Electrical systemPart report

2013 BMW 3 Series Electrical system Problems

Complaints: 7about this part
Share: 33%of 21 total for the year
Median mileage: 3,750miles
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 BMW 3 Series, 33% of the 21 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,750 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The door lock actuators have failed. This makes it so that the doors do not open when you are inside the vehicle attempting to get out by pulling the door handle. This is a safety issue not allowing me to get out of my vehicle. If this issue is not resolved by paying the $1500 to fix the issue the doors will stop opening completely making this even more of a safety issue over time. This issue only gets worse and is directly related to the functionality of the car. This door lock actuator should be recalled on all vehicles Bmw makes that are having this same issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11191736, filed 2019-03, 65,536 miles

“My husband was refueling our 2013 Bmw 335i and I was in the passenger seat. During that process, a pickup truck backed up and was close to hitting our car. From the passenger seat, I tried to warn the other driver with our car's horn, but it did not work, so I resorted to screaming as loud as possible since the windows were also closed. Fortunately, my husband heard me and realized what was happening and got the trucks attention and prevented a potentially catastrophic collision right next to a gas pump. …”

NHTSA complaint #10598385, filed 2014-06, 4,000 miles

“Auto start/stop function has malfunctioned before where when I take my foot off the brake, the car doesn't start again. Normally I can just press the start button and put it in drive. This time, however, I went to start it again after it had an auto start/stop malfunction , and it wouldn't turn back on. An error popped up saying ignition malfunction -- do not turn engine off. Car will not start again. Currently waiting to hear back from the dealership after I had to flatbed it. Also the car wouldn't go into neutral so they had to drag it on the flatbed.”

NHTSA complaint #10508639, filed 2013-04, 3,500 miles

“I was rearended, on the freeway, on the passenger side, by an SUV going about 40mph, I slammed in to another SUV in front of me. My vehicle is totaled. The display indicated that there was an airbag deploy error. Also, the reason my car was totaled was because all of the electrical wires for the computer system are behind the rear tail light, and they were melted after impact. This is concerning because this is also where the fuel tank is. Luckily, I walked away with a sore neck and few bruises, but it is concerning that the airbags did not deploy, when they were clearly suppose to. …”

NHTSA complaint #10513158, filed 2013-05, 2,755 miles

“Driver and passenger trapped in car after parking at as gas pump. Doors would unlock but not open resulting in the potential of killing its passengers in a crash. There is a video on youtube of a similar incident.”

NHTSA complaint #11169906, filed 2019-01, 70,000 miles

Related service bulletins

11014417Feb 20, 2025The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been supplementarily increased to 15 years / 240,000 miles as determined from the…
10249437Jan 16, 2024The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
10249027Jan 11, 2024The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery…
10193494Aug 1, 2018Butt connector for repairing a plug connection. The ?top up coolant? message is displayed in the central display (CC message ID 166). When checking the cooling system there are…
10058974Jul 1, 2015Due to software error both front parking lights is deactivated and check control message doesn't display.
10058467Apr 1, 2015Bmw: fuel gauge fails to show correct level of fuel when filling fuel tank but would update itself after driving awhile and illumination of engine malfunction lamp (mil) comes…
10057340Feb 1, 2015Bmw: calculation error by scr module software of def line pressure causing service engine soon light (mil) to illuminate.
10056099Jun 1, 2014Bmw: when using iphone, various connectivity failures occur, such as disconnection of call, list of contacts incomplete, due to the variants and software used. Model 2008-2014.
10054642Nov 1, 2013Bmw: rear deck lid opens, when convertible top compartment cover is in an intermediate position due to software of car access system (cas) being incorrect, which causes…
10054641Nov 1, 2013Bmw: an erroneous message, from oil level sensor, indicating oil service is due, after traveling a short distance. Model f15, f13, f12, f10, f07, f06, f02, f01. No years listed.

Electrical system: other model years

Year	Complaints	Share of year
2013	7	33%
2010	5	17%
2009	8	15%
2008	19	28%
2007	31	27%
2006	32	16%
2005	2	8%
2004	12	16%
2003	12	16%
2002	6	23%
2001	6	17%
2000	4	5%
1999	1	17%
1997	1	20%

Other parts of the 2013 BMW 3 Series

Engine
7 complaints Transmission and drivetrain
6 complaints Vehicle speed control
4 complaints Air bags
3 complaints Brakes
2 complaints Fuel system
1 complaints Latches, locks and linkages
1 complaints Body and structure
1 complaints Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints Wheels
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 BMW 3 Series

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology