2013 BMW 328I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 328I years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 328I. That ranks 3rd out of 21 328I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (92 complaints, 36%), typically at around 78,850 miles. Complaints mention 24 crashes, 8 fires, 17 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 257owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 24complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 BMW 328I 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 92 | 36% | 78,850 | “timing chain” (39%) | $6,250 |
| Electrical System problems | 61 | 24% | 89,565 | “engine cooling electrical” (54%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 44 | 17% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 39 | 15% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 31 | 12% | 7,200 | — | — |
| Power Train | 23 | 9% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 18 | 7% | 64,523 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 18 | 7% | 63,654 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 10 | 4% | 54,897 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 3% | 61,400 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | 35,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 2% | 82,400 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% | 75,456 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 2% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 2% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 85,175 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 50,500 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | 15 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 0% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | 55,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 BMW 328I recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; engine and engine cooling:cooling system:pump
Problem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Exterior lighting
Problem: 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."
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 [email protected].
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 [email protected].
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.
I was at the John Wayne Airport, going from the arrivals to departures. I had a lot of stop and go traffic, and when I was going down toward the bottom, my brakes failed. I kept pumping them to try and stop but they were not working. I saw an empty area where the car rental returns were and I was…
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The drivetrain and passengerâs side air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the…
2013 BMW 328i, N20 engine. Timing chain guide assembly and oil pump drive chain failed catastrophically. Vehicle is available for inspection, however the authorized BMW dealership has already made clear they will accept no responsibility, and I would bear the expense of towing it two hours to their…
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a hole on top of the fuel tank. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced…
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, and multiple warning lights were illuminated. The contact then stated that the vehicle lost power and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it…
Other BMW 328I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 328I | 57 | 1 |
| 2015 328I | 125 | 4 |
| 2014 328I | 152 | 8 |
| 2013 | 257 | 5 |
| 2012 328I | 130 | 6 |
| 2011 328I | 577 | 7 |
| 2010 328I | 155 | 6 |
| 2009 328I | 193 | 6 |
| 2008 328I | 239 | 5 |
| 2007 328I | 399 | 6 |
| 2006 328I | 0 | 3 |
| 2005 328I | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 328I | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 328I | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 328I | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 328I | 4 | 3 |
| 2000 328I | 112 | 7 |
| 1999 328I | 98 | 7 |
| 1998 328I | 26 | 0 |
| 1997 328I | 25 | 0 |
| 1996 328I | 31 | 0 |
See all BMW 328I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW 328I?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 92 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 BMW 328I?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 BMW 328I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 328I model years, the 2013 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.