2013 Bmw X1: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 38 complaints (47.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 47.4% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 18 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Electrical System: 18; Engine: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Unknown Or Other: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking: 1; Power Train: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 27 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 10 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2020: 5; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 10; 2025: 10; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 11318274 · 2020-03-16 (March 16, 2020)
VEHICLE WITH 68,000 MILES BEGAN HAVING WHIRRING NOISE THAT PROGRESSED TO RATTLING WHILE DRIVING. WHIRRING FIRST HEARD WHILE ENGINE RUNNING IDLE THEN DISAPPEARED. THEN NO ISSUES WITH POWER OR NOISE FOR SEVERAL MILES, THEN NOISE RESTARTED WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS. SAFELY PULLED OVER THEN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED ENGINE MALFUNCTION. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SERVICE SHOP, AS IT COULD NOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN. DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAIN ON OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. BECAME AWARE OF TSB SI B11 03 17 AFTER THE CAR FAILED. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319912 · 2020-04-01 (April 1, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND BRAKE VACUUM RESERVOIR NEEDED TO BE FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320758 · 2020-04-10 (April 10, 2020)
WHEN STARTING MY CAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER OUTPUT WAS REDUCED TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TURBO MALFUNCTION WASTE GATE ACTUATOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR DURING EACH EPISODE BUT I WAS TOLD WHEN THE PART GOES OUT COMPLETELY THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322393 · 2020-04-27 (April 27, 2020)
I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT IN OCT (#JJN21-55607) AND IN DEC (#11291377) AND NOW AGAIN! ON MARCH 18, 2020, THE BRAND NEW BMW OEM CAR BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN!!! SPECIFICALLY, THE CAR DOES NOT REMOTE UNLOCK, THE LIGHTS ARE ALL OFF, AND THE CAR DOES NOT TURN-OVER. I CAN JUMP THE CAR AND IT WORKS, BUT TEMPORARILY. PLEASE HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11322393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360852 · 2020-09-24 (September 24, 2020)
LEAKING POWER STEERING LINES. NEED TO BE REPLACED AND BLED OUT$1300.00. OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET LEAKING$513.00 TIMING CHAINS STRETCHED AND ENGINE MAKING TICKING SOUND. GUIDES BROKEN. OIL MOD ALSO RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL ENGINE ISSUES AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY CERTIFIED BMW DEALERSHIP. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS $6200.00 WHITE HORSE AUTOMOTIVE WOULD NOT DO REPAIRS AT A CERTIFIED BMW REPAIR SHOP. THIS CAR WAS NOT JUST TRADED. THE ENGINE WAS LITERALLY SEIZED I HAD NO CHIICE
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360852 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11422471 · 2021-06-27 (June 27, 2021)
Total engine failure while driving. No prior warning message. Car stopped dead in the middle of an intersection. Wheels would not turn to move the car. These cars have known defective time chain module, it is made of plastic and it breaks down causing engine failure. There is a class action lawsuit, see Gelis v. BMW North America. BMW sold 600,000 cars with this defect to Americans and has not done a recall. Car is at BMW of Palm Springs and they refuse to repair. You are welcome to inspect it.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11422471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11433897 · 2021-09-21 (September 21, 2021)
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X1. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake sensor warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that no issues were found, however, the brake sensor system was reset. The contact stated the failure reoccurred while driving and coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated while driving at 20-25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond and went…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11433897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441408 · 2021-11-23 (November 23, 2021)
THE TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP CHAIN IN THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN. THE ENGINE CEASE AND STOP IN A HIGH TRAFIC STATE ROAD. NEAR MISSED WHICH COULD KILL PEOPLE IN THE CAR. EMTREMELY SERIOUS SYSTEM FAILURE. MY SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED. THE AUTO HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW CENTER IN SHREWSBURY MA AND BE INSPECTED BY BMW DEALER. NOWARNING OF PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT. THE ENGINE CONSIDER TOTAL LOSS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED . THE BMW HAD A TIMING CHAIN LAWSUIT REACH A SETTLEMENT FOR THE SAME SAFETY
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11441408 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.
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 ↗24V608000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Connectors/Plugs/Receptacles | Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Pump
Reported: 2024-08-13 (August 13, 2024)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗