BMW X3 SAV Problems by Year
BMW X3 SAV years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical X3 SAV year: 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 X3 SAV: 160 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2008 X3 SAV: 56 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2010 X3 SAV: 23 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2012 X3 SAV: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2011 X3 SAV: 13 complaints, 1 recall
- 2009 X3 SAV: 16 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW X3 SAV problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 98 | 5 | 3 |
| Power Train | 55 | 4 | 1 |
| Seats | 50 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 37 | 6 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 28 | 5 | 1 |
| Steering | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Structure | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW X3 SAV model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 X3 SAV | 6 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2011 X3 SAV | 13 | 1 | — | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2010 X3 SAV | 23 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 X3 SAV | 16 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 X3 SAV | 56 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 X3 SAV | 160 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW X3 SAV years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (160), 2008 (56) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical X3 SAV year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW X3 SAV?
Air Bags, with 98 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW X3 SAV have?
3 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.