Used car safety, rank #1 of 181
BMW X3 4WD Safety Rating (2019-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2019-20 BMW X3 4WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Safest PickThe 2019-20 BMW X3 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 0 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 10.9, which is the best possible result. That places it #1 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 98.6/100, earning our Safest Pick designation, and it typically sells used for $22,000 to $36,000.
What the BMW X3 death rate means
A driver death rate of 0 means IIHS found too few driver deaths in 2019-20 BMW X3 4WDs, relative to how many were registered, to separate the rate from zero. It does not mean nobody can die in one. The 95% confidence interval runs from 0 to 29, so the true rate could plausibly be as high as 29.
The other-driver death rate of 44 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a BMW X3. It is higher than the BMW X3's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the BMW X3 4WD highlighted. It ranks 1 of the 9 shown.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW X3 4WD (this page) | 2019-20 | 0 (0 to 29) | 98.6 | 2.5/5 | $22,000 to $36,000 |
| Audi Q5 4WD | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 6) | 97.1 | 3.0/5 | $23,000 to $38,000 |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2018-20 | 4 (0 to 13) | 96.3 | 3.5/5 | $26,000 to $42,000 |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2018-20 | 5 (0 to 16) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $23,000 to $36,000 |
| Lexus RX 350 4WD | 2017-20 | 5 (0 to 10) | 95.5 | 4.0/5 | $26,000 to $40,000 |
| Acura RDX 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 18) | 93.6 | 4.5/5 | $22,000 to $34,000 |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2019-20 | 6 (0 to 19) | 93.6 | 2.0/5 | $28,000 to $48,000 |
| Porsche Macan | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 14) | 93.6 | 1.5/5 | $32,000 to $52,000 |
| Acura MDX 4WD | 2017-20 | 6 (0 to 16) | 93.6 | 4.0/5 | $24,000 to $36,000 |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 10.9 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new BMW X3
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current BMW X3 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | BMW X3 | TSP+ | 97.2 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 98.6 used-car score above.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 2.5 out of 5
RepairPal rates the BMW X3 2.5/5, 10th out of 11 in its category. Owners spend about $1,034 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.8 times a year for unscheduled work, and 14% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsUsed price: $22,000 to $36,000
Typical asking prices for 2019-20 BMW X3 4WD listings. For a model with a death rate of 0, that buys more real-world protection per dollar than most alternatives in the midsize luxury SUVs class.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2017)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the BMW X3 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Do not drive Park outside
NHTSA says to stop driving this vehicle until that repair is done. 1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
16 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering electrical system, structure, seats, engine, back over prevention, steering, seat belts, suspension.
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Electrical system: starter assembly, relay Park outside
Risk: 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.
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Structure
Risk: 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.
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Structure
Risk: 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.
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Seats
Risk: 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.
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Engine
Risk: Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: 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.
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.
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Back over prevention: 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.
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.
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Electrical system: propulsion system, traction battery
Risk: 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.
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Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
Risk: 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
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can increase the risk of a crash when reversing.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will program the affected vehicles with rearview camera software, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2020. All vehicles have been remedied as of November 9, 2020.
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Steering: linkages, tie rod assembly
Risk: A damaged or fractured tie rod may affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW and Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear tie rods, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2020.
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Seat belts: front, buckle assembly
Risk: If the air bag and/or seat belt pretensioners deploy improperly in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020.
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Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag could damage the instrument panel and cause small pieces of the panel to strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel casing, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020.
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Steering: rack and pinion, pinion shaft
Risk: A loss of steering control increases risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW has notified owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2019.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019.
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Suspension: front Do not drive
Risk: Broken swivel bearings can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW has notified owners and instructed them to not drive their vehicles. Dealers will replace the front axle swivel bearings, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
BMW X3 4WD: Common Questions
Is the BMW X3 4WD a safe car?
Yes. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 0 per million registered vehicle years for the 2019-20 BMW X3 4WD, the best possible result (10.9 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 98.6 out of 100 and rank #1 of 181 used vehicles, with a Safest Pick designation.
What is the BMW X3 4WD driver death rate?
0 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 29. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a BMW X3 died at a rate of 44 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2019-20 models.
How does the BMW X3 4WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 10.9 driver deaths per million; the BMW X3 4WD sits at 0. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 1 by safety score.