What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2013 BMW X3

Typical pattern

4.9% of complaints about the 2013 BMW X3 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 7.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (146 complaints), typically at 7.5 yr or about 85,000 miles.

Complaints
345
Median age at failure
7.4 yr
Median mileage
85,000 n=244
Crash / fire / tow
19.4% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
146 reports · 85,000 mi
7.5 yr
19.2%
Power train
60 reports · 86,000 mi
7.8 yr
13.3%
Electrical system
29 reports · 86,947 mi
8.5 yr
34.5%
Service brakes
17 reports · 42,000 mi
4.5 yr
11.8%
Fuel / propulsion
16 reports · 84,899 mi
8.0 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V608000 2024-08-13
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump

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.

An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

24V527000 2024-07-11
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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.

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

17V495000 2017-08-08
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

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.

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.

16V333000 2016-05-23
Child seat:latch strap

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.

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

14V627000 2014-10-07
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

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.

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

13V570000 2013-11-15
Air bags

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.

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.

13V454000 2013-09-26
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

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.

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

In owners’ own words

Engine 150 mi 4 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Engine 60,000 mi 3.0 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Engine 75,000 mi 3.5 yr in service crash / fire / tow
HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING & BLACK SMOKE THRU DASHBOARD. COULD SEE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN 5-6 MINUTES CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. TOTAL LOSS, ALMOST NO WARNING.
Service brakes 1,800 mi 6 mo in service
CAR WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SUDENLY STARTED SLOWING IT DOWN AND DASH LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. WITH THE CAR STOPPED I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND WORKED AS IT SHOULD HAVE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED WHEN I LATER WENT TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING WORKED. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ON AND IT COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WITH ALL THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNTIONS WAS A LOOSE GROUND. *TR

Other X3 model years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

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