MY [XXX] NOW I'M GOING THROUGH SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT IM BUY A CAR IN THE YEAR 2017 MARCH 20 I SPOKE THE SALE MANAGER REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE CAR COMBINATION OF MY CAR HIS NAME IS [XXX] EVERYTHING WAS FINE WELL MY CAR HAS BEEN DAMAGE SINCE 2017 BY THE MECHANIC OF THE G0GGIN BMW TREASURE COAST 4429 S US HWY 1 FT PIERCE FL 34982, TEI 429-8300 ...MY CAR NOW SERIOUS DAMAGE DON'T KNOWI IWAS GOING TO START A MOTOR SO OTHER MECHANIC TELL ME I HAVE TO REPLACE ENGINE I SIGN A 72 MONTH CONTRACT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
2013 BMW X3 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →
WHILE BMW X3 WAS UNDER WARRANTY, WE HAD DRIVETRAIN FAILURE COME ON AND REPEATEDLY TOOK TO BMW SLUGGISH BUT BARELY DRIVEABLE . THE DEALER SERVICE NEVER MADE SUBSTANTIAL REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY MY WIFE HAD A SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF I-90 AND WE INSISTED THEY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK FOR WHICH THEY CHARGED US $3000 JUST OUT OF WARRANTY TO GET IT BACK, CLAIMING THERE WAS A CAM DEFICIENCY. 6 MONTHS LATER, THE X3 HAD A CATASTROPHIC SHUTDOWN AGAIN IN MIDDLE OF I-90 HIGHWAY OUTSIDE ROCKFORD IL. GOING 65 MPH AND NEARLY CREATED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO ROADSIDE AND TOWED TO BMW DEALER . BMW DECLARE IT UNREPAIRABLE AND OUT OF 75,0000 MILE EXTENSION FOR BREAKAGE OF TIMING BELT CHAIN . SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED TIMING BELT ISSUE WAS EVIDENT DURING THE 75,0000 PERIOD, HOWEVER THE DEALER SERVICE INDICATED THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO WARN CONSUMERS. BMW NOAM CHARGES US $6900 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. BMWS HANDLING OF A DANGEROUS PROBLEM IS FRAUDULENT AT BEST. THEY HIDE BEHIND PERIPHERAL PROBLEMS TO ADDRESS THE BIG PROBLEM THAT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE SO AS MANY 2013 X3 MODELS MAY AGE PAST THE 75,0000 TIMING BELT CHAIN LIMIT AND THEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THEY ARE CREATING A GREAT RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2019, WE ([XXX]) WERE TRAVELING SOUTHWEST ON FM2322 (PACE BEND ROAD), WHICH IS WELL TRAVELLED, AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR IN OUR 2013 BMW X3. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THIS ROAD (FM2322) LEADS TO LAKE TRAVIS AND WAS WELL TRAVELED, IT BEING ON A HOT WEEKEND DAY. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, BMW KNEW THAT THE BMW X3'S N20 ENGINE (SEE MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS STARTING IN 2017) WAS PRONE TO SUFFER CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURE THE BMW'S X3 N20 ENGINE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE WE DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE OR RECALL FOR THE CORRECTION OF THE N20 ENGINE DEFECTS. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 BMW X3 ON I-280 FREEWAY SOUTHBOUND AROUND 11AM 6/10/2020, ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR SHOWS BATTERY DISCHARGE RESULTED IN LOST OF POWER,WHEN THE SUV WAS AT 104,000 MILES. WITHIN 30 SECONDS, THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING ENGAGED. THE CAR BEGAN SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE ACROSS TWO LANES OF MERGING TRAFFIC TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE GONE VERY DIFFERENTLY WITH DISASTROUS RESULTS, SO I QUICKLY MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER ON THE EMERGENCY PARKING LINE ON THE FREEWAY
ON 6/23/20, AT APPROX., 6:15 AM, MY 2013 BMW X3 VEHICLE (APPROX. 68,000 MILES) LOST ENGINE POWER AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT FROM A BUSY AND CONGESTED N/B 215 FREEWAY (NEAR THE W/B 10 FREEWAY EXCHANGE) IN COLTON, CALIFORNIA. PRIOR TO LOSING ENGINE POWER, AND AT ABOUT LESS THAN ONE MINUTES BEFORE, MY VEHICLE'S LOW OIL LIGHT SENSOR HAD COME ON, THEN QUICKLY CHANGED TO A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION SENSOR -- WARNING ME TO DRIVE MODERATELY, BUT THAT WAS MEANINGLESS BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. I SLID TO A SLOW STOP INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE OF THE FREEWAY AFTER CUTTING OFF NUMEROUS VEHICLES BEHIND ME IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT OFF THE FREEWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HIS WIFE ARRIVED HOME, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PACIFIC BMW (800 S. BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204, 8182-46-5600) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,450.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE MALFUNCTION TRANS LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS TOLD I HAD A OIL LEAK AND THE AIR TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE PROGRAMMING UPDATE. THE NEXT DAY BMW SERVICE ADVISOR, [XXX] CALLED TO TELL ME MY TIMING CHAIN NEED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST OVER 7000$. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE GAVE ME HIS ADVICE OR TWO OPTIONS I HAD, I COULD PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS AND HAVE A VEHICLE OR JUST FIX WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AND TRY TO SELL MY VEHICLE TO SOMEONE ELSE. I ASKED HIM TO HELP ME AND PUT ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE SAID OH NO WE CAN'T DO THAT. I ASKED WHY, IT'S YOUR CAR YOU SOLD IT TO ME. [XXX] TOLD ME BMW KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR YOU WON'T GET ANYTHING FOR IT, YET HE WANTED ME TO SELL IT TO ANOTHER FAMILY AND ENDANGER THEIR LIVES. I WASN'T GOING TO HEAR FROM HIM AGAIN, VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. IT MADE ME SICK. I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER RELATIONS A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF [XXX] AND WAS TOLD AFTER 4 DAYS OF INVESTIGATION, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I TOLD THEM THEY COULD HAVE THE VEHICLE, I'M NOT PAYING FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE DEFECT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. BMW IS ENDANGERING LIVES BY ALLOWING CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE VEHICLES WITH KNOWN DEFECTS. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED MY 2013 BMW X3 28I IN MARCH 2017 IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS @ 80,000 MILES. THIS IS CRAZY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C
ENGINE SEIZED AT ONLY 58K MILES RIGHT AT THE AIRPORT, WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A NEW ENGINE WAS REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER AT 61K MILES, HUGE PLUMES OF WHITE SMOKES IS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. DROVE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBOCHARGER IS BROKEN. *TR
TIMING-CHAIN BREAK DUE TO TIMING GUARD WHICH IS MADE FOR A PLASTIC BREAK AND ENGINE FAILURE, ITS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH BMW N20 ENGINE, THEY UPGRADE THE EFFECTED PART IN 2015 TO FIX IT BUT CARS THAT HAVE THESE N20 MODEL EARLIER GETTING THIS FAILURE AND BMW NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP IF ITS AFTER 7 YEARS OR 70000 MILES. *TR
ON 11/12/2019, ON MY WAY TO WORK DRIVING AT 40-44 MPH ON CITY ROAD, THE ACCELERATION SUDDENLY DROPPED, A SCREEN MESSAGE READ, "INCREASED ENGINE PRESSURE," AND ADVISED ME TO, "STOP ENGINE IMMEDIATELY," WHICH I HAD NO CHANCE TO DO BECAUSE THE SUV CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF A BUSINESS, BUT UNABLE TO PARK. THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF AND "LOCKED." A BMW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DIAGNOSED THE SUV'S TIME-CHAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT (MILEAGE WAS 95515. BMW STATED THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS MODEL'S TIME-CHAIN WAS 7 YEARS/70,000 MILES. IN REPLACING THE TIME-CHAIN, THE MOTOR WAS RUINED WITH METAL SHAVINGS. COMPLAINTS LISTED AT HTTPS://DRIVING-TESTS.ORG/VIN-DECODER/ REPORT CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE BMW USED WITH 95899 MILES AND DROVE IT FEWER THAN 3,000 MILES BEFORE THE TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE WERE RUINED. BMW NORTH AMERICA, LLC, DOES NOT WANT TO HELP CUSTOMERS WITH THE BAD TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE USED BMW IS BENZ & BEEMER IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ, WHOM ORIGINALLY BELIEVED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD "LIFETIME WARRANTY," BUT BMW SCOTTSDALE CORRECTED THEM. BENZ & BEEMER REFUSES TO NOW REPLACE THE BMW'S MOTOR AT THEIR EXPENSE, OF COURSE. ESSENTIALLY, THE BMW SUV IS AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE, EVEN AS USED, TO NOT HAVE A "LIFETIME WARRANTY" ON THE TIMING CHAIN. IN ADDITION, THE FAULTY TIMING CHAIN POSES A GREAT ACCIDENT RISK, IF NOT DEATH, TO THE DRIVER
THE NIGHT OF 11/9/2019, I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 BMW X3 WHEN MY ENGINE PRESSURE LOW LIGHT CAME ON THEN FOLLOWED BY DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHTS AND INSTANTLY MY SUV DIED/LOST ALL POWER AND I HAD TO DANGEROUSLY PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHILE AVOIDING OTHER CARS. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING SINCE MY LITTLE ONES WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY A FEW MINUTES EARLIER. THE SUV LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO START BACK UP. I HAD THE SUV TOWED TO THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE (MADE OF PLASTIC) HAD BROKEN AND THE BROKEN PIECES BLOCK THE OIL PUMP. IT TOOK OUT THE OIL PUMP AND STARVED THE ENGINE OF OIL AND NOW I HAVE A DEAD ENGINE. MY SUV HAVE ONLY 75K MILES ON IT WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS QUOTED $17,437.02 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. BMW SERVICE DEPT CONTACTED BMW AMERICA TO FILE A CLAIM AND GET THE REPAIRS COVERED. BMW REFUSED THE CLAIM STATING THAT IT WAS PAST THEIR 7 YEARS /70K MILES TIMING CHAIN WARRANTY. I HAD PURCHASE THE BMW PLATINUM EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS 7 YEARS/ 100K MILES, BUT IT EXPIRED 2 MONTHS AFTER THIS INCIDENT. IT'S A DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN/BRACKET THAT CAN RESULT TO TOTAL ENGINE DAMAGE. BMW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS/ 150K MILES WARRANTY OR ISSUE A RECALL. PEOPLE CAN LOSE THEIR LIFE WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND THE CAR LOSE POWER. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE FOR BMW N20 TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, IT IS QUITE COMMON ON THE N20 A
MY 2013 BMW X3 SHOWED A LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING ON THE DISPLAY. STOPPED THE CAR, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE N20 ENGINE. THE COST TO REPLACE IS CLOSE TO $6000. THE TIMING CHAIN IS NOT PART OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT NOT SUPPOSE TO FAIL. THE DEALER TOLD ME TO CALL BMW NORTH AMERICA FOR ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE SINCE THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT AND NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I CALLED AND AFTER 2 WEEKS BMW NORTH AMERICA GOT IN TOUCH WITH ME AND TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP ME OUT, NOT EVEN PARTIALLY. I CANNOT DRIVE OR SELL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IF THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY AS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE DSC, X5, TRAC CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. EXCLUSIVELY EUROPEAN (900 LANSING DR, MOUNT PLEASANT, SC 29464, (843) 856-3343) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V454000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,772. *LN*JB *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED COGGIN BMW OF TREASURE COAST IN FT. PIERCE LOCATED AT 4429 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982, (772) 742-5582, AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. *LN *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT STALLED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO A SERVICE STATION AND LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED COGGIN BMW OF TREASURE COAST IN FT. PIERCE LOCATED AT 4429 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982, (772) 742-5582 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. *LN CONSUMER HAS 2 DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DONE WITHIN FEW DAYS OF EACH OTHER. CONSUMER HAS A 10 YEARS 120,000 MILES LIMITED WARRANTY WHICH COVERS TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP CHAIN.*JB
MY TIMING CHAIN CAUSED MY ENGINE TO FAIL AT 90,000 MILES AND BMW WOULD NOT COVER THE COST EVEN THOUGH THEY INCREASED THE WARRANTY TO 70,000 MILES, I THEN HAD A USED ENGINE WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT AND 120,000 MILES LATER THAT TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUIN THE ENGINE. I STILL OWE $10,000 ON AN $8,000 VEHICLE WITH BMW WANTING $12,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY CLOSE TO HOLE AND THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON THE I PULLED OVER. THE SECOND TIME THE ENGINE WENT OUT I WAS OVER 2 HOURS FROM HOME AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE ABOUT LOW OIL PRESSURE AND WITHIN A MINUTE MY CAR LOST POWER AND PUT ITSELF IN NEUTRAL. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY SAFELY BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS LOSING POWER SUDDENLY IN THAT WAY. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START BACK UP AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. ANOTHER ONGOING ISSUE I HAVE HAD, IS THAT THE POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR LIGHT COMES ON ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE AND THE AUTO SHOP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND HAD OTHER WORK DONE THAT DID NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WHINING NOISE FROM LOWER ENGINE AREA NEAR ENGINE OIL PUMP CAUSED BY WEAR ON ENGINE OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE SPROCKETS
ENGINE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY (NO POWER/POWER STEERING/ENGINE SHAKING) WHILE ON HIGH SPEED ROAD WITH WIFE AND 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. MECHANIC NOTED OIL PUMP/DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CURRENTLY UNDERWAY WITH BMW. ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED.
AS MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE THE BUSY HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CUT OUT. WE LUCKILY COASTED TO SAFETY OFF THE HIGH SHOULDER--BARELY OFF THE MAIN TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO PARK AND WOULD NOT START OR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, SO WE WERE STUCK THERE UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME.
TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. I HAVE A DRIVETRAIN WARNING IN WHICH I HAVE READ NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ON THIS. TIMING CHAIN BREAKING EVEN WITH VERY LOW MILE AND YES I AGREE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL DEAL. THIS SO BAD FOR BMW WITH THEIR REPUTATION FOR BEING SUCH GOOD CARS.
MY VEHICLE HAS 98,902 MILES AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING A 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION' ERROR MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO TWO MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS ISSUE IS, I FOUND COUNTLESS FORUMS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.
AT ROUGHLY 71,000 MILES, WHILE PARKED AT A RED LIGHT, 200 MILES FROM HOME ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, MY CAR HAD A MAINTENANCE WARNING AND WOULDN'T MOVE.THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIRS WERE AROUND $7,000. ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.
ANOTHER TIMING CHAIN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. MY TIMING CHAIN FAIL ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE UNDER 70 000 MILES ON THE CAR BUT BMW NA TOLD THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR ARRIVE AT A LOT IN SEPTEMBER 2012 AND THE 7 YEAR WARRANTY START FROM SEPTEMBER 2012. MY CAR IS A 2013 BMW AND 7 YEARS WOULD PUT ME IN 2020 . BMW LOOK FOR ANYTHING NOT TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY ON THEIR FAIL ENGINE. I OWE OVER $10K ON A CAR THAT HAVE A FAIL ENGINE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IT IS SO NOT RIGHT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES AND HEAT DAMAGED TWO PARKED AND OCCUPIED VEHICLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MICHIGAN FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE THE FIRE INITIATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,400. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *DT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH BECAME AJAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND LOCKED CLOSED REAR HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
ANOTHER TIMING CHAIN VICTIM. TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN REPLACED 2/2017, 51K MILES AND EVIDENTLY WAS REPLACED WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, PRIOR TO BMW'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AN ISSUE. 30 MONTHS LATER WE SIT AT 80K MILES AND THE CHAIN HAS BROKEN AGAIN CAUSING CATASTROPHIC MOTOR DAMAGE. BMW NA WAS CONTACTED AND WE WERE DELIGHTFULLY DENIED OUR ASSISTANCE REQUEST. WE WERE HOWEVER OFFERED A VERY GENEROUS 10% DISCOUNT TOWARDS A NEW MOTOR FROM OUR LOCAL DEALER.
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE CAR GAVE AN ALERT: 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION'DRIVE MODERATELY.' THEN MY HUSBAND GOT ANOTHER ALERT: 'OIL PRESSURE LOW' WHICH WARNED NOT TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY, BY THAT POINT HE WAS ON OUR BLOCK SO HE MOVED THE CAR VERY SLOWLY TOWARDS OUR HOUSE. THE CAR SHUT DOWN, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO PARK THE CAR STREETSIDE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND LEARNED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. JUST THE DAY BEFORE THIS VEHICLE FAILURE, WE WERE COMING HOME FROM SEEING FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANY OTHER BUSY ROAD, WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TIME TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE BECAUSE THE CAR SHUT DOWN SO QUICKLY. I'M GRATEFUL THAT MY HUSBAND WAS SO CLOSE TO HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AS IT IS, WE'LL BE INCURRING CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO REPAIR A CAR THAT BMW SEEMS TO KNOW HAS A MAJOR DEFECT. THE CAR IS A 2013 BMW X3 WITH AN N20 ENGINE; IT HAS ABOUT 107,000 MILES ON IT. THAT'S A LOT OF MILES, BUT NOT NEARLY SO MANY THAT SUCH A MAJOR VEHICLE MALFUNCTION COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD FAIL ON A CAR THAT WE HAVE MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR. THIS IS THE KIND OF PROBLEM YOU MIGHT REASONABLY EXPECT AROUND 150,000 MILES, BUT WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT. I'VE SINCE LEARNED THROUGH SOME RESEARCH THAT MANY BMWS WITH N20 ENGINES MADE IN 2010-2015 HAVE HA
1. WARNING DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION 2. DROVE MODERATELY ON WAY DRIVING IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR 3. OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP OR RISK DAMAGE TO ENGINE 4. PULLED OVER, HAD IT TOWED TO BMW 5. THEY CALLED THE NEXT MORNING STATING IT WAS 17,000 MOL DUE TO ENGINE BEING DAMAGED AFTER FRAGMENTS WENT IN FROM TIMING CHAIN 6. INSURANCE ADJUSTER WENT OUT AND CONQUERED BMW ISSUE TIMING CHAIN BROKE EFFECTING ENGINE OIL PUMP AND BATTERY 7. ENGINE INOPERABLE FUCNTIONALLY TOTALED CAR WAITING FOR BMW N AMERICA CASEMNGR TO RETURN MY CALL AND HOPEFULLY OFFER TO EXTEND WARRANTY OR OFFER GOOD WILL AND FIX -REPAIR ENGINE AND ALL RELATED TO MALFUNCTION 8. FOUND OUT USA CONSUMER CLASS ACTION SUIT IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY FILED 12/12/19 AGAINST BMW FOR TIMING CHAIN ENGINE ISSUE... STILL WITHOUT RELIEF OR VEHICLE AND NO PERSONAL FUNDS TO GET CAR BACK AGAIN HOPING FOR RELIEF FROM BMW!
WARNING LIGHT REVEALED THAT PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG IS FAULTY AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT.
CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A SUBURB ROAD WHEN DASHBOARD LIGHT UP WITH 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION'.TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD ON AN INCLINE, BLOCKING THE TRAFFIC THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE ODO WAS 84666. THERE IS A TSB SI B11 03 17 ON THIS ISSUE, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 7 YEARS / 70,000 MILES.
WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET. WE RECEIVED A "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WARNING, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED AS A MINOR ISSUE. WE NOTICED A CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE AND PERFORMANCE, WHICH WAS UNUSUAL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, A "LOW OIL PRESSURE" WARNING CAME ON AND THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, WHERE WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND ADVISED US THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THANKFULLY, WE WERE OPERATING UNDER THE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THROUGH RESEARCH, WE NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL. WE ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WERE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FIANC WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ALSO, 'DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION, DRIVE MODERATE SPEED' WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BILL DODGE AUTO PARK (888-464-1978, LOCATED AT 2 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REMOVED TO INSPECT THE TIMING CHAINS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.
UPON START UP THERE IS NO POWER ASSIST FOR 5-20 SECONDS. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR AT APPROX 60 THOUSAND MILES. DIAGNOSED AS FAILING EPS STEERING RACK.
THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE FROM THE FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC GUIDE AND TENSIONING MECHANISM THAT IS USED IN TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY. THE PLASTIC BREAKS AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE TIMING CHAIN AND CRANKSHAFT TIMING SPROCKET CAUSING THE TIMING TO JUMP AND DAMAGE THE VALVETRAIN.
WHILE DRIVING STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND BECAME HARD TO STEERING , ERROR -DRIVE MODERATELY , INCREASED STEERING EFFORT REQUIRED ON DISPLAY , WHICH WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AT SLOW SPEEDS , DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE
WE PURCHASED A 2013 BMW X3 IN DECEMBER 2012. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEALER SERVICED FROM DAY ONE. IN 2018, FAIRFAX BMW REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AT NO COST WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 45K MILES WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. IN EARLY AUGUST I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 81 SOUTH TRAVELLING FROM VIRGINIA TO ARIZONA. THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND WHICH BECAME PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. I EXITED THE BUSY HIGHWAY AND BARELY MADE IT TO BMW OF ROANOKE, VA. I WAS TRAVELLING THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN, AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO GO 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I EXITED. I SOON LEARNED THAT MY PARTICULAR ENGINE (F-25/N20) HAS A MAJOR DEFECT AND WILL LITERALLY BLOW UP WHILE DRIVING. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS ENDANGERED MY HEALTH AND SAFETY BY REFUSING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN NEW JERSEY (CHRIS WILLIAMS, ET.AL. V. BMW NORTH AMERICA). THE DEALER IN ROANOKE SAID THE ENGINE IS UNREPAIRABLE WITH ONLY 51K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ONE LAST OBSERVATION IN NOTICED IS THAT PRIOR TO STARTING MY TRIP I CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS ALMOST A QUART LOW WHICH HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I FILLED THE ENGINE TO IT'S RECOMMENDED CAPACITY AND BEGAN MY TRAVEL. THERE IS A LIST OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH ENGINE DEFECTS, AND MY VEHICLE IS ON THE LIST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" AND "LOW OIL PRESSURE" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AROUND 70 MPH, DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION MESSAGE CAME ON MONITOR WITHIN A FEW SECONDS ANOTHER MESSAGE SAYING LOW OIL PRESSURE PULL TO SIDE AND CALL FOR SERVICE. MANGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE, BUT POTENTIAL WAS THERE AFTER LOSING POWER TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS 300 MILES FROM HOME ON JULY 4, 2019 NO SHOP WAS OPEN, SO HAD AAA TOW THE VEHICLE TO BMW DEALER, MET WITH THEM THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, HE ALSO INFORMED THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THE BMW HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 70K MILES, BUT SINCE I HAD 115K IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. CALLED CORPORATE BMW AND INFORMED THEM THAT THIS IS THE KNOWN ISSUE OF TIMING CHAIN AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING BMW FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND CURRENTLY OWN 2. THEY CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WILL NOT BE GIVING ANY GOODWILL OR ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BY THEIR VEHICLE ON A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A LOYAL CUSTOMER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WON'T BUY A VEHICLE FROM A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR VEHICLE. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE DATABASE AND FOUND MANY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, ENOUGH FOR BMW TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE BUT CURRENTLY NOT ENOUGH FOR AN INVESTIGATION OR RECALL.
THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT LINKED TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONING. IT IS OF THE SAME DESIGN AS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED SENSORS IN OTHER BMW MODELS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.
FAULTY PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN GUIDE THAT FAILS PREMATURELY. AT 113,000, MY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME TO EITHER REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AND COMPONENTS, OR GET RID OF THE VEHICLE, AS THE ENGINE WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL IF THIS IN NOT ADDRESSED. AT NEARLY 5K OR MORE IN REPAIRS, THAT IS BASICALLY 50% OF THE VEHICLE'S RESALE VALUE. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR A BAD DESIGN AND FAULTY COMPONENTS. MANY OTHERS WITH THE BMW N20 ENGINE HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINE FAIL COMPLETELY, OR HAD TO PAY ASTRONOMICAL REPAIR COSTS TO CORRECT BMW'S DESIGN ERROR. A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING A PROBLEMATIC ENGINE, NOT THE OWNER.
DRIVING WEST ON I84 IN CT. JUST EAST OF EXIT 33 BEFORE RT 72 MERGE LOW OIL PRESSURE MESSAGE COMES ON. WITHIN 30 SECONDS DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARS AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO POWER DOWN. BARELY MADE IT ACROSS THE 2 LANES MERGING ON THE RIGHT AND ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE ENGINE LOST POWER ENTIRELY AND SHUT DOWN. COULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL DISASTER GIVEN THE HIGH SPEED MERGE AND VOLUME OF TRAFFIC.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD, MOVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH AND RECEIVED THE DRIVE TRAIN WARNING AND AS I WAS PULLING OVER, IR, THEN STUDENTLY I GOT A MESSAGE, ENGINE LOSS POWER, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO PULL OVER ..HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS I WAS WITH MY GRAND KIDS IN THE CAR . THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TOW TO THE DEALER .. WAITING FOR ESTIMATED ..DANGEROUS SITUATION PULLING INTO TRAFFIC SPECIALLY ON A HIGHWAY WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE" TO ANYONE! THEY WAITING FOR A FATAL CRASH TO TAKE ACTIONS ??????
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BRAKING TO SLOWDOWN AT A LIGHT AS I WAS COMING INTO TOWN. MESSAGE CAME ON THAT OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW AND TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSIST. MOVED OFF HIGHWAY AND CUT ENGINE ON AND OF TWICE. MESSAGE CLEARED BUT DECIDED TO DRIVE HOME. MESSAGE CAME ON DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION DRIVE MODERATELY SO I CONTINUED ON FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES AT SLOW SPEED. A CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD. THE CAR JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL SO I COASTED TO A SAFE SPOT AND TRIED TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE UNSUCCESSFULLY. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOW TRUCK PUT ON FLATBED TO MECHANIC WHO THEN RAN A A SCAN. HE SAID THE ENGINE IS RUINED AND WILL NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO, TX REPLACED THE TURBOCHARGER TWICE WITH THE LAST BEING IN THE FALL OF 2017. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THIS THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD BEEN GIVEN. OUR CAR HAS 94,000 MILES. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN THROUGH HOUSTON IN A STORM. THIS COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES IF WE HAD BEEN STRANDED IN THE FLOODING HIGHWAY BLOCKING TRAFFIC LET ALONE OTHER LIVES.
DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. NOTIFICATION APPEARED OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE NOTIFICATION WAS OFF. STARTED DRIVING AGAIN AND NOTIFICATION CAME ON LOW OIL PRESSURE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD TICKING NOISE WHILE I PULLED OFF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME. CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY STATED THAT IT WAS LIKELY A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE WHICH THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER. MY CAR HAS 88K MILES. WHEN I TOLD THEM THE MILEAGE THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED OVER 70K MILES. THEY SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE DAMAGE WOULD LIKELY RUIN THE ENGINE AND REQUIRE POSSIBLY A NEW ENGINE. EITHER WAY, IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $1000 FOR THE INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. I HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE AT THE DEALER AND THEY NEVER MENTIONED NO CHECKED FOR THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 70K.
VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND SENSORS LITE UP AND VEHICLE STALLED. MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN, WARRANTY COMPANY DEMANDED ENGINE BE OPENED UP TO CHECK VALUES, FOUND TIMING CHAIN BOLT BROKEN OFF IN THE ENGINE NOT TO BE FOUND. WARRANTY COMPANY BLAMED BOLT AND REFUSED TO PAY REPAIRS, NEW ENGINE REQUIRED SINCE BOLT COULD NOT BE FOUND. NONE ISSUE WITH BMW
THERE IS A FAULTY CHIP IN THE TAIL LIGHT. THIS CAUSES A FAILURE OF THE TAIL LIGHT WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING. TYPICALLY WHEN A BULB GOES OUT THE DRIVER WILL GET A WARNING IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER. THIS FAULTY CHIP PREVENTS THE WARNING.
MY 2013 X BMW WAS GIVING A MESSAGE ON THE DASH BOARD STATING IF I STOP THE ENGINE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR. ON APRIL 17, 2019 I DROVE TO PRIME MOTOR GROUP BMW OF NORWOOD, MA FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACE A PART AND THE CAR CANNOT START, AT THIS POINT I WAS GETTING AN E-MAIL FROM THE DEALER WITH AN ESTIMATE COST OF CLOSE TO $5,500 TO REPAIR IT. AT THE TIME TAKING THE CAR FOR THE PROBLEM, THERE WERE 5 RECALLS PENDING FOR MY CAR THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REPAIR, BUT THE RECALLS WAS KEPT SECRET FROM ME UNTIL ON APRIL 24, 2019 I TOWED THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE BATTERY FOR $525 AS I WAS TOLL BY THE SERVICE COUNSELOR TO GET THAT START BACK. AS OFF NOW, MY CAR IS STILL SEATING AT THE DEALER, BUT I DON'T HAVE $5,500 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE AND THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LOCKED ITSELF. GOT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM AND NEW ENGINE POTENTIALLY. AFTER SOME RESEARCH FOUND THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENING TO LOTS OF PEOPLE. I ALSO FOUND THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS 7/70,000. WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE 69,550 MILES.
I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 7 MONTH OLD BABY AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR STOPS, IT WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST BMW DEALER. ONE DAY LATER I GET A NOTIFICATION IN MY EMAIL THAT THE ENGINE IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO A TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIR IS 15K!
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2013 BMW X3 → · Every X3 year → · How the figures are calculated →