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CarMonitor

Transport Canada + NRCan

2021 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

10

9 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.

Engine

Transport Canada recall 2026331 · manufacturer campaign 12 82 26RC

8 July 2026

Transport Canada lists: 2 2023–2025 · 3 2023–2024 · 4 2023–2024 · 5 2023 · and 3 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the engine starter may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the starter could overheat. Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall no. 2026-040.

Why it matters

A starter that overheats can create the risk of a fire.

What the dealer will do

To reduce the safety risk, BMW recommends not using the remote start function and not leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running 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.

26,247 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Engine

Transport Canada recall 2026040 · manufacturer campaign 12 80 26RC

30 January 2026

Transport Canada lists: 2 2023 · 3 2021–2024 · 4 2021–2023 · 5 2021–2023 · and 3 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the engine starter may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the starter could overheat.

Why it matters

A starter that overheats can create the risk of a fire.

What the dealer will do

To reduce the safety risk, BMW recommends not using the remote start function and not leaving the vehicle unattended with the engine running 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.

6,958 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

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

Efficiency and running cost

Class
Sport utility vehicle: Small
In its class
More efficient than 35% of 220 2021 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 2021 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 2021 BMW X 3 have any recalls?
Transport Canada has 10 recalls on record for the 2021 BMW X 3. Recall repairs are free at any manufacturer dealer.
What fuel economy does the 2021 BMW X 3 get?
NRCan rates the 2021 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 2021 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.