2013 BMW X3 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 BMW X3, 65% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 85,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (49% of reports).
- 147engine complaints
- 85,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $8,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 72 of 147 complaints (49%)
- Oil pressure: mentioned in 31 of 147 complaints (21%)
- Drivetrain malfunction: mentioned in 27 of 147 complaints (18%)
- N20 engine: mentioned in 8 of 147 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2013 BMW X3 at $8,300, and half of them between $3,850 and $13,150.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2016–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 105 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 147 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 1 an injury.
BMW X3 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 X3 | 1 | 5% | 10 |
| 2025 X3 | 4 | 11% | — |
| 2024 X3 | 6 | 14% | — |
| 2023 X3 | 4 | 27% | 20 |
| 2022 X3 | 11 | 13% | 104,000 |
| 2021 X3 | 23 | 21% | 101,000 |
| 2020 X3 | 26 | 24% | 11,700 |
| 2019 X3 | 34 | 20% | 3,300 |
| 2018 X3 | 16 | 21% | 6,000 |
| 2017 X3 | 17 | 18% | 6,750 |
| 2016 X3 | 13 | 16% | 42,785 |
| 2015 X3 | 29 | 28% | 68,000 |
| 2014 X3 | 19 | 22% | 60,000 |
| 2013 X3 | 147 | 65% | 85,000 |
| 2012 X3 | 8 | 19% | 70,155 |
| 2011 X3 | 31 | 27% | 74,500 |
| 2010 X3 | 6 | 19% | 91,250 |
| 2009 X3 | 2 | 11% | 123,000 |
| 2008 X3 | 16 | 24% | 90,000 |
| 2007 X3 | 25 | 26% | 114,500 |
| 2006 X3 | 6 | 4% | 110,500 |
| 2005 X3 | 5 | 5% | 86,656 |
| 2004 X3 | 6 | 4% | 161,500 |
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 X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light and drivetrain warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the…
BMW knows there is a problem with the 2013 x3 timing chain. I have continuously had my BMW serviced at there shops. Never once when my car was in for service did they mention the issue or proactively check. My vehicle now has the issue per the dealership snd indicated it is approximately a 20k…
While driving my 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i under normal conditions, a âdrivetrain malfunctionâ warning suddenly appeared, immediately followed by a âlow oil pressureâ warning. Within seconds, the engine lost all power and shut off completely while the vehicle was in motion. I had to coast and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 BMW X3s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 147 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 BMW X3 (65% of the 226 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 X3 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 85,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2013 BMW X3?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,300 (half paid between $3,850 and $13,150), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 BMW X3?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 72 of 147 complaints, followed by “oil pressure” (31).
Other 2013 BMW X3 problems
- Power Train problems (60)
See all 2013 BMW X3 problems or engine problems across all X3 years.