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2021 BMW X3 sDrive30i

The 2021 BMW X3 sDrive30i is a 248-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 SUV with an 8-speed steptronic automatic and rear-wheel drive. It starts at $43,000 MSRP and is rated at 27 mpg combined.

It makes 248 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 1450-4800 rpm. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 25 mpg city and 29 mpg highway (27 mpg combined).

The X3 measures 185.9 inches long on a 112.8-inch wheelbase.

Spec Value
Vehicle
Body TypeSUV
PowertrainGas
Price
MSRP$43,000
MSRP with Destination$43,995
Destination Charge$995
Engine
Engine TypeTurbocharged inline-4 (B46)
Displacement2 L
Horsepower248 hp @ 5,200 rpm
Torque258 lb-ft @ 1450-4800 rpm
ValvetrainDOHC 16V VALVETRONIC Double-VANOS
Bore and Stroke82.0 x 94.6
Compression Ratio11:1
Injection TypeHigh Precision Direct Injection
Drivetrain
Drive TypeRWD (sDrive)
Transmission
Transmission8-speed Steptronic automatic
1st Gear5.25
2nd Gear3.2
3rd Gear2.143
4th Gear1.72
5th Gear1.314
6th Gear1
7th Gear0.822
8th Gear0.64
Reverse3.456
Final Drive3.385
Fuel Economy
City25 MPG
Highway29 MPG
Combined27 MPG
Recommended FuelPremium unleaded (AKI 91 recommended; 89 min)
Tank Capacity17.2 gal
Suspension
Front SuspensionAluminum double-joint spring strut axle
Rear SuspensionFive-link axle in lightweight steel construction
Turning Diameter39.4 ft
Tires & Wheels
Wheels Front7J x 18 LM
Wheels Rear7J x 18 LM
Tires Front225/60 R18
Tires Rear225/60 R18
Dimensions & Weight
Length185.9 in
Width74.4 in
Height66 in
Wheelbase112.8 in
Front Track63.8 in
Rear Track64.4 in
Ground Clearance8 in
Cargo Volume28.7 ft³
Interior
Headroom Front41.1 in
Headroom Rear39.1 in
Legroom Front40.3 in
Legroom Rear36.4 in
Shoulder Room Front57.6 in
Shoulder Room Rear56 in

Safety & Recalls

NCAP safety ratings

Overall ★★★★★
Frontal crash ★★★★★
Side crash ★★★★★
Rollover ★★★★★ (17.2 % risk)
Tested variant: 2021 BMW X3 SUV RWD
Other tested variants (1)
  • 2021 BMW X3 SUV AWD: 5 ★ overall

Recalls

10 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2021 BMW X3. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Jan 30, 2026 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

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.

NHTSA campaign 26V056000

Sep 23, 2025 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY Park outside

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit.

Consequence: A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 14, 2025.

NHTSA campaign 25V636000

Oct 15, 2024 · 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.

Consequence: Interior rear cargo rail detachment during a 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 December 12, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicles in this recall were previously remedied for this issue under recall number 24V-534 and will need to have the new repair completed.

NHTSA campaign 24V764000

Jul 17, 2024 · 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.

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.

NHTSA campaign 24V534000

Mar 29, 2023 · SEATS

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, 2020-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, 2021 X3 xDrive30e, X4 xDrive30i, and X4M vehicles. The seat frame may not have been welded properly to the seat rails.

Consequence: An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat frame and back rest, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 23V211000

Mar 24, 2021 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, and X4, and 2021 X4 xDrive30i vehicles. The inlet check valve weld may fail, allowing the filling pipe to separate from the fuel tank.

Consequence: Fuel may leak through the failed weld, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall is scheduled to begin May 17, 2021. Owners were also contacted by telephone. To date, all repairs have been done. No further owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 21V199000

Feb 19, 2021 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles. When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 21V096000

Sep 30, 2020 · BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 20V598000

Sep 30, 2020 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 530e iPerformance and X3 xDrive30e and MINI Cooper Countryman All4 SE, 2020 BMW i8, and 2021 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le xDrive and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.

Consequence: The debris could result in a short-circuit, increasing the risk of fire or injury.

Remedy: BMW will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery module free of charge. The remedy is currently being developed. Until the remedy is completed, drivers are instructed to not charge their vehicles. Drivers are instructed to not drive in manual mode, sport mode, and to not use the shift paddles. Owners were notified of the safety risk October 23, 2020. The recall began November 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 20V601000

Aug 18, 2020 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330e and X5 xDrive45e, 2020-2021 X3 xDrive30e, and 2020 MINI Countryman SE ALL4 vehicles. Loose welding beads may form a conductive path between the hybrid battery cells which could lead to a short-circuit.

Consequence: A short-circuited hybrid battery may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the battery modules, free of charge. BMW issued owners an interim notification on October 16, 2020. Although potentially affected BMW owners received interim owner notification letters, all potentially affected BMW owner vehicles have been remedied; therefore, BMW Final owner notification letters will not be necessary. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign 20V490000

113 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 2021 BMW X3

Owner Complaints

113 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 BMW X3 (5 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov

Most-cited areas
Electrical System34
Unknown Or Other26
Engine23
Structure11
Vehicle Speed Control8
Service Brakes6
A complaint can cite more than one area.
Most recent complaints
Oct 15, 2026 · Electrical System
“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…”
Oct 12, 2026 · Unknown Or Other
“Formal complaint regarding improper recall repair of a 2021 BMW X3 and request for assistance. Dear Administrator, I am writing to submit a formal complaint regarding my 2021 BMW X3 and the handling…”
Sep 28, 2026 · Unknown Or Other
“Active Grill shutter malfunction. Randomly the check engine light came on the code was for the grill shutter. Upon inspection the grill shutter is not closing. This was an extended warranty on several…”
Sep 17, 2026 · Steering, Suspension
“My vehicle was serviced at arrowhead bmw and they found most steering bushings were cracked front and rear, and only wanted $4,500.00 for repair”
Sep 11, 2026 · Electrical System
“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…”

Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 2021 BMW X3. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.

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