2020 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 52 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 4 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
52 reports, newest first.
Engine, Oct 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT LOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RALLYE BMW (1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590; (516) 393-0000) WHO CONFIRMED THEM THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAT MANAGEMENT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE OIL FILTER HOUSING AND THE HOUSING WAS DAMAGED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE OIL FILTER HOUSING, ADDED OIL, AND FLUSHED THE COOLANT. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER BLED AND CHECKED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND FOUND NO LEAKS. THE DEALER TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT LEVEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,142.*DT*JB
Other or unspecified, Feb 5, 2020, crash
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. PRIOR TO PARKING, I HAD FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HAVE MY CAR MEMORIZE THE LAST 100 FEET DRIVEN IN ORDER TO USE THE BACKUP ASSIST FEATURE. WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE, I ACTIVATED THE BACKUP ASSIST FEATURE FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS. MY VEHICLE RESPONDED ACCORDINGLY AND THE BACKUP ASSIST FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS. THE BACKUP ASSIST THEN DISENGAGED AND MY CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, WENT OFF ITS TRACK AND BACKED FORCEFULLY INTO A BRICK WALL BEFORE I COULD APPLY THE BRAKES. DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVE. I DID HAVE THE CAR EVALUATED BY BMW ENGINEERS FOR POTENTIAL DEFECTS IN SOFTWARE OR SENSORS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED AS INTENDED. MY RESPONSE IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE IF IT CAN DISENGAGE AND ACCELERATE IN REVERSE WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. IN ADDITION, MY VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP AWAITING CERTAIN PARTS FROM GERMANY.