2013 BMW X3 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 29about this part
- Share
- 13%of 226 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,947miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 BMW X3, 13% of the 226 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,947 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When at stop light the car stalls or when I'm at a stop sign stalls engine very dangerous and developed anxiety driving it, gust week oil can out back and odd engin sound making noise, it had to get towed but ira toyota suckered me. They can't get in the engine to inspect it. I can't drive it on highways at all scared it will engine stop”
NHTSA complaint #11402834, filed 2021-03, 55,000 miles“My 2013 x Bmw was giving a message on the dash board stating if I stop the engine I may not be able to re-start the car. On april 17, 2019 I drove to prime motor group Bmw of norwood, ma for service. I was told that the replace a part and the car cannot start, at this point I was getting an e-mail from the dealer with an estimate cost of close to $5,500 to repair it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11203361, filed 2019-04, 86,947 miles“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 and I was told the problem is due to faulty junction box. It took them two weeks to get a new junction box & replace it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10564564, filed 2014-02, 1,200 miles“On 6/23/20, at approx., 6:15 am, my 2013 Bmw X3 vehicle (approx. 68,000 miles) lost engine power as I was attempting to pull out from a busy and congested n/b 215 freeway (near the w/b 10 freeway exchange) in colton, california. Prior to losing engine power, and at about less than one minutes before, my vehicle's low oil light sensor had come on, then quickly changed to a drivetrain malfunction sensor -- warning me to drive moderately, but that was meaningless because my vehicle had already began to lose engine power. …”
NHTSA complaint #11331733, filed 2020-06, 68,000 miles“My wife was driving the car (her main, work car) with our 13 year old. She called me upset and told me that the car would barely move. This was disturbing. She was in heavy traffic. Also the car has been mostly reliable and we only have above 120k on the vehicle after almost 10 years. My wife slowly made it down busy Stocton Blvd. A few hundred feet and safely made it to a business parking lot. I came ASAP. (20min later). There was a message from the car - Drive Train malfunction it looked very serious. (Note: My wife is about the best, skillful and careful driver I know. …”
NHTSA complaint #11454952, filed 2022-03, 120,000 milesRelated recalls
- 24V608000Aug 13, 2024BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018…Covers: BMW X3 2013–2017, 528I 2012–2016, 328I 2012–2016 +8 more
- 13V570000Nov 15, 2013BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 X3 xDrive 28i/35i vehicles manufactured February 11, 2013, through February 27, 2013. Due…Covers: BMW X3 2013
Related service bulletins
- 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…
- 10238090May 1, 2023After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.
- 10235205Mar 1, 2023The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via the Voice over LTE…
- 10218420Jul 1, 2022The 3G network in the US has been shut down. This means that only the 4G network will be available. In the 4G network, voice calls will be transferred via Voice over LTE (VoLTE)…
- 10218384Jun 1, 2022Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column. Note…
- 10218381Jun 1, 2022A check control message for the restraint system appears. In the instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. One of the following fault codes is…
- 10214990May 1, 2022The Headunit High (HU-H), also called NBT, began replacing the Car Information Computer (CIC) on certain MY2013 vehicles with option 609 (as of 7/2012 production). This uses map…
- 10200249Jun 1, 2021The discontinuation of 3G cellular communication for Combox, TCB 3G and ATM 3G (Telematics ControlModule) can no longer be supported by the cellular network provider starting…
- 10179009Jul 1, 2020NAVIGATION SYSTEM - REPORTING MISSING OR INCORRECT ROADMAP DATA: Do not replace parts and do not program the vehicle. Roads can change by up to 15% every year. To ensure the best…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 14% |
| 2025 | 15 | 39% |
| 2024 | 13 | 31% |
| 2023 | 3 | 20% |
| 2022 | 18 | 21% |
| 2021 | 34 | 30% |
| 2020 | 35 | 32% |
| 2019 | 47 | 27% |
| 2018 | 22 | 29% |
| 2017 | 30 | 33% |
| 2016 | 23 | 28% |
| 2015 | 22 | 21% |
| 2014 | 30 | 35% |
| 2013 | 29 | 13% |
| 2012 | 2 | 5% |
| 2011 | 22 | 19% |
| 2010 | 4 | 13% |
| 2009 | 5 | 26% |
| 2008 | 5 | 8% |
| 2007 | 10 | 10% |
| 2006 | 13 | 9% |
| 2005 | 18 | 17% |
| 2004 | 18 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2013 BMW X3
147 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
60 complaintsBrakes
19 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsEngine cooling
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 BMW X3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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