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CarMonitor

Transport Canada + NRCan

2020 BMW X 3

Everything Canada’s open data holds on this vehicle: what has been recalled, what it costs to run, and how efficient it is compared with everything else on the road.

Recalls

12

11 current

Combined

10.1L/100 km

Fuel, a year

$3,131

20,000 km, Ontario prices

Recalls

Good news: Recall repairs cost you nothing. Book with any manufacturer dealer and quote the recall number — no time limit, however many owners the vehicle has had.

Electrical

Transport Canada recall 2025499 · manufacturer campaign 12 89 25RC

23 September 2025

Transport Canada lists: 3 2019–2021 · 4 2021 · 5 2020–2021 · X 3 2020–2021 · and 2 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, water could leak into the starter relay and cause it to corrode. If this happens, the relay could short circuit and the starter could overheat.

Why it matters

A short circuit and/or a starter that overheats can create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off.

What the dealer will do

To reduce the safety risk, BMW advises that you should park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repairs have been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the engine starter.

17,761 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Structure

Transport Canada recall 2024609 · manufacturer campaign 51 86 24RC

15 October 2024

Transport Canada lists: X 3 2018–2022

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the recall repairs completed by a BMW dealer during recall 51 84 24RC (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-410) may not be effective. As a result, a second repair is required. On certain vehicles, the cargo area tie down rails could detach in a rear crash.

Why it matters

A cargo rail that detaches in a crash could create a risk of injury to rear passengers.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fasteners that secure the cargo rails to the body.

557 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Structure

Transport Canada recall 2024410 · manufacturer campaign 51 84 24RC

17 July 2024

Transport Canada lists: X 3 2018–2022

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the cargo area tie down rails could detach in a rear crash.

Why it matters

A cargo rail that detaches in a crash could create a risk of injury to rear passengers.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fasteners that secure the cargo rails to the body.

13,830 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

High Voltage

Transport Canada recall 2021596 · manufacturer campaign 61 88 21RC / M61 88 21RC

24 September 2021

Transport Canada lists: 3 2021 · 5 2020–2021 · X 3 2020–2021 · X 5 2021 · and 1 more

What is wrong

On certain plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), debris may have entered the high-voltage battery during production. As a result, the battery could short circuit. Note: This recall is for potentially affected vehicles that did not have battery cell module(s) replaced as a part of TC Recall No. 2020-464. Under this new recall the battery cell module(s) must be replaced.

Why it matters

A short circuit in the battery could create a fire risk.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and inform you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the battery cell module(s) of the high-voltage battery. BMW recommends that you should not charge your vehicle and that you should not drive the vehicle in manual mode, sport mode or use the shift paddles until the recall repairs have been completed. BMW also recommends that you should drain the high-voltage battery via iDrive, by setting/leaving the charging state at 30%, until the recall repairs have been completed.

170 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Brakes

Transport Canada recall 2021479 · manufacturer campaign 12 84 21RC

3 August 2021

Transport Canada lists: 3 2020 · 5 2020 · 7 2020–2022 · X 3 2020–2021 · and 2 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the vacuum pump to be damaged during engine starting. If this happens, there could be a loss of brake assist. This can cause an increase in brake pedal effort and increase the distance needed to stop the vehicle.

Why it matters

A sudden increase in brake pedal force could lead to an increased stopping distance. This could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the engine management software.

3,506 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Visual System

Transport Canada recall 2021078 · manufacturer campaign 66 80 21RC

18 February 2021

Transport Canada lists: 3 2019–2021 · 4 2021 · 5 2020–2021 · 7 2020–2021 · and 6 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to appear correctly in the central display. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear.

Why it matters

A rearview camera image that does not display correctly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the rearview camera software, if necessary.

2,263 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVCompliance Mfr

High Voltage

Transport Canada recall 2020464 · manufacturer campaign 61 87 20RC / M61 86 20RC

30 September 2020

Transport Canada lists: 3 2021 · 5 2020–2021 · X 3 2020–2021 · X 5 2021 · and 1 more

What is wrong

On certain plug-In hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), debris may have entered the high-voltage battery during production. As a result, the battery could short circuit.

Why it matters

A short circuit in the battery could create a fire risk.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and inform you to take your vehicle to a dealer to test the high-voltage battery. The cell module(s) will be replaced, if necessary. BMW recommends that you should not charge your vehicle and that you should not drive the vehicle in manual mode, sport mode or use the shift paddles until the recall repairs have been completed. BMW also recommends that you should drain the high-voltage battery via iDrive, by setting/leaving the charging state at 30%, until the recall repairs have been completed.

194 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Seats And Restraints

Transport Canada recall 2020116 · manufacturer campaign 72 82 29RC

19 March 2020

Transport Canada lists: 3 2020 · 8 2020 · X 3 2020 · X 4 2020

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, there may be a problem with the front seat belt buckle sensors. This could cause the seat belt warnings to turn on, even if the front seat belts are buckled. If the driver ignores these warnings, the seat belt pretensioner and airbag systems may not function properly.

Why it matters

A seat belt pretensioner or airbag system that does not work properly in a crash could increase the risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to check the front seat belt buckles and replace them, if necessary.

573 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Steering

Transport Canada recall 2019521

16 October 2019

Transport Canada lists: X 3 2020

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the steering pinion gear was manufactured incorrectly. As a result, the gear could break and cause a loss of steering.

Why it matters

A loss of steering could create the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will replace the steering gear on all affected vehicles prior to sale.

7 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Visual System

Transport Canada recall 2019480 · manufacturer campaign 66 82 19RC

1 October 2019

Transport Canada lists: 3 2019–2020 · 5 2018–2020 · 6 2018–2020 · 7 2019–2020 · and 7 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the rearview camera does not return to the default settings when it turns on. This could make the rearview image difficult to see if a driver had previously adjusted the camera display brightness at or near the lowest setting, and contrast at or near the highest setting. Canadian regulations require that the rearview display returns to the default view each time the camera is turned on.

Why it matters

Reduced rear visibility could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the rearview camera. Drivers are recommended not to adjust the display brightness at or near the lowest setting, and contrast at or near the highest setting, until this recall is completed.

14,323 vehicles affected in CanadaCarCompliance Mfr

Steering

Transport Canada recall 2019470

25 September 2019

Transport Canada lists: 3 2020 · X 3 2020 · X 4 2020

What is wrong

On certain xDrive models, the front axle swivel bearing(s) (steering knuckles) may break due to a manufacturing defect. This could affect handling and cause reduced steering control.

Why it matters

A sudden change in handling and reduced steering control could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

None of the affected vehicles have been sold to retail customers. BMW will instruct dealers to replace the front axle swivel bearing(s) before the vehicles are sold.

71 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Efficiency and running cost

Class
Sport utility vehicle: Small
In its class
More efficient than 38% of 200 2020 vehicles in this class
Tailpipe CO₂
235 g/km

Set your own distance and pump price · Full efficiency ranking

Watch this vehicle

Recall letters go to whoever owns the car on paper, which may not be you. Save your 2020 BMW X 3 and we will email you the day Transport Canada issues a new recall for it.

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Common questions

Does the 2020 BMW X 3 have any recalls?
Transport Canada has 12 recalls on record for the 2020 BMW X 3. Recall repairs are free at any manufacturer dealer.
What fuel economy does the 2020 BMW X 3 get?
NRCan rates the 2020 BMW X 3 at 10.1 L/100 km combined, emitting 235 g of CO2 per kilometre. There are 5 rated versions; this is the median.
What does it cost to run a 2020 BMW X 3 for a year?
At 20,000 km a year and Ontario average prices, about $3,131 in fuel, producing roughly 4,666 kg of CO2. Your own distance and prices will change this — the calculator lets you set both.

Source: Transport Canada — Vehicle Recalls Database; NRCan — Fuel consumption ratings. Data current as of 30 July 2026. Running cost uses Ontario average prices (155 ¢/L, 14.5 ¢/kWh), which are hand-maintained estimates. 30,784 rated vehicles on file.