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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Bmw 3 SERIES problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

3,750 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 21 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior314.3%
Electrical and battery issues314.3%
Transmission and shifting29.5%
Engine operation29.5%
Fuel system concerns14.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
7
Engine
7
Power Train
6
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Air Bags
3
Service Brakes
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Latches/Locks/Linkages
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System7
Engine7
Power Train6
Vehicle Speed Control4
Air Bags3
Service Brakes2
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Electrical System: 7; Engine: 7; Power Train: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
1
2013
7
2014
5
2015
2
2016
2
2018
2
2019
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20137
20145
20152
20162
20182
20192

2012: 1; 2013: 7; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10494881 · 2013-01-27 (January 27, 2013)

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE CAR WAS SLOWLY TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT. THE DRIVER HAD TO SUDDENLY PRESS VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494881 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10508639 · 2013-04-18 (April 18, 2013)

AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION HAS MALFUNCTIONED BEFORE WHERE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR DOESN'T START AGAIN. NORMALLY I CAN JUST PRESS THE START BUTTON AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, I WENT TO START IT AGAIN AFTER IT HAD AN "AUTO START/STOP MALFUNCTION", AND IT WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. AN ERROR POPPED UP SAYING "IGNITION MALFUNCTION -- DO NOT TURN ENGINE OFF. CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN." CURRENTLY WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER I HAD TO FLATBED IT. ALSO THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO NEUTRAL SO THEY HAD TO DRAG IT ON …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508639 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10513158 · 2013-05-22 (May 22, 2013)

I WAS REARENDED, ON THE FREEWAY, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BY AN SUV GOING ABOUT 40MPH, I SLAMMED IN TO ANOTHER SUV IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED. THE DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN AIRBAG DEPLOY ERROR. ALSO, THE REASON MY CAR WAS TOTALED WAS BECAUSE ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES FOR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ARE BEHIND THE REAR TAIL LIGHT, AND THEY WERE MELTED AFTER IMPACT. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO WHERE THE FUEL TANK IS. LUCKILY, I WALKED AWAY WITH A SORE NECK AND FEW BRUISES, BUT IT IS CONCERNING THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,755 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10598385 · 2014-06-15 (June 15, 2014)

MY HUSBAND WAS REFUELING OUR 2013 BMW 335I AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. DURING THAT PROCESS, A PICKUP TRUCK BACKED UP AND WAS CLOSE TO HITTING OUR CAR. FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT, I TRIED TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER WITH OUR CAR'S HORN, BUT IT DID NOT WORK, SO I RESORTED TO SCREAMING AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE SINCE THE WINDOWS WERE ALSO CLOSED. FORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND HEARD ME AND REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND GOT THE TRUCKS ATTENTION AND PREVENTED A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC COLLISION RIGHT NEXT TO A GAS PUMP. IT NEVER EVEN CROSSED OUR MINDS AT…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598385 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10500706 · 2013-02-27 (February 27, 2013)

HEARD NOISE AND THE CAR STARTING SHAKING AND THEN CAR DIED ON ME AND SERVICE ON MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND I STARTS THE CAR BACK BUT IT GOT STALLED MANY TIMES AND IT WAS SHIFTING THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE I COULD HAD AN ACCIDENT BRAND NEW BMW. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,515 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500706 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10550631 · 2013-11-02 (November 2, 2013)

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RESULTING IN VIOLENT SHUDDERING OF THE VEHICLE BODY AND ABRUPT ENGINE STOPS RESULTING IN DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. FLUCTUATIONS IN THE TACHOMETER WHEN THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND THE CAR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE GEARS TO NEUTRAL OR PARK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550631 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552529 · 2013-11-16 (November 16, 2013)

HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED INCIDENT (09/30/2013), THE LOSS POWER. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME FOR ME. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 29, 2013. WHEN I PUT FOOT ON GAS, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND TWO DAYS LATER WAS TOLD THE AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE: THERE WERE NO PARTS IN THE COUNTRY NOR COULD THEY TELL ME WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I WAS TOLD I COULD CONTINUE OPERATE THE CAR AND I SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED. THE LOSS OF POWER O…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,109 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552529 at NHTSA ↗