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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Bmw M3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

24,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 13 complaints (53.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues215.4%
Transmission and shifting17.7%
Engine operation17.7%

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.

Air Bags
7
Engine
4
Power Train
3
Electrical System
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags7
Engine4
Power Train3
Electrical System2
Fuel/Propulsion System1

Air Bags: 7; Engine: 4; Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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.

2016
4
2017
5
2018
1
2020
1
2021
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20164
20175
20181
20201
20211
20241

2016: 4; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 11000637 · 2017-06-22 (June 22, 2017)

WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREET AT APPROX 35MPH I WAS FORCED TO SWERVE DUE TO BEING CUT OFF BY AN ADJACENT WRECKLESS VEHICLE. MY 2013 BMW E93, WITH JUST OVER 43,000 MILES, AND WHICH I HAD PURCHASED LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR, IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS LITERALLY LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET WITH ZERO FUNCTIONALITY. FROM ELECTRICAL TO EVERY ASPECT OF MECHANICAL, THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO FUNCTION OF ANY KIND. MY VEHICLES COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED FAILURE WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT REQUIRED MULTIPLE TOW TRUCKS IN ORDER TO L…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000637 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11416316 · 2021-05-12 (May 12, 2021)

THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WHEN I RUN MY A/C. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND THEY STATED IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER RECALL. BUT I CHECKED THE RECALL NOTICE AND IT ONLY COVERS MY VEHICLE UP TO 2011, BUT MINE IS A 2013. HOWEVER, THE BLOWER MOTOR PARTS IN MY CAR ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 2011, SO I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH A/C BECAUSE SOMETHING IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAS ALREADY BURNED SO FAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11416316 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11000438 · 2017-06-21 (June 21, 2017)

TAKATA RECALL. REASONABLE TIME HAS PASSED SINCE THE AIRBAG RECALL. BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD AS TO WHEN THIS SAFETY ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED.EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR I FEEL I AM RISKING MY LIFE OR CHANCE FOR SERIOUS INJURY. BMW HAS BEEN COMPLETELY NEGLIGENT WITH REGARDS TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. BMW SHOULD TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE SITUATION BY REPLACING THE CAR WITH A SIMILAR VEHICLE. I NEED THIS TO BE RESOLVED NOW!!!. ALSO THE DRIVE TRAIN HAS A CLUNKING NOISE OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE NEW. THEY HAVE MADE TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT BUT THE PROB…

Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000438 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10821362 · 2016-01-21 (January 21, 2016)

VEHICLE HAS 3,100 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED TO GET FUEL AND ON THE WAY BACK HOME THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE HEAVILY, THEN STALL OUT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR ENDED. LUCKILY THE CAR STARTED BUT FELT LIKE IT HAD ONLY 10% OF THE POWER, BMW TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY TO TELL MY MY ENGINE HAS FAILED. IM NOT SURE HOW IN 3,100 WELL CARED FOR MILES THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR-ENDED IN TRAFFIC. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW COULD RELEASE …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821362 at NHTSA ↗