2013 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 3 Series years
- Fewer complaints than other years 12th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 3 Series. That ranks 12th out of 20 3 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (7 complaints, 33%), typically at around 3,750 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 21owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 BMW 3 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 | 33% | 3,750 | — | — |
| Engine | 7 | 33% | 1,825 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 29% | 2,383 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 19% | 5,225 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 14% | 2,755 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 10% | 5,625 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 5% | 2,515 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 5% | 300 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 5% | 2,755 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 5% | 12,650 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% | 37,500 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 BMW 3 Series recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2013 BMW 3 Series.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Loss of power assist braking (PE13030) — opened Sep 6, 2013, closed Oct 25, 2013, led to recall 13V454000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The door lock actuators have failed. This makes it so that the doors do not open when you are inside the vehicle attempting to get out by pulling the door handle. This is a safety issue not allowing me to get out of my vehicle. If this issue is not resolved by paying the $1500 to fix the issue the…
Driver and passenger trapped in car after parking at as gas pump. Doors would unlock but not open resulting in the potential of killing its passengers in a crash. There is a video on youtube of a similar incident.
Two wheel rims cracked, only 38,000 miles on vehicle. Rims won't withstand normal road conditions. They are a safety hazard never know when they will crack and causing loosing control while driving.
When i try to open the drivers side door by pulling the handle it does not unlock automatically. The only way to exit the vehicle is through another door or by using the central lock/unlock button. My fear is that in the case of an emergency or accident if the electrical system is compromised i…
Takata recall: i received a letter from bmw on march 2016 notifying me of the driver's front air bag module recall, campaign no. 16v-071. Bmw did not have any parts available at the time of notification and indicated they would notify me as soon as they are able to perform the recall on my vehicle…
Other BMW 3 Series years
← 2012 3 Series · 2023 3 Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 3 Series | 7 | 3 |
| 2011 3 Series | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 3 Series | 30 | 2 |
| 2009 3 Series | 53 | 1 |
| 2008 3 Series | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 3 Series | 115 | 1 |
| 2006 3 Series | 202 | 3 |
| 2005 3 Series | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 3 Series | 77 | 0 |
| 2003 3 Series | 73 | 0 |
| 2002 3 Series | 26 | 0 |
| 2001 3 Series | 36 | 1 |
| 2000 3 Series | 88 | 1 |
| 1999 3 Series | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 3 Series | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 3 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
See all BMW 3 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW 3 Series?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 BMW 3 Series?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2013 BMW 3 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 3 Series model years, the 2013 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.