2021 BMW X3 Forward collision avoidance Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 4%of 113 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 74,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the forward collision avoidance of the 2021 BMW X3, 4% of the 113 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 74,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Upon starting the vehicle, the electronic dashboard comes on, declares “Reduced Driver Assistance” then about 15 seconds later, the entire dashboard goes dark and won’t come back on until the car has been shut down for several minutes. This sequence of events happens 95% of the time that I start the car. Upon restart, the dashboard will stay on about 40% of the time, the other 60% it shuts off again. While I can still see my speed in the heads up display, I have no idea how much gas I have, I can’t get any information from the dahsboard and I can’t use the cruise control. …”
NHTSA complaint #11633069, filed 2024-12“The contact owned a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle in front suddenly stopped, and the contact moved over to the left lane and into the grass due to incoming traffic. The vehicle was 50 to 100 feet from a tree, and the vehicle crashed. The contact stated that the braking system and Forward Collision Avoidance failed to operate as designed. The driver's left arm was fractured. Medical attention was provided. The driver’s arm was still in a cast. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the bank. …”
NHTSA complaint #11763390, filed 2026-09, 74,000 miles“Traveling on 2 lane road with no cars around, bright day, 2:30pm about 40mph. Emergency braking beeped twice and immediately slammed on the brakes. Not sure what it thought it saw- tree shadows? The feature was set to medium. If another car was behind us it would have slammed into us. 5th time in 2 years. The dealer just shrugs and says to not set it to high responsiveness. This is a bad defect.”
NHTSA complaint #11516916, filed 2023-04“The malfunction involves the collision warning system and sudden braking functionality. The dealership inspection identified a problem with the KAFAS (camera) unit, specifically its housing being deformed from heat, which affected the functionality of the collision sensor and caused the system to malfunction intermittently. The component is still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection if required. The system triggered sudden braking without an actual threat, creating a serious risk of being rear-ended by vehicles behind me. …”
NHTSA complaint #11629071, filed 2024-12Related service bulletins
- 10227551Oct 1, 2022Due to the semiconductor supply, the Local Interconnect Network module in either of the exterior mirrors was switched to another controller. That one provides an imprecise…
- 10205071Nov 1, 2021BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop (effective October 15, 2021) on certain Model Year 2022 BMW vehicles that were produced between September 28, 2021 and October 8, 2021. The…
Forward collision avoidance: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 18% |
| 2025 | 8 | 21% |
| 2024 | 3 | 7% |
| 2023 | 1 | 7% |
| 2022 | 11 | 13% |
| 2021 | 5 | 4% |
| 2020 | 3 | 3% |
| 2019 | 13 | 8% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2021 BMW X3
34 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 BMW X3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology