VehicleVerdict

2021 BMW X3 engine problems

The 2021 BMW X3 has 21 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 15% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

21

Engine complaints

15%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

X3 engine complaints by model year160 complaints2004: 17 complaints2005: 8 complaints2006: 10 complaints2007: 41 complaints2008: 31 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 20 complaints2011: 55 complaints2012: 10 complaints2013: 160 complaints2014: 38 complaints2015: 44 complaints2016: 30 complaints2017: 39 complaints2018: 19 complaints2019: 36 complaints2020: 25 complaints2021: 21 complaints2022: 8 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 4 complaints
X3 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“Car spontaneously caught on fire. Total loss. Drove car home from haircut appointment 5 to 10 minutes away. Parked car as normal and went inside. Within approximately 5 minutes loud knock on door “Your car is on fire!” I came out of my home and saw my car in driveway with fire erupting from…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · March 20, 2026 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2021 BMW X3 have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 2021 BMW X3 engine — 15% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.