2013 Bmw X3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Bmw X3 has 346 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (46% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 bmw x3. the contact stated that while trying to accelerate from a stop the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. after inspection, they advised her that the vehicle was acting as normal. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was co. ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 6 crash reports 10 injuries

346

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

160 complaints

46%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CO
• I WAS UNLOADING A BOX FROM THE REAR LIFTGATE OF THE 2013 BMW X3 AND BRUSHED AGAINST THE PROTRUDING CHROME EXHAUST TIPS. I SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT BURN (2ND DEGREE) AFTER MERELY BRUSHING AGAINST THE EXHAUST. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT HAD IT INVOLVED A SMALL CHILD. THE PROBLEM IS
• IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE I WAS BRAKING AFTER MOVING FORWARD A FEW FEET AND THE ENGINE STARTED RACING CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD (GIVEN I WAS ON THE BRAKE) UNTIL THE BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD ANY LONGER AT WHICH POINT THE CAR ACCELERATED IN TRAFFIC DESPITE ME PUSHING EVEN HARDER ON T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 6 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

60 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND STARTED HESITATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVETRAIN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
• HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING & BLACK SMOKE THRU DASHBOARD. COULD SEE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN 5-6 MINUTES CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. TOTAL LOSS, ALMOST NO WARNING.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED FOR THE OIL PRESSURE LOW AND DRIVE TRAIN, AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO COAST AND RANDOMLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPEND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND STARTED HESITATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVETRAIN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

29 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD NOT STOP AND IT DRAINED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE PARTS SENT OUT TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BUT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS STILL LOOKING INTO CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD
• CPSC: I1410202A. 2012 BMW X3. CONSUMER STATED THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL HEATS UP TO 105 DEGREES WHICH IS UNSAFE AND HAS TO BE TURNED OFF MANUALLY. *LN THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HEATED STEERING WHEEL.
• ON FEBRUARY OF 2013 WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED BY ITSELF AND SPRAYED ALL THE WASH FLUID UNTIL THE TANK DRAINED AND KEPT MAKING A LOUD NOISE (AUDIBLE FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR) EVEN AFTER I TURNED OFF THE CAR ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD NOT STOP AND IT DRAINED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE PARTS SENT OUT TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BUT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS STILL LOOKING INTO CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

19 complaints

• ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I BRAKED SMOOTHLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT WAS RED AS I APPROACHED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THEN THE ENGINE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD SLOWLY 3 TO 4 TIMES TAKING ME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THROUGH THE INTERSEC
• CAR WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SUDENLY STARTED SLOWING IT DOWN AND DASH LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. WITH THE CAR STOPPED I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND WORKED AS IT SHOULD HAVE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED WHEN I LATER WENT TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING
• THE ISSUES STARTED HAPPENING IN JULY 2013. IT PROGRESSED. THE ISSUE IS WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE RACES AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE YOU STILL GO FORWARD. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH, A TOTAL OF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I BRAKED SMOOTHLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT WAS RED AS I APPROACHED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THEN THE ENGINE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD SLOWLY 3 TO 4 TIMES TAKING ME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THROUGH THE INTERSEC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

17 complaints

• ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I BRAKED SMOOTHLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT WAS RED AS I APPROACHED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THEN THE ENGINE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD SLOWLY 3 TO 4 TIMES TAKING ME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THROUGH THE INTERSEC
• MY COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO THE FOLLOWING: QUOTE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10546733 THE ISSUE IS WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE RACES AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW HARD YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKE YOU STILL GO FORWARD. END QUOTE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS CAN BE ENGAGED S
• I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON CT-104 LONG RIDGE ROAD, A 2-LANE STATE ROAD ON MONDAY JUNE 22ND, 2015 AROUND 8AM. I WAS TRAVELING FROM STAMFORD CT TO BEDFORD. ABOUT MIDWAY ON LONG RIDGE ROAD DRIVING AT AROUND 25PMH AT MILLERS MILL INTERSECTION THE CAR STALLED. I WOULD SEE I WAS IN MIDDLE OF MY NORTHBOU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 346 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED AND STARTED HESITATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVETRAIN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD NOT STOP AND IT DRAINED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE PARTS SENT OUT TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BUT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS STILL LOOKING INTO CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I BRAKED SMOOTHLY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT WAS RED AS I APPROACHED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THEN THE ENGINE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD SLOWLY 3 TO 4 TIMES TAKING ME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THROUGH THE INTERSEC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)