VehicleVerdict

2013 BMW X3 engine problems

The 2013 BMW X3 has 160 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 46% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

160

Engine complaints

46%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

X3 engine complaints by model year160 complaints2004: 17 complaints2005: 8 complaints2006: 10 complaints2007: 41 complaints2008: 31 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 20 complaints2011: 55 complaints2012: 10 complaints2013: 160 complaints2014: 38 complaints2015: 44 complaints2016: 30 complaints2017: 39 complaints2018: 19 complaints2019: 36 complaints2020: 25 complaints2021: 21 complaints2022: 8 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 4 complaints
X3 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“JANUARY 12, 2019 CAR WAS PARKED UNOCCUPIED ON STREET FOR 2+HOURS AFTER DRIVING IT 20 MILES. VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND, TOTAL LOSS. ENGINE REPLACED BY BMW ONE YEAR PRIOR UNDER WARRANTY FOR TIMING CHAIN GUIDE FAILURE. COMPLETE SERVICE PERFORMED BY BMW IN OCTOBER 2018.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 12, 2019 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2013 BMW X3 have?

NHTSA has 160 complaints about the 2013 BMW X3 engine — 46% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.