2013 Bmw 320I: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
84,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10553277 · 2013-11-21 (November 21, 2013)
RE: TCN-KDN21-40701 ON 9/17/13 I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR AS IT ROLLED DOWN A HILL - ALTHOUGH I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS LEAVING A DRIVEWAY WHICH IS POSITIONED ON A HILL. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT A WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED ON MY SCREEN. I THEN HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND THEN A "GRINDING" NOISE. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AND THE AIRBAG POPPED OUT - KNOCKING ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN MY CAR REACHED THE BOTTOM …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10553277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592551 · 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO ACCELERATE OVER 2800 RPMS WHEN IT WAS PLACED IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,420. .... UPDATED 08/05/14 *BF UPDATED 08/18/2014 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 7,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11165636 · 2019-01-03 (January 3, 2019)
THE TICKING NOISE FROM THE VALVES IS TERRIBLE, THE PEOPLE AT BMW SAID IS NORMAL BUT THAT NOISE IS TOO MUCH, ITS SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL CAR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11165636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11278375 · 2019-11-06 (November 6, 2019)
HELLO I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON A MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE WERE THE ENGINE STALLS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN AND INTERNAL PARTS THAT GIVES THE ENGINE POWER. MY CAR SHOWED AND EMERGENCY INDICATOR LIGHT THAT SAID ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOW AND TO CAREFULLY STOP AND STOP ENGINE OF RISK OF DAMAGE. THEN ANOTHER INDICATOR THAT STATED ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOT. THIS WAS DONE AND THE CAR TOWED AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS A KNOCKING NOISE SO NOT DRIVING IT. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU ASAP AS THERE TELLING ME AT BMW THAT THAT RECALL IS NO LONGER IN EFFE…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11303016 · 2020-01-30 (January 30, 2020)
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11303016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11338821 · 2020-07-11 (July 11, 2020)
FRONT DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AND CAN'T USE KEY TO INTER MANUALLY, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF EMERGENCY AND CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR EASILY
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11338821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11349335 · 2020-08-14 (August 14, 2020)
REVERSE LIGHT HOUSING FALLS OUT. MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS STATING IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW AND DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE. POTENTIAL HAZARD IF HOSING FALLS OFF ON HIGHWAY OR LACK OF A REVERSE LIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11349335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11447154 · 2022-01-12 (January 12, 2022)
engine overheating, passenger safety belt, failed speed control (difficulty accelerating) Due to these issues and malfunctions; it causes injury to the driver as the airbags/seat belts are not stable. If the car suddenly stops it can injure the driver. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly, vehicle loses power/ says to drive moderately or stop driving/ the car drives slow does not past 35 mph, the car goes into 'limp mode' (less than 10 mph) it goes in a very low speed with no acceleration; This is a safety hazard, as it becomes easy to be rear-…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11447154 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V454000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)
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.
Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V627000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Reported: 2014-10-07 (October 7, 2014)
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.
Consequence: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V520000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 2015-08-17 (August 17, 2015)
BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗