2013 Bmw 3 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.8% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10490036 · 2012-12-25 (December 25, 2012)
AS MY WIFE OPEN THE DOOR AND SITS , SHE PULLED THE DOOR TO CLOSE BUT IT WONT LOCK UP TRY SEVERAL TIMES TO DO IT WITH THE REMOTE BUT WONT LOCK UP. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR!!! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490036 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 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 10546219 · 2013-09-30 (September 30, 2013)
AS I WAS APPROACHING THE ON RAMP FOR THE HIGHWAY, I SPED UP IN ORDER TO MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR PICKED UP EXTREMELY SLOWLY AS IF IT DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER. I ALSO NOTICED AT THE SAME TIME THAT MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE SEEMED TO BE UNUSUALLY LOW FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR OVER AN HOUR. THERE HAD ALSO BEEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD FAN NOISE THAT WOULD COME ON EVERY 2 MINUTES OR SO. AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF POWER, I NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE VEHICLE BEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546219 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.