 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2023 | 3 | 20% | — |
| 2022 | 12 | 14% | 51,000 miles |
| 2021 | 11 | 10% | — |
| 2020 | 8 | 7% | 70,000 miles |
| 2019 | 31 | 18% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 9 | 12% | 31,000 miles |
| 2017 | 6 | 7% | 26,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% | 15,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 3% | 34,000 miles |
| 2014 | 3 | 3% | 67,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% | 74,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 124,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% | 93,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 3% | 67,000 miles |
| 2005 | 7 | 7% | 70,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 6% | 125,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact's husband owns a 2025 BMW X3. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while retrieving items out of the vehicle's liftgate, the liftgate door would independently shut while an individual was there. The contact stated that on one occasion, the liftgate door had pinned her against the vehicle and the contact used excessive force to open the liftgate. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on three separate occasion; however, they failed to duplicate the failure after each visit. The contact stated that she fears using the vehicle due to the liftgate failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer; however, both the contact and the manufacturer repeatedly missed each others phone calls. The contact eventually sent an email to the manufacturer; the contact had yet to receive a response to his email. …
The contact owns a 2025 BMW X3. The contact stated that while reaching into the vehicle, his jacket became snagged. After a visual inspection, the contact observed a "D-ring" metal sticking out a 1/4 inch from the interior C-Pillar, creating a potential laceration risk. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 100.
As I was driving today in the freeway my sunroof exploded. As far as I can tell, It was not caused by rocks or other cars, it just exploded putting my wife and I in a dangerous situation having to park on the side of the freeway. We first thought someone shot at us. We stopped the car and it took us a minute to feel safe to go out, trembling, to check car for gun fire. We looked the entire body while the freeway was full, even for a Sunday, and discovered nothing wrong. As we entered the car and closed our door, we heard the noise of shared glass, so we both left the car again to reinspect it putting our lives in danger as other drivers were passing by. We re-enter the car again and the same thing happened, left the car again to inspect the tires at this time, each time exposing our lives to the freeway traffic. …
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the contact looking in the rearview mirror and became aware that the tailgate had opened. The contact pulled over and closed the tailgate. The contact stated that while entering the garage, the tailgate opened unintendedly. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
The contact owns a 2022 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that the tailgate would fall on the contact without warning upon use. On one occasion, the tailgate had fallen on her left arm and the contact had to wrestle her arm out of the vehicle as the tailgate sensor failed to recognize her arm. Once her arm was released, the tailgate locked her purse inside the vehicle. The contact did not suffer any injuries. The contact called the dealer and arrangements were made to drop her off at home and to take her back to the vehicle once a spare key was made. The contact also stated that the car alarm would independently activate without warning while being driven and while stationary. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the emergency sensor warning light illuminated, as well as the camera system, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light, and the key proximity features malfunctioned. The contact stated that the shark fin cover was missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the backup battery and wiring harness were damaged due to water intrusion from the missing shark fin cover. The contact was informed that the backup battery, wiring harness, and shark fin cover need to be replaced; however, the vehicle remained unrepaired. The contact had contacted the insurance provider, and the insurance provider declined to cover the repairs under the comprehensive coverage, citing that the failure was a known issue with BMW vehicles. …
Related recalls (3)
Structure
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2022 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the rear cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Structure
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2023 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, and X3 M vehicles. The attachment for the interior cargo rail may become damaged in a rear crash and result in the cargo rail detaching.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Structure › Body
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X3 xDrive30i and X3 M40i vehicles. The rear spoiler may not have been properly attached during assembly, or may be missing screws, possibly causing the spoiler to detach while driving.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spoiler, correcting its attachment as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 1, 2018.
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW X3 years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2019 (31), 2022 (12), 2021 (11), 2018 (9) and 2004 (8) model years. Body complaints make up 18% of all complaints for the 2019.
Is there a recall for BMW X3 body problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 24V-764 (structure, Oct 15, 2024); 24V-534 (structure, Jul 17, 2024); 18V-154 (body, Mar 7, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do BMW X3 body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles; 55% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (72 mentions), followed by the body › hatchback/liftgate (3).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.