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Transport Canada + NRCan

2020 BMW 3 Series

Everything Canada’s open data holds on this vehicle: what has been recalled, what it costs to run, and how efficient it is compared with everything else on the road.

Recalls

12

10 current

Combined

—

Fuel, a year

—

Not rated by NRCan

Recalls

Good news: Recall repairs are almost always free. Book with any manufacturer dealer and quote the recall number. Transport Canada’s own wording is that a manufacturer “will almost always make these repairs free of charge”, so being asked to pay for recall work is unusual and worth questioning. Since 2018 the Minister of Transport can order a company to pay for repairs so owners do not bear the cost.

Engine

Transport Canada recall 2025514 · manufacturer campaign 12 90 25RC

25 September 2025

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2020 · X5 2019–2020 · X6 2020 · X7 2019–2020

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the recall repairs completed by a BMW dealer during recall 12 83 24RC (Transport Canada recall no. 2024-444) may not be effective. As a result, certain vehicles require a second repair. On certain vehicles, if you try to start the engine repeatedly, the starter could overheat. If this happens, and nearby components contact the starter, it could cause a fire.

Why it matters

A fire can create the risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the engine starter.

14,573 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Electrical

Transport Canada recall 2025499 · manufacturer campaign 12 89 25RC

23 September 2025

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2019–2021 · 4 Series 2021 · 5 Series 2020–2021 · X3 2020–2021 · and 2 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, water could leak into the starter relay and cause it to corrode. If this happens, the relay could short circuit and the starter could overheat.

Why it matters

A short circuit and/or a starter that overheats can create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off.

What the dealer will do

To reduce the safety risk, BMW advises that you should park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repairs have been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the engine starter.

17,761 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Electrical

Transport Canada recall 2024444 · manufacturer campaign 12 83 24RC

1 August 2024

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2020 · X5 2019–2020 · X6 2020 · X7 2019–2020

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, if you try to start the engine repeatedly, the starter could overheat. If this happens, and nearby components contact the starter, it could cause a fire.

Why it matters

A fire can create the risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the vehicle software.

11,802 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Brakes

Transport Canada recall 2021479 · manufacturer campaign 12 84 21RC

3 August 2021

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2020 · 5 Series 2020 · 7 Series 2020–2022 · X3 2020–2021 · and 2 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the vacuum pump to be damaged during engine starting. If this happens, there could be a loss of brake assist. This can cause an increase in brake pedal effort and increase the distance needed to stop the vehicle.

Why it matters

A sudden increase in brake pedal force could lead to an increased stopping distance. This could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the engine management software.

3,506 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Visual System

Transport Canada recall 2021078 · manufacturer campaign 66 80 21RC

18 February 2021

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2019–2021 · 4 Series 2021 · 5 Series 2020–2021 · 7 Series 2020–2021 · and 6 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to appear correctly in the central display. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when the transmission is shifted into reverse gear.

Why it matters

A rearview camera image that does not display correctly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the rearview camera software, if necessary.

2,263 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVCompliance Mfr

Steering

Transport Canada recall 2020267

16 June 2020

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2019–2020 · Z4 2019

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, high temperatures and excessive vibration could cause damage to the steering tie rods. If this happens, the tie rods could break. This could result in a loss of steering control.

Why it matters

A loss of steering control could create a risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the steering tie rods.

1,018 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Seats And Restraints

Transport Canada recall 2020116 · manufacturer campaign 72 82 29RC

19 March 2020

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2020 · 8 Series 2020 · X3 2020 · X4 2020

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, there may be a problem with the front seat belt buckle sensors. This could cause the seat belt warnings to turn on, even if the front seat belts are buckled. If the driver ignores these warnings, the seat belt pretensioner and airbag systems may not function properly.

Why it matters

A seat belt pretensioner or airbag system that does not work properly in a crash could increase the risk of injury.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to check the front seat belt buckles and replace them, if necessary.

573 vehicles affected in CanadaSUVSafety Mfr

Visual System

Transport Canada recall 2019480 · manufacturer campaign 66 82 19RC

1 October 2019

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2019–2020 · 5 Series 2018–2020 · 6 Series 2018–2020 · 7 Series 2019–2020 · and 7 more

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the rearview camera does not return to the default settings when it turns on. This could make the rearview image difficult to see if a driver had previously adjusted the camera display brightness at or near the lowest setting, and contrast at or near the highest setting. Canadian regulations require that the rearview display returns to the default view each time the camera is turned on.

Why it matters

Reduced rear visibility could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the rearview camera. Drivers are recommended not to adjust the display brightness at or near the lowest setting, and contrast at or near the highest setting, until this recall is completed.

14,323 vehicles affected in CanadaCarCompliance Mfr

Steering

Transport Canada recall 2019470

25 September 2019

Transport Canada lists: 3 Series 2020 · X3 2020 · X4 2020

What is wrong

On certain xDrive models, the front axle swivel bearing(s) (steering knuckles) may break due to a manufacturing defect. This could affect handling and cause reduced steering control.

Why it matters

A sudden change in handling and reduced steering control could increase the risk of a crash.

What the dealer will do

None of the affected vehicles have been sold to retail customers. BMW will instruct dealers to replace the front axle swivel bearing(s) before the vehicles are sold.

71 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Airbag

Transport Canada recall 2019220

9 May 2019

Transport Canada lists: 2 Series 2019–2020 · 3 Series 2019–2020 · 4 Series 2019–2020

What is wrong

On certain vehicles, the driver and front passenger knee airbags were not assembled correctly. This could cause the airbags not to inflate properly in a crash.

Why it matters

A knee airbag that does not deploy properly could create an increased risk of injury in a crash.

What the dealer will do

BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to replace the driver and/or front passenger knee airbag modules as required.

552 vehicles affected in CanadaCarSafety Mfr

Watch this vehicle

Recall letters go to whoever owns the car on paper, which may not be you. Save your 2020 BMW 3 Series and we will email you the day Transport Canada issues a new recall for it.

Only when a new recall lands. Unsubscribe in one click.

Common questions

Does the 2020 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?
Transport Canada has 12 recalls on record for the 2020 BMW 3 Series. Recall repairs are almost always free at a manufacturer dealer.

Source: Transport Canada — Vehicle Recalls Database; NRCan — Fuel consumption ratings. Data current as of 6 August 2026. Running cost uses Ontario average prices (155 ¢/L, 14.5 ¢/kWh), which are hand-maintained estimates. These are average residential rates. A car’s charging is added on top of what your home already uses, so on a tiered, time-of-use or subsidised tariff it is billed at your top rate rather than this average — which makes the real cost higher, especially in the territories. Enter your own rate for an accurate figure. 30,784 rated vehicles on file.