repaired · 2026 Q3
Electrical system: starter assembly
NewRisk. Fire increases the risk of injury.
2021 BMW X3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 116 owner complaints about the 2021 BMW X3, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-636 the manufacturer reports only 71% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 BMW X3 has problems
116 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
35Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
24Engine3 crash/fire/injury
11Structure
9Vehicle speed control2 crash/fire/injury
5Steering
5Forward collision avoidance
5Fuel/propulsion system
5Power train
5Service brakes
2413 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 35 | 1 |
| Engine | 24 | 3 |
| Structure | 11 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 2 |
| Steering | 5 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 |
| Power train | 5 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 |
| 13 other systems | 24 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2021 BMW X3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Starter assembly: relay
Park outsideRisk. A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Structure
Risk. Interior rear cargo rail detachment during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Structure
Risk. Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2025 Q1
Seats
Risk. An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. Fuel may leak through the failed weld, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Sensing system: camera
Risk. If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Propulsion system: traction battery
Risk. The debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Sensing system: camera
Risk. If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
Risk. A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other X3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the X3 median. How we score
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 BMW X3 safety ratings
2021 BMW X3 SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What X3 owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On start up the entire digital display panel fails to load and is dark including the speedometer and heads up display. This lasts anywhere from ten to twenty minutes and then randomly comes back on. In addition to no speedometer there are alarms going off that you can not see or clear out. Not…
At a stoplight in Huntsville, TX, on Oct. 14, 2026, car died. No yellow lights, no warning of any kind. Policeman rerouted traffic, got a tow truck and drove us a Firestone outlet, where problem was diagnosed as a dead battery. Car has only 27,600 miles on it. Battery is OEM. Car has been garaged,…
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the unrepaired recall repair. The manufacturer was…
Own a 2021 X3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.