RoadVitals

2013 BMW 128I Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Sep 19, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 36 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 BMW 128I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Sep 19, 2025

On or about 2022 I was given notice of recall which told me to go to any BMW dealer for repair. I went to Niello BMW in Sacramento. I was getting car processed and then told to summarily leave. They refused to repair my car per recall notice

NHTSA ID
11688526
Incident
Aug 22, 2022
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 29, 2024

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID
11611643
Incident
Aug 11, 2024
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 128I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11514539
Incident
Mar 2, 2023
Engine
Filed May 25, 2022
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 128i. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, she smelled a strong burning odor. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The contact stated that the strong burning odor caused her to collapse once. The contact sought medical assistance and was informed that her brain was not getting enough oxygen. The contact stopped driving the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle in the driveway, she saw smoke coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 75,001. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11466120
Incident
Feb 25, 2022
Mileage
75,001 mi
Engine
Filed May 13, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 128i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11464493
Incident
May 12, 2022
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 6, 2022

WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BREAK, CAR ACCELERATES & RPMS ROAR. DEALERS COMPUTER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM, BUT DEALER SUGGESTS A BMW BATTERY OR REPLACING AN OUTSIDE POWER DOOR HANDLE, BUT NO GUARANTY

NHTSA ID
11459907
Incident
Mar 16, 2022
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 4, 2016

TAKATA RECALL, THE CAR IS BMW 128 2013 PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CARE IS FORT LAUDERDELATE IMPORT OF PEMBROKE PINES FLORIDA. AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE CAR 24 MONTHS AGO, THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE OF THE THE ENGINE DEFECT OF MY CAR, STILL THE DEALER MADE THE CAR A PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED. DURING THE TIME I HAD THE CAR, I WAS SEVERAL TIMES AT THE DEALER FOR ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM FROM THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR THE SALESMAN OR THE FINANCE MANAGER INFORMED ME OF THE AIR BAG ISSUE. THE SALESMAN BY THE NAME OF COLLIN, THE FINANCE MANAGER BY THE OF JIM CATELL DIDN'T WANT TO LET ME KNOW OF THE RECALL. I WANTED TO CHANGED THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF POWER AND THE CHANGES OF THE ENGINE IN THE HIGHWAY, I WAS AT THE DEALER REPETITIVE TIMES AND BOTH EMPLOYEES FROM FORT LAUDERDALE IMPORTS PEMBROKE PINES DIDN'T LET ME KNOW OF THE AIR BAG RECALL. I LEARNED FROM ANTHER BMW DEALER THAT THE 128 HAD A RECALL AND TO DRIVE. THE CAR HAD ANOTHER ENGINE FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTACTED BWM CUSTOMER RELATIONS 3 MONTHS AGO, THEY OFFERED TO REPAIR THE CAR. 3 MOTHS LATER I STILL DON'T THE CAR IN MY POSSESSION AND I AM PAYING FOR IT. MEAN WHILE I AM DRIVING A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE THAT IS NOT AN EQUAL TO THE CAR PAYMENT I HAVE. THE CAR ENDED WITH ANOTHER DEALER SINCE THE PEOPLE AT FORT LAUDERDALE IMPORTS WERE SO UNETHICAL AND CORRUPTED. PLEASE HAVE AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT THE ENGINE DEFECT AND AIR BAG RECALL FOR THE SERIES 128 CONVERTIBLE. I AM A BMW CUSTOMER FOR 15 YEARS, I HAD OVER 7 BMW IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND CONTINUE BUYING AND TRADING EVERY 24 MONTHS. THE CAR I HAVE AT THIS TIME HAS LOST VALUE AFTER THE ENGINE DEFECT ISSUES, AND THE AIR BAG RECALL. BMW IS NOT RESPONDING TO MY CALLS AND THERE IS NO ONE TO FOLLOW UP WITH ABOUT IT. I HAVE NO BMW IN MY POSSESSION AND I AM MAKING PAYMENTS FOR A LUXURY CAR FULL OF DEFECTS. HELP!!

NHTSA ID
10893022
Incident
May 28, 2016
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 128I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ID
10652205
Incident
Oct 31, 2014
Mileage
12,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .