2013 Bmw 328
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Bmw 328 has 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle can't handle heavy rain with medium sized puddles. the owner's manual clearly states, "drive through calm water only if not deeper than 9.8 inches, no faster than walking speed up to 6mph." this puddle was under 4 inches as i measured and took photos, but bmw refuses to warranty the w.
12
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
4 complaints- • THE VEHICLE CAN'T HANDLE HEAVY RAIN WITH MEDIUM SIZED PUDDLES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES, "DRIVE THROUGH CALM WATER ONLY IF NOT DEEPER THAN 9.8 INCHES, NO FASTER THAN WALKING SPEED UP TO 6MPH." THIS PUDDLE WAS UNDER 4 INCHES AS I MEASURED AND TOOK PHOTOS, BUT BMW REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE W
- • THIS IS NOW A REPEAT PROBLEM (3 TIMES). DRIVING AT SPEED ON LOCAL ROADS THE CAR DROPS TO IDLE SPEED AND THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS MORNING I HAD JUST GOTTEN THE CAR BACK FROM BMW SERVICE AND WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME IT HAPPENED AS I W
- • 3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDE
“THE VEHICLE CAN'T HANDLE HEAVY RAIN WITH MEDIUM SIZED PUDDLES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES, "DRIVE THROUGH CALM WATER ONLY IF NOT DEEPER THAN 9.8 INCHES, NO FASTER THAN WALKING SPEED UP TO 6MPH." THIS PUDDLE WAS UNDER 4 INCHES AS I MEASURED AND TOOK PHOTOS, BUT BMW REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE W”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
2 complaints- • CAN'T GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL AS WELL. COULD NOT GET ACCESS ON SIDE OF ROAD TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL . THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL DID NOT WORK. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL, THERE SHOULD BE A MANUAL RELEASE FROM WITHIN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR
- • 3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDE
“CAN'T GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL AS WELL. COULD NOT GET ACCESS ON SIDE OF ROAD TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL . THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL DID NOT WORK. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL, THERE SHOULD BE A MANUAL RELEASE FROM WITHIN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints- • ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CAR REVED TO 6 OR 7000 RPM AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHEI
- • 3 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PAD CHANGE, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH MY CAR SPONTANEOUSLY SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. MY DASHBOARD STATED THAT I HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THAT MAXIMUM OUTPUT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I PROCEEDE
“ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CAR REVED TO 6 OR 7000 RPM AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHEI ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
2 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING CAME ON THAT SAYS DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT WILL BARELY GO.
- • VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING FREE FROM OTHER TRAFFIC OR OBSTACLES WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED CAUSING A LOUD SOUND THAT DISTRACTED THE DRIVER. RESULTANT GLASS PARTICLES ENTERED THE VEHICLE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A MINOR INJURY TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE DRIVER. AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED
“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING CAME ON THAT SAYS DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT WILL BARELY GO.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
1 complaints- • TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE REGISTERED THIS VEHICLE WITH BMW BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD BE FIXING THE AIRBAG.
“TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE REGISTERED THIS VEHICLE WITH BMW BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED AS TO WHEN THEY WOULD BE FIXING THE AIRBAG.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 12 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: THE VEHICLE CAN'T HANDLE HEAVY RAIN WITH MEDIUM SIZED PUDDLES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES, "DRIVE THROUGH CALM WATER ONLY IF NOT DEEPER THAN 9.8 INCHES, NO FASTER THAN WALKING SPEED UP TO 6MPH." THIS PUDDLE WAS UNDER 4 INCHES AS I MEASURED AND TOOK PHOTOS, BUT BMW REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: CAN'T GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL AS WELL. COULD NOT GET ACCESS ON SIDE OF ROAD TO GET CAR INTO NEUTRAL . THE PROCEDURE IN THE MANUAL DID NOT WORK. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL, THERE SHOULD BE A MANUAL RELEASE FROM WITHIN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN MY CAR WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC, THE CAR REVED TO 6 OR 7000 RPM AND THEN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHEI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING CAME ON THAT SAYS DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT WILL BARELY GO.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw 328 — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 1
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Bmw 328