Software problems of the 2019 BMW X3

Three problems related to software have been reported for the 2019 BMW X3. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Software problem

Failure Date: 01/18/2020

Without warning, the dashboard lights and indicators go dark. The vehicle can be stationary or in motion when it happens. I have contacted the dealer, fields BMW, twice. The first time the service department replaced the battery on my remote key control, the second time service told me it was a known problem at BMW and they were working on a software fix. My second contact was probably six weeks ago, but it happened again two days ago when my wife lost the dashboard lights in the evening. It is very startling (and unsafe) to lose the dashboard lights and indicators, especially at night. Neither BMW nor my dealer has informed me of any pending software fix.

2 Software problem

Failure Date: 10/18/2019

The digital speedometer reads in kilometers per hour, instead of miles per hour, so I do not know how fast I am going. A couple of months ago, BMW issued a recall related to the reverse camera on the 2019 X3. To repair this recall, the software in the car had to be upgraded. After the dealership repaired the recall issue and upgraded the software, the digital speedometer malfunctioned. The speedometer defaulted to kilometers per hour every time I started the car. It would not stay on miles per hour. Thus, after every start, I would have to go into the main menu and switch the digital speedometer to miles per hour. I took my car into the dealership today to fix the speedometer issue (so it would stay on miles per hour), and they made the situation worse. The option to switch the digital speedometer from kilometers per hour after every start to miles per hour has disappeared. The digital speedometer is now permanently stuck in kilometers per hour (and cannot be switched to miles per hour). Because of this issue, I do not know how fast I am going (which is a major safety issue), and also makes it difficult for me to know if I am breaking the speed limit and thus susceptible to getting a speeding ticket. The dealership advised me that dozens, if not hundreds of people, have complained about the issue and BMW is working on a software fix, but advised that it could take months. I find this absurd for a significant safety issue. There is an analog speedometer in the dash that is in mph, but it is difficult to read and not specific enough (it increases by 20 mph; for example, 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, etc. ). The analog speedometer does not have sufficient specificity to tell whether I am going 22 or 39 mph. The design of the analog speedometer is extremely poor and cannot be relied upon to determine actual speed, which is why the digital speedometer is critical.

3 Software problem

Failure Date: 08/18/2019

Backup camera not on when reversing: 1. ~Aug. 2019 when I reversed my car, the backup camera did not show up. My car was in BMW springfield NJ for repair from 25 to 27nov2019. I was told there was a recall (NHTSA campaign id 19v684000) and software was updated. 2. Problem still existed, my car was in same dealership for repair on10feb2020. 3. Raised my concern (lemon law) to BMW corporate, BMW arranged my car for repair on Mar. 19. 2020 after the repair, my rear camera view was back but the left image (sensing obstacle was missing). 4. My car was in BMW on Apr. 9 2020 for repair, still not working. 5. My car was in BMW for pair on may 26, 2020 and I was told to wait the computer to boot up and then drive. 6. I followed BMW's advice, the left image (sensing obstacle was missing) is back without any problem, but my rear view image sometime did not show up. I think the lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash, which needs further investigation. Picture is attached, showing the whole backup process, the rear view camera was missing the image (~1min).


Other Electrical System related problems of the 2019 BMW X3

Electrical System problems
8
Software problems
3


Safety Ratings of X3 Cars
Fuel Economy of X3 Vehicles
X3 Service Bulletins
X3 Safety Recalls
X3 Defect Investigations