2020 BMW X7 Problems and Complaints

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 7, 2024

The popularity of SUV manufacturers in the automotive industry is primarily driven by comfort and reliability. The name of BMW stands one step ahead of its close rivals due to the first two reasons, trustworthiness and maximum convenience. As a fullsize SUV, the X7 has a base market price of $74,900, going against the Mercedes Benz GLS 450, the Audi Q7, and Land Rover Discovery.

While comparing BMW with some of its close rivals, the impressive sales figure of 20,579 was pretty impressive for a vehicle from this class. Some of the X7 buyers also added that the car’s performance made it hard for the Benz and Audi to challenge the BMW’s market popularity.

However, a few issues and problems found in the X7 did challenge the market reputation of BMW. Some of those problems include fire-ignition threat, faulty brakes, and seating discomfort due to which the brand had to issue 10 recalls on the NHTSA website against 9 complaints raised by the respective vehicle owners.

Electrical Problems

Multiple Electrical malfunction warnings in the cluster gauge

The BMW owners have noticed multiple electrical warning pop-ups in the electrical gauge followed by the seizure in the standard functionality of the steering and electronic brakes. The issues usually show up when there’s a probable issue with the ECU connection with all of these components, compelling the cluster indicator to pop up multiple issues. These issues should be addressed and repaired soon.

Engine and Mechanical Problems

Braking issues

Multiple issues were noted in the faulty braking assistance system of the X7s, often compromising the SUV’s speed. Such instances usually happen when the rotor and shaft in the ABS do not function properly, stopping the driver to control the vehicle’s speed when it is overspeeding. Such instances may cause accidents when the brakes fail to reduce speed when needed, therefore it should be repaired soon.

Engine Fire risk

A significant number of X7 users have complained about witnessing a car’s engine triggering fire ignition on various occasions. Such threats should be considered under safety concerns and the brand should issue a recall under the same and ask the dealership to replace the engines with newer ones.

Structural Problems

Faulty panoramic sunroof

Multiple users complained about witnessing the faulty sunroof acquiring crack marks while driving the vehicle. The complaint also includes broken pieces of sunroof falling into the vehicle when there are passengers inside post the damage caused to it. The dealers should repair the issue and if needed replace it before it causes injury to the vehicle inmates.

2020 BMW X7 Recalls

S.No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	September 7 2022	22V670000	Installation defect in third seat row seat springs	Detachment of one or more compression springs for backrest lock due to faulty installation should be taken care of	Dealers are going to inspect the third-row seats and will be replacing the missing springs if needed for free.
2	April 20 2022	22V267000	Faulty sunroof closure without the key fob, increasing injury risk	Incorrect programming of the sunroof functionality without involving the fob-key	Dealers have been instructed to reprogram the roof function control unit for completely free.
3	February 19 2021	21V096000	Malfunctioning rearview camera image	Rearview camera image malfunction due to suspected software problems	The dealers have been asked to inspect the issue and if needed they will be updating the rearview camera image capturing software for charge-free
4	February 10 2021	21V062000	Loss of braking assistance and ABS	Chances of rotor and shaft separation within the integrated braking system due to welding error might damage the AntiLock brake system in the vehicle at some point of time	BMW will be asking the dealers to replace the integrated braking system for completely free on finding any issue with it post inspection
5	November 4 2020	20V678000	Welding error in the front axle/right control arm triggering injury risk	Welding error in the front axle support and right front control arm may lead to separation from one another may lead to fatal car accidents	BMW will be notifying the owners and the dealers will be replacing front axle support for completely free. The recall for the issue began on 18 December 2020
6	September 1 2020	20V528000	Non-conforming lens of the headlight, illuminating blue light causing inconvenience for the driver	The headlights of the vehicle allowing the illumination of a blue headlight might be a cause for inconvenience for the driver while driving. Sometimes it can trigger potential road accidents while driving on the highway, due to poor visibility	The owners have been notified about the issue and they will be taking care of it soon by inspecting the headlamps if necessary for free. The recall began on 30 October 2020
7	August 7 2020	20V456000	Incorrect attachment of extra bolt to the starter motor	The extra bolt in the starter motor may accidentally fall into transmission housing leading the engine to stall	The owners will be notified by the BMW and the dealers will be instructed to inspect the for the detection of any extra bolt. If there are any, they are going to replace the damaged parts for free. The recall for the issue began on October 2 2020
8	January 30 2020	20V052000	Inadequate rear reflex inflector compromising with driver’s visibility while driving the vehicle	Lack of adequate reflection of light by the rear reflex reflector might trigger serious road accidents while driving the vehicle	The owners will be notified about the potential risk caused due to compromised visibility, because of the faulty rear reflex reflector. The dealers are expected to replace both the rear reflex reflector for free. The recall began on March 30 2020
9	September 27 2019	19V684000	Malfunctioning rearview backup camera displayed	Inadequate image in the backup camera display might trigger inconvenience for the drivers to view the back portions while reversing the vehicle	The dealers will be notified about the malfunction and they will be updating the rear view image camera software for completely free. The recall for the issue began on November 8 2019
10	August 28 2019	19V631000	Failure in the steering rack, compromises steering control while driving	The steering rack pinion teeth may break due to excessive load, resulting in loss of steering control	The owners are going to be notified about the isue and the dealers, have been asked to replace the steering rack without any charge. The recall for the issue began on August 21 2019

Should you Buy a 2020 BMW X7?

The X7 is one of the best SUVs available in the market because of its paramount reliability and unquestionable quality. It’s one of the reasons often buyers take interest in purchasing old versions of X7 at a resale price. Finding a worthy alternative to the X7 from BMW is indeed a challenge for many buyers.

However, the issues that showed up with the 2020 BMW X7 like the faulty sunroof, loss of steering control, and rearview camera-image malfunction gave a threat to the brand by bringing its rivals close to the market reputation it had built for years. Before things retaliate any further, the brand was smart enough to issue recalls and ask the dealers to resolve every issue that was found in the car. In our opinion, if someone is planning to buy an old X7 that has no issues which were previously found, they should always initiate their buying desire.

Users Opinions on 2020 BMW X7

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T
TT
• 08/12/2021
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
... later...my review stands ...I am not gonna post much more as this would only exacerbate the picture...junk for sale... and I hate BMW ridiculously pathetic customer service and attitude to CHARGE FOR A TEST and only if THEY ADJUDICATE to refund a customer... like it was a damn pleasure to keep visiting those dealers to have them retest it right due to intermittent issues. severalRead More
Source: edmunds
A
AMK
• 15/04/2021
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
Too computerised, too many faults. 3 Pirelli tires burst , faulty tires, worst service from the agents, would never buy anther bmw ever.
Source: edmunds