2013 BMW 328I Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2013 BMW 328I, 24% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 89,565 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine cooling electrical” (54% of reports).
- 61electrical system complaints
- 89,565median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine cooling electrical: mentioned in 33 of 61 complaints (54%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 5 of 61 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 17 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 61 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
BMW 328I electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 328I | 21 | 37% | 115,000 |
| 2015 328I | 56 | 45% | 100,000 |
| 2014 328I | 52 | 34% | 88,200 |
| 2013 328I | 61 | 24% | 89,565 |
| 2012 328I | 23 | 18% | 84,000 |
| 2011 328I | 129 | 22% | 91,500 |
| 2010 328I | 38 | 25% | 105,900 |
| 2009 328I | 61 | 32% | 77,000 |
| 2008 328I | 85 | 36% | 92,936 |
| 2007 328I | 129 | 32% | 97,000 |
| 2000 328I | 5 | 4% | 90,000 |
| 1999 328I | 7 | 7% | 84,500 |
| 1998 328I | 5 | 19% | 167,000 |
| 1997 328I | 7 | 28% | 50 |
| 1996 328I | 4 | 13% | 96,720 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
See attached document for complaint. I am writing in reference to the recall on my 2013 BMW-328xi. The vin number is. The recall is for the water pump electrical connector. My water pump failed May 2024. I went to an independent repair service center that specializes in BMW repair, which in turn…
See attached document for complaint.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 BMW 328Is have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 61 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2013 BMW 328I (24% of the 257 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 BMW 328I electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 89,565 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2013 BMW 328I?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling electrical”, in 33 of 61 complaints, followed by “water pump” (5).
Other 2013 BMW 328I problems
- Engine problems (92)
See all 2013 BMW 328I problems or electrical system problems across all 328I years.