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Bmw

2013 Bmw ACTIVEHYBRID 3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2013 Bmw ACTIVEHYBRID 3 has 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: without warning while driving, i was bombarded with driver's airbag and seat belt faults, informing me of "malfunction in seat belt, air bags, or belt tensioner. continue wearing seatbelt, consult nearest service center". vehicle was diagnosed with faults for "driver's seat belt tensioner - line con.

15

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

4 complaints
27%
  • WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAULTS, INFORMING ME OF "MALFUNCTION IN SEAT BELT, AIR BAGS, OR BELT TENSIONER. CONTINUE WEARING SEATBELT, CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER". VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTS FOR "DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER - LINE CON
  • THE VEHICLE COMPUTER STATES THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG(S). I HAVE DROPPED OFF THE CAR AT THE DEALER AND ITS BEEN A WEEK NOW AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION YET. I READ A SIMILAR ISSUE FROM ANOTHER 2013 ACTIVEHYBRID 3 OWNER ON THIS SITE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT'S A RARE CASE AND
  • DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE WITH A WOMEN'S PURSE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SINCE THAT TIME, I GET TWO FAULT MESSAGES EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, REGARDING AN ERROR IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MESSAGE STATES TO ENSURE PASSENGER WEARS SEAT BELT AS THEY AIR BAG MAY NOT OPERA
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAULTS, INFORMING ME OF "MALFUNCTION IN SEAT BELT, AIR BAGS, OR BELT TENSIONER. CONTINUE WEARING SEATBELT, CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER". VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTS FOR "DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER - LINE CON

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints
13%
  • WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAULTS, INFORMING ME OF "MALFUNCTION IN SEAT BELT, AIR BAGS, OR BELT TENSIONER. CONTINUE WEARING SEATBELT, CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER". VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTS FOR "DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER - LINE CON
  • DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE WITH A WOMEN'S PURSE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SINCE THAT TIME, I GET TWO FAULT MESSAGES EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, REGARDING AN ERROR IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MESSAGE STATES TO ENSURE PASSENGER WEARS SEAT BELT AS THEY AIR BAG MAY NOT OPERA
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAULTS, INFORMING ME OF "MALFUNCTION IN SEAT BELT, AIR BAGS, OR BELT TENSIONER. CONTINUE WEARING SEATBELT, CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER". VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTS FOR "DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER - LINE CON

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints
13%
  • AT LEAST UP TO 5 ISSUES WITH THE BACK UP AND FRONT CAMERA SYSTEMS, AND AN ISSUE WITH THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE CAMERA SYSTEMS ARE ESPECIALLY TROUBLING SINCE THE GO OUT AT RANDOM. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE CAMERA MODULE SYSTEM AND THE ISSUE CAME UP AGAIN. *TR
  • I PURCHASED 2013 VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS W SAME ERROR 4XS - ERROR "DRIVETRAIN - VEHICLE CAN NOT BE RESTARTED" I HAVE BEEN ON FREEWAY AND ON STREET WHEN ERROR HAS OCCURRED. WJEN THIS ERROR OCCURS VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE CAN STILL BE DRI
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

AT LEAST UP TO 5 ISSUES WITH THE BACK UP AND FRONT CAMERA SYSTEMS, AND AN ISSUE WITH THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE CAMERA SYSTEMS ARE ESPECIALLY TROUBLING SINCE THE GO OUT AT RANDOM. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE CAMERA MODULE SYSTEM AND THE ISSUE CAME UP AGAIN. *TR

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints
13%
  • I PURCHASED 2013 VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS W SAME ERROR 4XS - ERROR "DRIVETRAIN - VEHICLE CAN NOT BE RESTARTED" I HAVE BEEN ON FREEWAY AND ON STREET WHEN ERROR HAS OCCURRED. WJEN THIS ERROR OCCURS VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE CAN STILL BE DRI
  • HIT A POT HOLE FOR THE SECOND TIME BLOW OUT A RIM BUT NOW THE INDICATORS SAY DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTIONS AND WONT START WHO KNOWS WHERE THE OIL GOES KEEPS RUNNING LOW EVEN THOUGH NO LEAKS HAVEN'T SEEN MY CAR IN MONTHS PUT SOMETHING ON THE SEAT IT SAYS TO LOCK SEAT BELT THESE CARS ARE LEMONS WHAT'S WIT
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

I PURCHASED 2013 VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS W SAME ERROR 4XS - ERROR "DRIVETRAIN - VEHICLE CAN NOT BE RESTARTED" I HAVE BEEN ON FREEWAY AND ON STREET WHEN ERROR HAS OCCURRED. WJEN THIS ERROR OCCURS VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE CAN STILL BE DRI

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints
13%
  • HIT A POT HOLE FOR THE SECOND TIME BLOW OUT A RIM BUT NOW THE INDICATORS SAY DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTIONS AND WONT START WHO KNOWS WHERE THE OIL GOES KEEPS RUNNING LOW EVEN THOUGH NO LEAKS HAVEN'T SEEN MY CAR IN MONTHS PUT SOMETHING ON THE SEAT IT SAYS TO LOCK SEAT BELT THESE CARS ARE LEMONS WHAT'S WIT
  • WASTE GATE RATTLE OR TURBO RATTLE, THE VEHICLE RATTLES DURING COLD START, RATTLE UPON DECELERATION,LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE ILLUMINATION, MANUFACTURE SPECIFIC OBD TROUPE CODE P30FF, ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF AND OFF AFTER REFILLING GAS.THE TURBO CHARGER MUST BE REPLACED.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

HIT A POT HOLE FOR THE SECOND TIME BLOW OUT A RIM BUT NOW THE INDICATORS SAY DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTIONS AND WONT START WHO KNOWS WHERE THE OIL GOES KEEPS RUNNING LOW EVEN THOUGH NO LEAKS HAVEN'T SEEN MY CAR IN MONTHS PUT SOMETHING ON THE SEAT IT SAYS TO LOCK SEAT BELT THESE CARS ARE LEMONS WHAT'S WIT

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 15 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • AIR BAGS: WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAULTS, INFORMING ME OF "MALFUNCTION IN SEAT BELT, AIR BAGS, OR BELT TENSIONER. CONTINUE WEARING SEATBELT, CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER". VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTS FOR "DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER - LINE CON

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • SEATS/RESTRAINTS: WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, I WAS BOMBARDED WITH DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAULTS, INFORMING ME OF "MALFUNCTION IN SEAT BELT, AIR BAGS, OR BELT TENSIONER. CONTINUE WEARING SEATBELT, CONSULT NEAREST SERVICE CENTER". VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAULTS FOR "DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER - LINE CON

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: AT LEAST UP TO 5 ISSUES WITH THE BACK UP AND FRONT CAMERA SYSTEMS, AND AN ISSUE WITH THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE CAMERA SYSTEMS ARE ESPECIALLY TROUBLING SINCE THE GO OUT AT RANDOM. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE CAMERA MODULE SYSTEM AND THE ISSUE CAME UP AGAIN. *TR

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: I PURCHASED 2013 VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS W SAME ERROR 4XS - ERROR "DRIVETRAIN - VEHICLE CAN NOT BE RESTARTED" I HAVE BEEN ON FREEWAY AND ON STREET WHEN ERROR HAS OCCURRED. WJEN THIS ERROR OCCURS VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE CAN STILL BE DRI

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw ACTIVEHYBRID 3 — 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
15
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

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