2013 BMW 1 Series

Typical pattern

4.8% of complaints about the 2013 BMW 1 Series came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2013 vehicle — around the middle of the 210 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (31 complaints), typically at 3.5 yr or about 35,000 miles.

Covers 2 variants: 128I (46), 135I (16)

Complaints: 62
Median age at failure: 4.0 yr
Median mileage: 29,000 n=26
Crash / fire / tow: 11.3% of reports
Safety recalls: 3

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

22V119000 2022-03-02

Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.

An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

20V017000 2020-01-15

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDr

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

16V071000 2016-02-05

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAV

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 54,000 mi 3.5 yr in service

I BEGAN THE PROCESS OF BUYING A NEW BMW IN DECEMBER 2015. NOW THAT I CAN DEVOTE TIME TO THE PROCESS, I CALLED BMW WESTCHESTER, NY AND TOLD I CAN NOT ORDER MY NEW BMW DUE TO THE 2013 BMW HAVING A RECALL. THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS AT THIS TIME. THEREFORE I AM STUCK WITH A BMW THAT IS NOW FINANCED BY BMW, THAT HAS AIRBAGS THAT COULD EXPLODE AT ANYTIME. THIS AIRBAG ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2014............BMW NEEDS TO BE PROACTIVE!!!!!!!!

Air bags mileage not reported 3.4 yr in service

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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.

Air bags 46,000 mi 1.7 yr in service

TAKATA RECALL...I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE TIME FRAME OF THIS RECALL. IT'S TAKING FAR TO LONG. I THINK AT SOME POINT THE MANUFACTURE MUST OWN UP TO THE SUPPLIERS THEY CHOOSE FOR THEIR VEHICLES AND SOLVE THE ISSUE IN OTHER WAYS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR, AND IT'S FAIR THAT I HAVE TO WAIT THIS LONG FOR THE CAR TO BE FIXED. I WANT EITHER MY MONEY BACK OR A NEW UNAFFECTED CAR. THE LEMON LAW STATES THAT ANY CAR THAT CANNOT BE FIXED IS EITHER RETURNED OR REPLACED. THIS IS A LEMON OF MASSIVE PROPORTION!

Other 1 Series model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2013 BMW 1 Series

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other 1 Series model years

How to read this