2013 Bmw M3: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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: 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 ↗
Owner report 10873743 · 2016-06-12 (June 12, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG BMW TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE CAR TO PARK IT AND THEY WANT TO GIVE ME RENTAL. UNKNOW HOW LONG FOR REPAIR I LEASE CAR AT $1245 PER MONTH WAY SHOULD I GET A LESSER CAR AND CONTINUE MY PAYMENTS .I HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT I WANT TO TRADE IT IN FOR THE SAME VALUE ON A M4 SHOULDNT THEY GIVE ME THE SAME DEAL TO GET ME OUT OF MY LEASE.. FLORIDA HAS A HIGHER RISK BECAUSEOF THE HEAT FOR THE AIR BAG TO EXPLODE. IM 5FT 1 AND IM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR... I HAVENT DRIVEN IT SINCE THEY TOLD ME ABOUT RECALL ..I HAPPEN TO BRING CAR FOR SERVICE OR I WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906897 · 2016-09-15 (September 15, 2016)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10906897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10910460 · 2016-09-29 (September 29, 2016)
WHEN I ACCELERATE QUICKLY AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN I GET A GREEN LIGHT, THE ENGINE LOOSES ALL POWER BUT KEEPS RUNNING. BMW HAS NO IDEA AS NO CODES ARE BEING SAVED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE GENERAL MANAGER SAID IT PROBABLY COMPUTER PART BUT WE MAY NEVER KNOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10910460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947706 · 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)
ROD BEARINGS. THERE IS CLICKING NOISE THAT I AM HEARING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. SINCE SUMMER OF LAST YEAR, I HAD HEARD SUBTLE CLICKING NOISES OCCASIONALLY WHICH I WASN'T ABLE TO LOCATE AT THE TIME AND HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT PARK AVE BMW SERVICE ON OCTOBER 2016 TO GET MY CAR CHECKED FOR FEW REASONS. ONE OF THE REASONS INCLUDED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHICH I HAD MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE AGENT AND THAT HE WOULD GET THIS CHECKED OUT ALONG WITH THE OTHER SERVICE MAINTENANCE. AT THE END OF THE SERVICE, HE STATED THAT E…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947706 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 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 11020265 · 2017-08-29 (August 29, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL. I'VE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE LAST TIME I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. MY VIN SHOWS ON THE RECALL LIST AND I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM BMV TO CONTACT THEM. KEELER MOTOR CAR IN LATHAM NY IS THE DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11020265 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V071000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V017000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗