Used car safety, rank #96 of 188
BMW X3 2WD Safety Rating (2021-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2021-23 BMW X3 2WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2021-23 BMW X3 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 34 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 17, which is 100% above the class average. That places it #96 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 51.8/100.
What the BMW X3 death rate means
At 34 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the BMW X3 2WD is 100% worse than the midsize luxury SUVs average of 17. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 71, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 7 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a BMW X3. Its 95% confidence interval is 0β21. It is no higher than the BMW X3's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the BMW X3 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD | 2020-23 | 0 (0 to 25) | 95.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Porsche Macan 4WD | 2020-23 | 4 (0 to 11) | 93.0 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 11) | 92.6 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 2WD | 2020-23 | 6 (0 to 17) | 91.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 22) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 17) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X3 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 23) | 85.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4WD | 2020-23 | 13 (0 to 25) | 81.8 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X3 2WD (this page) | 2021-23 | 34 (0 to 71) | 51.8 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new BMW X3
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current BMW X3 we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | BMW X3 | TSP+ | 97.2 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 51.8 used-car score above.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2017)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the BMW X3 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
4 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering electrical system, latches/locks/linkages, structure, power train.
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Electrical system: starter assembly
Risk: Fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge.
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Latches/locks/linkages: doors, lock
Risk: Doors that can be inadvertently unlocked and unlatched may open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury to rear seat occupants.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the second-row seat side door locking modules, free of charge. A letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on April 21, 2025.
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Structure
Risk: Interior cargo rail detachment during a rear crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear cargo rail attachment bolts, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk: Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
BMW X3 2WD: Common Questions
Is the BMW X3 2WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 34 per million registered vehicle years for the 2021-23 BMW X3 2WD, 100% above the class average (17 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 51.8 out of 100 and rank #96 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the BMW X3 2WD driver death rate?
34 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 71. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a BMW X3 died at a rate of 7 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2021-23 models.
How does the BMW X3 2WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 17 driver deaths per million; the BMW X3 2WD sits at 34. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD with a death rate of 0.