Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 BMW X3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Starter Motor May Overheat and Cause a Fire
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component.
- Consequence
- Fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026.
Second-Row Side Door Lock Malfunction/FMVSS 206
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2024 X3 sDrive30i and X3 xDrive30i vehicles. The second-row seat side door locking modules may not function properly and allow the doors to be unlocked with a single motion. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components."
- Consequence
- Doors that can be inadvertently unlocked and unlatched may open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury to rear seat occupants.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the second-row seat side door locking modules, free of charge. A letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on April 21, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 800-525-7417.
Interior Rear Cargo Rail May Detach in Crash
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.
- 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.
Transmission Gears May Seize
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 8 Series Coupe (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (850i xDrive, M8), X3 SAV (X3 xDrive30i, X3M), X4 SAV (X4 xDrive30i), X5 SAV (X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M), X6 SAV (X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M), and Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i vehicles. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured properly, which could allow automatic transmission oil to leak into the transmission control unit.
- Consequence
- Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (15)
15 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4 | 26.7% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 20% |
| Structure | 3 | 20% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 6.7% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 6.7% |
| Power train | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering | 1 | 6.7% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 6.7% |
How 2023 compares with other X3 years
Best and worst X3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 92 | 6 |
| 2018 | 76 | 11 |
| 2019 | 170 | 10 |
| 2020 | 109 | 16 |
| 2021 | 111 | 10 |
| 2022 | 80 | 7 |
| 2023 | 15 | 4 |
| 2024 | 38 | 3 |
| 2025 | 38 | 9 |
| 2026 | 17 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2023 BMW X3 suv awd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 352 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 / 29 / 25 | $3,300 | 352 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | $3,400 | 369 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 26 / 23 | $3,550 | 378 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $4,850 | 519 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $4,850 | 519 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2023 X3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2023 BMW X3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2023 BMW X3 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 26V056000 (electrical), 25V106000 (latch), 24V534000 (structure), 23V821000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2023 BMW X3 problems?
Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (4), Electrical system (3), Structure (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2023 BMW X3 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 23 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2023 BMW X3 get?
NHTSA rated the 2023 BMW X3 suv awd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2023 X3 compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 BMW X3 model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (76) and the 2019 the most (170). The 2023 drew 15. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.