2019 BMW 3 Series problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 41 owner complaints about the 2019 BMW 3 Series, or 5.3 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.13, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2019 vehicles we track, it ranks #8 for fewest complaints per year. Against other BMW models its rate is 55% lower; against other Luxury sedans it is about the same.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Complaints filed between 2019-08-02 and 2026-08-26. Median delay from incident to filing: 34 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2018) drew 6.8 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2020) drew 7.8 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2019 model collected 8 complaints, 90% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (24.4% of complaints), followed by Electrical (14.6%) and Interior & equipment (14.6%). Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “fire”, “recall” and “engine”. 7 reports (17.1%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 71 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was after five years (56% of incidents). In the last 12 months 17 new complaints were filed, versus 7 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.13
- vs. other BMW models0.45
- vs. other 2019 models0.12
- vs. other Luxury sedans1.04
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (8)0.1
- #8 of 76 · 2019Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Engine · Common terms in reports
- fire4
- recall4
- engine4
Problem areas: Engine · Electrical
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 2
- Fires reported: 5
- Injuries: 2
- Deaths: 0
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 71 months
What owners report
The contact owned a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence in the driveway, there was an abnormal cracking sound coming from outside the residence. The contact checked and became aware that the vehicle was on fire.
Description of the Problem: •Component/system that failed: The engine starter, which is subject to an open recall issued September 23, 2025. The starter was not replaced during a service visit.
On XXX approximately 2:02am my car was seen on fire parked in driveway on [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
KAFAS Mid Camera has software malfunction, internal fault, system does not operate as designed. Takes down all driver assistance features. Module unable to accept new coding/programming. BMW service information - B66 20 19
The contact owns a 2019 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2019 · Luxury sedans
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Audi A4 | 8 | 1.0 | 0.02 |
| 2019 Lexus ES | 34 | 4.4 | 0.1 |
| 2019 BMW 5 Series | 38 | 5.0 | 0.12 |
| 2019 BMW 3 Series | 41 | 5.3 | 0.13 |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 54 | 7.0 | 0.17 |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 75 | 9.8 | 0.23 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2019 BMW 3 Series?
41 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2019 BMW 3 Series, or about 5.3 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2019 BMW 3 Series?
The most common category is Engine, accounting for 24.4% of complaints.
Does the 2019 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2019 BMW 3 Series still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 17 new complaints were filed, versus 7 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2019 BMW 3 Series compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 41 owner complaints about the 2019 BMW 3 Series, or 5.3 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.13, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 76 model-year 2019 vehicles we track, it ranks #8 for fewest complaints per year. Against other BMW models its rate is 55% lower; against other Luxury sedans it is about the same.