2013 BMW X3

Above average

Owners filed 226 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 7 times.

Avoid One of the BMW X3 years to avoid: 2.3× the complaints of a typical X3 year. Which BMW X3 years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
84,666 milesMedian miles at failure

160 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,000–90,000 miles.

Most common 2013 BMW X3 problems

142 of the 226 complaints (63%) are about the engine.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine131
130
Service Brakes · brakes16
102
Power Train · transmission16
100
Electrical System14
010
Engine and Engine Cooling · engine9
021
Fuel/Propulsion System · fuel and propulsion system7
000
Unknown or Other6
131
Steering4
010
Air Bags · airbags4
000
Structure › Body · body and frame2
000

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Wiring › Connectors/Plugs/Receptacles24V608000
Filed Aug 13, 2024720,796 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Risk. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module24V527000
Filed Jul 11, 20241,145 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Remedy. The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module17V495000
Filed Aug 8, 20176,785 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Child Seat › Latch Strap16V333000
Filed May 23, 2016188,668 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Risk. Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings14V627000
Filed Oct 7, 20148,988 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.

Risk. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel13V570000
Filed Nov 15, 20133 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 X3 xDrive 28i/35i vehicles manufactured February 11, 2013, through February 27, 2013. Due to a production process error, the tear seam on the instrument panel was not manufactured correctly.

Risk. In the event of a crash, the air bag could improperly deploy, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the air bag's protection and increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger. In addition, parts or fragments from the air bag system could strike and injure the front passenger or other vehicle occupants.

Remedy. BMW has notified owners and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2013. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings13V454000
Filed Sep 26, 201376,191 vehiclesBMW of North America, LLC

Defect. BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.

Risk. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

All 7 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Jun 10, 2026CA

My Brake Vacuum Pump is broken, with oil leaking into the vacuum reservoir. The brake distance is much longer. I searched the web and found out a lot of people had the same issue.

Engine
Filed May 12, 2026106,000 milesMI

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light and drivetrain warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the positive battery terminal motherboard had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 4, 2026IL

BMW knows there is a problem with the 2013 x3 timing chain. I have continuously had my BMW serviced at there shops. Never once when my car was in for service did they mention the issue or proactively check. My vehicle now has the issue per the dealership snd indicated it is approximately a 20k repair which they included a new engine. I also followed BMWs recommendation to have the oil changed 1year or when miles were hit per their change program. Just has the oil changed in November and at the end of December now timing chain issues. Again multiple times this issue could have been identified and proactively fixed while under warrenty. Also has issues where the material on the glove box peeled off. BMW is also aware of this issue. Poor design and quality on these models/engine. Thank goodness i was not on the expressway when drivabilty issuev occurred!!!

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 8, 2025100,000 milesNY

The contact's daughter owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer found no signs of contamination and installed a water pump connector cap. The contact stated that a month after the repair, the engine was overheating while idling, and there was while smoke coming from the engine with an unknown warning light on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the water pump and the battery were replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the water pump connector cap was faulty and had caused the failure. The contact was reminded by his wife of the water pump recall and that the connector cap was replaced due to the recall. Despite the repair, the vehicle shut off soon after starting the vehicle. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a BMW specialist, who discovered that an antifreeze leak had caused corrosion of several electrical wires inside the engine. The specialist informed the contact that the vehicle needed two engine wiring harnesses, an engine computer, and an IVM (Integrated Supply Module). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact filed paperwork online to be reimbursed for the repairs made to the vehicle. The manufacturer denied the reimbursement because the vehicle had been serviced by an in

Engine
Filed Dec 3, 2025MD

While driving my 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i under normal conditions, a “drivetrain malfunction” warning suddenly appeared, immediately followed by a “low oil pressure” warning. Within seconds, the engine lost all power and shut off completely while the vehicle was in motion. I had to coast and steer the car off the roadway and push it to safety with the help of others. My safety and the safety of other drivers were at risk due to the sudden and complete loss of propulsion in active traffic. An independent BMW-trained service center confirmed that the engine suffered catastrophic internal damage caused by failure of the timing chain system. This timing chain defect is well documented in BMW’s N20 engines and is the subject of a class action lawsuit. The vehicle is now completely undriveable and remains at the repair facility. Engine replacement is the only option and is estimated between $12,000–$15,000, far exceeding the value of the vehicle. The failed engine and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent BMW specialist. BMW has not yet inspected the vehicle, although I did call and report to BMW North America. They have not responded to my numerous calls and outreach. No police or insurance representatives have inspected it because there was no collision, just sudden engine failure. There were no symptoms before the incident. The drivetrain and oil pressure warnings appeared only moments before the engine sh

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Nov 8, 2025MD

The car experienced major issues and nearly stalled while driving. It was pulled off a road into a driveway where it caught fire and burned to the ground. No recall information was ever sent to my house. Very dangerous occurrence. We are lucky that no one was hurt.

Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2025AR

I own a 2013 BMW X3 equipped with the N20 engine. After approximately 17 months of ownership and only around 11,000 miles of normal driving, the vehicle suffered a sudden and complete engine failure without warning. The independent diagnostic determined the failure was due to a timing chain and oil pump drive chain defect, which is a well-documented issue in BMW N20 engines. This defect has been acknowledged by BMW through Technical Service Bulletin SI B11 03 17 and the national class action settlement Bang v. BMW of North America. The defect causes premature wear and eventual breakage of the timing chain components, resulting in catastrophic engine damage. My vehicle is now inoperable, and the cost to repair exceeds $7,500 — far more than the vehicle’s value. There were no prior warning lights, noises, or messages. This sudden engine failure creates a safety risk, as the vehicle could lose power unexpectedly while driving. No authorized BMW dealer had ever performed timing chain replacement on this vehicle, and the issue was not disclosed at the time of sale. I am filing this complaint so NHTSA is aware of the widespread nature and serious safety implications of this defect.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire1 injured
Filed Sep 15, 2025160,000 milesAR

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, smoke was noticed leaking from under the hood. The contact stated that after she opened the hood, the vehicle caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that she and a neighbor had extinguished the fire utilizing a fire extinguisher. No police report was filed. The fire department did not arrive on scene. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was not deemed a total loss. The contact was burned on her hand however, she did not seek medical attention. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that spark plug wires and other unknown parts were burned. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously seen by a local dealer for recall repair; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed with any recall-related failures and was diagnosed as needing a timing change replacement. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Power Train
Filed Aug 25, 2025NJ

I am submitting this report to highlight a serious safety defect involving premature timing chain failures in BMW vehicles. The case relates to a 2013 BMW X3, but the problem is widely documented across multiple BMW models from this production era. The timing chain is intended to last the lifetime of the engine. If it stretches, loosens, or fails, the engine can shut down immediately, causing sudden loss of power steering, power brakes, and overall control of the vehicle. This creates an extreme risk of accidents at highway speeds or in traffic. Unlike tires or brakes, this is not a normal wear component and should not fail under ordinary driving conditions. In this vehicle, the timing chain issue was identified at under 72,000 miles. A timing chain should last well over 400,000 miles under normal operation. The premature failure reflects a design flaw, not normal aging or maintenance. The vehicle had recently undergone major servicing at a BMW authorized dealer. At that time, the timing belt and other components were replaced at significant cost. The dealership did not disclose any timing chain concerns during that service. Only shortly afterward, during a recall-related visit, did they report that the timing chain required replacement, with a repair estimate of several thousand dollars. This matter was raised with BMW of North America, including a direct letter to its CEO. BMW acknowledged receipt but declined to take responsibility, treating the matter as outside warranty

Structure
Filed Jul 25, 2025134,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle, and there was oil leaking from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine gasket was faulty and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact was informed that the subframe of the vehicle was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 23, 2025116,262 milesCA

The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that while her mother was driving 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked, with an abnormal sound coming from the engine before the engine seized. The message "Service Engine" was displayed. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart; however, an abnormal sound was coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had received the notification after the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,262.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 3, 2025114,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that for the past several months the vehicle needed several attempts before the vehicle started. The contact called a dealer and was informed that parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Engine
Filed May 14, 2025RI

Purchased a used bmw x3 2013 about 2 years ago in may of 2023 since the beginning it was smoking and almost caught fire. I did open a case with the dealers commission / dmv to go after the mom and pop seller. But it was unfounded thankfully. It was at the dmv facility for a few months. Once it was unfounded in January of 2024 we immediately had it towed from the dmv inspections to bmw in Warwick . Where we were at first told it was a $5000 fix ( book value was only $9000 which we had paid $8000) then told it was a $7000 fix ended up being a $12,750 fix I was mortified but already too far in to do anything we were assured once the car came back it would have no lights on the dash and everything would be fixed and under warranty if anything did go wrong needless to say it took us months to come up w the $ that car sat there till may of 2024 as they was about 1/3 of my salary for the whole year . Needless to say we were paying monthly which was ok’d by the dealership . Once my wife went to pick it up immediately all lights were still on dash all same code service rep wasn’t there that day had to bring it back the next day for them to tell us it was something else causing that code and gave me a new estimate with some of the thing that we even just paid to repair on the new work order when my wife asked about it they said they would see if it was covered under warranty . We opened a case with bmw Warwick who did nothing but tell me to contact the corporate . October 2024 a recall

Engine
Filed May 6, 2025NJ

Engine stalling and would not restart immediately while in traffic. I was able to get to side of road and restart engine after a few minutes. NHTSA campaign number: 23V707 should have covered the repair/replacement of vanos bolts. BMW is not authorizing the repair under the recall by excluding my VIN number form their voluntary recall.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 28, 2025102,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The vehicle displayed a message to reduce the speed as the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact merged to the side of the road and contacted a tow truck company; however, before the tow truck arrived, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with turbo failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. On another occasion, the failure recurred, and the failure became more frequent. The contact received the notification, and the vehicle was then taken to a dealer; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine
Filed Mar 10, 202593,000 milesVT

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, with the drivetrain warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a stretched timing chain. The contact was informed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

Power Train
Filed Feb 17, 2025MI

There has been no communication from bmw regarding the engine coolant pump recall besides the initial notice of the recall. I have not been able to drive my vehicle for almost 3 months because the engine coolant pump could leak onto electrical components and cause a fire. I have been unable to obtain a loaner vehicle during this time and this is affecting my livelihood.

Power Train
Filed Feb 7, 2025MD

The component/systems affects is VANOS, exhaust: control error, camshaft is stuck; Boost pressure control: shutdown as a follow-up reaction. This is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others are at risk because the VANOS assembly (engine) bolts may, over time, loosen, and eventually break. If this occurs, a reduced engine power “safe mode” may be activated. In some cases, the engine may not be able to be restarted after switching off and, in rare cases, the engine could stall which could increase the risk of a crash. This problem has been confirmed by two BMW dealerships. After multiple visits and thousands of dollars spent on attempts at repair, the problem still exists. The resolution offered was to purchase another vehicle or spend thousands more at another attempt to remedy this problem. Although, it is my understanding that there is an open recall for this part (VANOS solenoid). The drivetrain malfunction warning appears and this problem began in July 2022.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 22, 2024139,000 milesMA

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine overheating warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor in the cabin of the vehicle. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that low oil pressure had damaged the engine and the entire engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 15, 2024CT

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Power TrainCrash
Filed Nov 10, 2024OH

As I was backing up, my car suddenly accelerated. I was shocked and tried to brake as fast as I could. I did slow down, but still hit a car that was parked nearby. This happened at a gas station. I did have the codes read, but nothing showed up. There were no warning indicators. At first I thought it was a driver error on my part, but after a great deal of thought and internet searching, I believe this to be car issue. I do have the surveillance security camera video from the gas station.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Oct 31, 2024NV

The contact owned a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered a fire on the water pump. The fire spread throughout the entire vehicle causing major cosmetic damage. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop where it was determined that the vehicle was totaled. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Engine
Filed Oct 28, 2024OH

I had a terrible BMW X3 (2013) Engine timing chain failure leading to Engine failure (known BMW X3 N20 engine time chain and engine coolant pump defect). The Car is non drivable and had to be towed to BMW Cleveland dealership and should be available for inspection. While driving on busy [XXX] , suddenly showed “low coolant” indicator and yellow engine light which turned red after sometime and the car stalled complelely on the road that caused huge safety risk for me the driver and incoming traffic. Had to call 911 to help manage incoming traffic and help with towing the car to the dealership. Dealership reported engine timing chain and pump failure and recommending replacing them along with total engine replacement at a cost of $21000. There is also an open recall for this car, which was not fixed by the dealership (NHTSA Recall Number 24V608: ENGINE COOLANT PUMP) and I was told there is no remedy for this available. Due to the severe damage to car owing to faulty engine coolant pump and engine timing chain, I request NHTSA to order a recall and fix of all defective BMW 2013 X3 engines, coolant and fuel pumps by the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 23, 2024AZ

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger
Filed Sep 30, 2024100,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking engine oil. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitating while attempting to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who had diagnosed that the turbo charger had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. After the repair was completed, the failure reoccurred, and the turbo charger failure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the turbo charger had failed, and that there was an oil leak due to the head gasket failure. The turbo charger and head gasket were repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 19, 2024130,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown message displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the low brake fluid message displayed intermittently even when the brake fluid level was not low. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Engine
Filed Feb 2, 2024IL

Cold weather start camshaft adjuster bolt broke and seized camshaft in place. As a result the oiling system didn’t work properly and ruined the camshaft bearings and crankshaft and rod bearings. Replacement engine exceeds value of the car.

Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2023PA

The timing chain guide broke while I was driving on the highway. The broken guide did not allow oil to lubricate the engine which destroyed the engine. BMW settled a class action lawsuit several years ago due to the premature failure of the primary and secondary timing chain assemblies for N20 & N26 engines. The time limit has expired for me to file a claim. However, owners of these vehicles should have been notified of this documented and potentially extremely hazardous problem. My guess is that there are thousands of these vehicles on the road with this defective part that could suddenly cause the engine to cease working, resulting in an accident that could cause injury or death.

Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2023PA

Drive train warning goes off & the N20 timing chain belt needs replaced. Very dangerous when driving. Car goes in limp mode, not being able to go over 30th. Engine blows if not fixed immediately. Quoted 7,000-10,000 to fix. More than vehicle is worth. Happened 3 weeks after warranty expired. Has never failed inspection previously and havent any issues. Should be recalled for being a lemon. 2013 BMW x3 28i.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 4, 2023CA

Drivetrain malfunction popped up and the car cut off and went into neutral while driving on the road which almost led us to lose control and wreck. Many issues with the fuel pump.

Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2023SC

THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AS THE TIMING CHAIN. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY AS I WAS NOT CLOSE TO MY HOME. I LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE AND IT IS VERY COMMON. IT IS A SHAME THAT THIS IS NOT AN ACTIVE RECALL. UP UNTIL THAT POINT THERE HAD BEEN NO ISSUES. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, IT IS ALSO THE 3RD POWER TRAIN RELATED INCIDENT.

Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2023FL

It appears that BMW may be hiding a fact from customers and victims and refuses to issue a class action or address concerns for cars older than 2015. BMW NA’s negligence has caused too many hardships for many people and today is the day they need to stop; this company needs to be held responsible for its actions and stop blaming the consumer. As a result, you have been impacted by this issue with your 2013 BMW X3 i28 4-cylinder turbo with 70,383 miles, I purchased the vehicle with 56,832 miles on it. After owning the car for a year and a half (11/12/2020 – 07/14/2022) and only 13,551 miles driven, I was forced to voluntarily give it back to the finance company due to financial hardship caused by the car issues. The vehicle had oil issues on several occasions which I always ensured I had extra in my vehicle, however, since BMW NA offered no solutions to the N20 engine, the maintenance centers did nothing for a solution. As a 52-year-old male with disabilities, you relied on BMW for the maintenance of your car, which was serviced at a BMW service center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In June of 2022, I boarded the Autotrain from Florida to Virginia, this was to ensure I didn’t add more wear and tear, as well as mileage on my vehicle, it was cleared to travel a month earlier by BMW of Fort Lauderdale. While traveling from Buffalo, NY to Rhode Island on July 14th, 2022, the engine suddenly died on me while driving on the NYS Thruway, which could have been a potentially deadly situation.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 3, 2023GA

While being parked with the engine off and in a covered condominium garage for 12 days, my 2013 BMW X3 caught fire and burned until the fire fighters extinguished the fire. The engine burnt to the point of virtually disintegrating. Other areas of the car suffered extensive damage because of the heat but the insurance investigation established that the fire originated in the engine compartment. The car in the next parking spot also was a total loss and the building had damages. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The engine had been replaced by BMW, at an authorized dealer, in November of 2021 as part of a class action suit settlement. Therefore, although the car had approximately 76000 miles, the engine had only about 7000 miles. The last service it had was a regular oil change on October 6, 2022. The fire department investigation and a third party investigation contracted by my insurance company were not able to determine the cause of the fire, only that it started in the engine, but the third party report stated that further investigation could be conducted by a mechanical engineer to try to determine the root cause of the fire. BMW was contacted and initially offered to inspect the car but 4 weeks later they officially communicated to me that they were declining the inspection and offered me $1000 if I signed a general liability release. The car will be available for inspection for a limited time after the title is transferred to the insurance company. No indications of a

Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2023MD

March 9, 2023 @ 7: 53 PM, timing chain failure. Mechanic confirmed March 10, 2023 at 11:10 AM. that I need a new engine due to this failure. Had oil changed less then 1000 miles prior to this failure. Never received recall notice for this timing chain issue, which is a class action lawsuit against BMW. My X3 has only 95000 miles on. The engine in my 2013 X3 is the N20 which is what this lawsuit is about. I was driving on a highway 60 MPH when "oil dangerously low, drive moderately, pull over and shut off engine warning appeared on dash. less than 30 seconds later "drivetrain malfunction" then appeared on dash. Engine stopped, the engine just stopped while I was going 60 MPH on a major highway. I was able to gradually coast off highway on the exit I was approaching. Coasted into a shopping plaza where auto stopped in the centre of the parking lot and stopped. Could not move it or get it out of park to push it out of the path of other cars entering and exiting the plaza. BMW should have notified me of this pending issue; they should be responsible for the repair of my X3.

Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2023FL

On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, my engine failed while driving my car. The answers to your questions regarding the incident are listed below: •Component or system that failed: The Engine failed. •Safety risk: My safety, as well as the safety of others was at risk. I was driving and suddenly without warning, I felt a strong jolt and noticed a loss of power. I looked down and noticed that my car shifted into neutral without warning. I tried to move the gear back into drive, but it would not shift. I had just enough power to glide into a parking lot and I turned the car off hoping I would restart it to place the car back into gear. After I turned the car off, it would not start and I had the car towed to the dealership. This is a dangerous safety issue and I could have been in a serious accident because my car suddenly stopped while driving. This could have placed other drivers at risk as well. After my incident, I researched the issue and discovered that other BMW X3 owners have had engine failures as well. This issue is known by BMW and they are putting their customers at risk by not issuing a recall for this problem. •Problem confirmed by dealer: Yes, the BMW dealership did confirm that it was an engine failure. Please see attached file for details. •Vehicle component been inspected: The vehicle has not been inspected by parties other than the dealership. •Prior warnings: Before my engine failed, I did not receive any warning lights or messages. Also, my car did not exhibit any

Engine
Filed Feb 8, 2023TN

I purchased this as a used car online and had it delivered to me. It hasn’t been a year of owning it yet and my car is now un-drivable. I was driving down the road and my transmission malf light came in and my car went into limp mode. I had to get it towed and the local shop who has it said it’s a broken timing chain from a failure. I’ve never had any issues and then all of a sudden now I have an estimate of $3627 to be able to drive my car. Upon researching, my model/year has a known issue for this happening. I feel stuck and don’t know what to do but feel like I need help so I can get my car back running. It barely has 105k miles on it. The dealership I purchased it from never mentioned any known issues with it.

Engine
Filed Dec 27, 2022MD

The vehicle (at 102k mileage) failed to start at the heavy traffic interaction without any warning signs, and was then towed to a local BMW shop. A mechanic found the broken timing chain guard with many debris of plastic guard recovered from the engine during repairing. A total cost to replace the timing chain was $3685.05. The vehicle had oil change at a local BMW dealership about 6 months before the incident.

Engine
Filed Nov 6, 2022FL

On July 15, 2022, my 2013 BMW X3 i28 broke down on the NYS Thruway; I reside in Fort Lauderdale; I've owned the Vehicle for a year and a half, have serviced it at BMW of Fort Lauderdale, and actually had it In to change a lightbulb and make sure all was good. It was towed to Towne BMW in Williamsville, NY, as I was in town visiting family. I purchased the car from Carvana in November 2020; the extended warranty was only effective for a year, and I was shopping for a new one. My Vehicle looks brand new; its garage is stored and well maintained per manufacturer recommendations. The Vehicle only just hit 70,383 miles, since I transport it on the autotrain when I head north for a few months. Towne BMW said they found the problem it was the battery, I pay the $685.78, plus the $300 in towing charges I made it across the street from the service center, and it stopped again I am still trying to figure out how a vehicle that was in excellent condition the day before is now dead? My Vehicle is sitting in my sister's driveway just outside of Buffalo NY with a dead engine. I have a rare genetic syndrome so trying to do everything is killing me; I almost had a heart attack from this ordeal. I still owe on the Vehicle. I contacted BMW of NA; This 2013 X3 come to find out was the worst year yet. There was a class action filed against them, which has expired, Currently this year alone there are an additional 134 vehicles I was able to find on the web, yet we all experienced just the same an

Air Bags
Filed Sep 26, 2022MA

Passenger airbag warning lights on/off for about a year. Currently the car has 60,000 miles. When I mentioned to dealer, (car in for emission recall), I was informed that the occupancy detection mat was faulty and needed to be replaced ($1821.04). If not replaced, vehicle would not pass Mass State Inspection. Had the work done at BMW dealer to have it replaced, as the car is due soon for an inspection sticker.

Engine
Filed Sep 12, 2022LA

Engine failure Defective timing chain and components BMW part/guide unstable plastic on low mileage vehicle

Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2022FL

I have a 2013 BMW X3 i28 4-cylinder turbo with 70 383 miles. I have maintained it regularly through my BMW service center here in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I was away and had my car since I brought it north on the auto train to save wear and tear and mileage. Unfortunately, on July 14th, I was headed from Buffalo, NY, to Rhode Island on the NYS thruway when my engine died on me; thank god I could get it to a shoulder, or I would have been dead, seeing there were a few semis behind me. I called a tow truck a nightmare since tow companies have a monopoly on towing off state thruways. It was towed to Towne BMW in Williamsville, NY, They did a diagnostic, and it was only the battery, so they said. So I went and returned my rental car and paid my bill, the time was now 6:00 pm, and I was good to go, so they said I didn't even make it across the street, and the engine did the same thing. This time they tell me my engine has seized up, and oh well, too bad, not their problem. They never gave me a diagnosis of what was completed on both days, and they continued to make a new narrative on the issue. In both instances, a light that said turn the engine off appeared after the engine shut down. I have contacted BMW North America, but they haven't done anything. Best, PH

Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2022MO

The timing chain broke at highway speed causing the engine to become completely inoperable. Apparently this is EXTREMELY COMMON in the BMW N20 ENGINS. This is extremely dangerous considering literally everything from driving to steering and braking is powered by the engine. When it fails this puts people in severe situations. Please do SOMETHING to make BMW remedy this situation.

Engine
Filed Jul 27, 2022DC

We dropped our BMW X-3 on April 11, 2022, to get checked out, due to a continued check engine light. We had dropped it a few weeks prior because of the same issue. We thought they had corrected the problem as the check engine light was no longer on after the first time we received it back. The car stalled a couple of times at the stop light when accelerating. They have done extensive work, they said, in trying to analyze the problem. They are trying to force us to bring the loner back and take our car back unfixed. They have exhausted the third party warranty money because they went down the wrong rabbit hole. The warranty company obviously doesn't want them tearing apart the engine and going in another direction because Rockvile BMW has already had the car so long they could have rebuilt the whole vehicle from scratch. It doesn't make sense for us to tell them to go ahead and spend our money either as they obviously don't know what they are doing. I called BMW headquarters in NJ. The gentleman there suggested I ask them to call the regional dedicated group of service engineers to help with the problem. He also suggested that if they have gone that route that I escalate the problem to the general manager of Rockville BMW. I called the dealership and spoke to William Rodriguez, the service assistant who had been keeping us abreast of what was being done to our vehicle. He said they had designated regional service engineer come over and look at the vehicle, and that person also

Engine
Filed Jun 14, 2022VA

Timing chain failure

Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2022DC

2013 BMW X3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SHIFT LEVER WAS LOCKED INTO PLACE. THE DEALER STATED THE TIMING CHAIN MAY HAVE FAILED. THE ENGINE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

Seat Belts › Front
Filed Apr 27, 2022125,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that when he started the vehicle, he noticed that the seat belt warning light was red and the message on the instrument panel displayed "passenger restraint system failure." The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt was identified on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was told by the mechanic that the failure of the seat belt system could not be repaired immediately. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Firerelated
Filed Apr 25, 2022144,000 milesIN

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at a collision center after it was rear-ended in a collision; however, after the vehicle was repaired, an abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle and a burning odor was detected while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer's mechanic was test driving the vehicle and it lost motive power. The mechanic inspected under the hood and saw that the engine had caught fire. The police and fire department were on the scene but the fire was extinguished by itself. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and then to BMW of Schererville (1400 US-41, Schererville, IN 46375) where it remained and was not repaired. BMW of Schererville diagnosed the vehicle with a starter and engine failure and informed the contact that the engine did not catch fire. The insurance company did not deem the vehicle totaled but informed the contact that it was a manufacturer's defect for the electrical wiring. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Mar 11, 2022GA

I was driving the car when the car began smoking. I pulled over and the was fire underneath the vehicle. It burned the car up completely within 10 mins.

SteeringFire
Filed Mar 5, 2022MD

Car was parked and when I came out of Walmart it was on fire coming from the steering box. I tried to put it out with my jacket but yellow fire was too much. Fire department came on scene as well as police. By stander had large thermos of coffee and extinguished the fire before fire truck arrived.

Engine
Filed Mar 5, 2022WA

My drive belt got worn out and when it snapped it got sucked in to the engine and warped around my timing chain I started looking into it and this has happened to a lot of people who have a BMW X3 and the shop told me that because they have had other BMW X3 but my was the worst that they have seen they have now change there policy for dealing with a BMW X3 when it comes in

Complaints 1-50 of 226, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202622200Routine
202538910Routine
202442300Routine
202317400Routine
202286740Routine
20211131020Routine
20201101660Do not drive
20191711020Routine
2018761120Routine
201792620Routine
201682530Routine
2015105770Routine
201486610Routine
2013 — this page2267100Above average
201242210Routine
2011113430Routine
201032420Routine
200919330Routine
200866340Routine
200798390Routine
20061432160Routine
20051032180Routine
20041381130Routine

Compare every X3 year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 13, 2024. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.