RoadVitals

2013 BMW 320I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Jan 12, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 320I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Body & structure216.7%
  • Engine216.7%
  • Powertrain (other)216.7%
  • Airbags216.7%
  • Seat belts18.3%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Fuel system18.3%
  • Exterior lighting18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

REVERSE LIGHT HOUSING FALLS OUT. MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS STATING IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW AND DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE. POTENTIAL HAZARD IF HOSING FALLS OFF ON HIGHWAY OR LACK OF A REVERSE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID 11349335 · filed Aug 14, 2020

FRONT DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AND CAN'T USE KEY TO INTER MANUALLY, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF EMERGENCY AND CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR EASILY

NHTSA ID 11338821 · filed Jul 11, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 320I. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the exhaust pipe due to engine oil leaking into the catalytic converter. As a result, the catalytic converted became clogged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil check valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID 11501517 · filed Jan 12, 2023

engine overheating, passenger safety belt, failed speed control (difficulty accelerating) Due to these issues and malfunctions; it causes injury to the driver as the airbags/seat belts are not stable. If the car suddenly stops it can injure the driver. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly, vehicle loses power/ says to drive moderately or stop driving/ the car drives slow does not past 35 mph, the car goes into 'limp mode' (less than 10 mph) it goes in a very low speed with no acceleration; This is a safety hazard, as it becomes easy to be rear-ended by another driver when it slows substantially. This can cause injury to the driver and surrounding drivers. The problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The water pump and thermostat was replaced, however, the car still does not accelerate and is in a low driving speed mode. It still shuts off unexpectedly. The issue has not been resolved. The warning signs were 'drive moderately, engine overheated, passenger safety belt, with cranking noises, no acceleration, limp mode (car is going very slow no more than 10 mph).

NHTSA ID 11447154 · filed Jan 12, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HELLO I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON A MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE WERE THE ENGINE STALLS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN AND INTERNAL PARTS THAT GIVES THE ENGINE POWER. MY CAR SHOWED AND EMERGENCY INDICATOR LIGHT THAT SAID ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOW AND TO CAREFULLY STOP AND STOP ENGINE OF RISK OF DAMAGE. THEN ANOTHER INDICATOR THAT STATED ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOT. THIS WAS DONE AND THE CAR TOWED AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS A KNOCKING NOISE SO NOT DRIVING IT. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU ASAP AS THERE TELLING ME AT BMW THAT THAT RECALL IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SINCE TO ME. THANKS AGAIN

NHTSA ID 11278375 · filed Nov 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO ACCELERATE OVER 2800 RPMS WHEN IT WAS PLACED IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,420. .... UPDATED 08/05/14 *BF UPDATED 08/18/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID 10592551 · filed May 19, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

engine overheating, passenger safety belt, failed speed control (difficulty accelerating) Due to these issues and malfunctions; it causes injury to the driver as the airbags/seat belts are not stable. If the car suddenly stops it can injure the driver. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly, vehicle loses power/ says to drive moderately or stop driving/ the car drives slow does not past 35 mph, the car goes into 'limp mode' (less than 10 mph) it goes in a very low speed with no acceleration; This is a safety hazard, as it becomes easy to be rear-ended by another driver when it slows substantially. This can cause injury to the driver and surrounding drivers. The problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The water pump and thermostat was replaced, however, the car still does not accelerate and is in a low driving speed mode. It still shuts off unexpectedly. The issue has not been resolved. The warning signs were 'drive moderately, engine overheated, passenger safety belt, with cranking noises, no acceleration, limp mode (car is going very slow no more than 10 mph).

NHTSA ID 11447154 · filed Jan 12, 2022

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY

NHTSA ID 11303016 · filed Jan 30, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

engine overheating, passenger safety belt, failed speed control (difficulty accelerating) Due to these issues and malfunctions; it causes injury to the driver as the airbags/seat belts are not stable. If the car suddenly stops it can injure the driver. The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly, vehicle loses power/ says to drive moderately or stop driving/ the car drives slow does not past 35 mph, the car goes into 'limp mode' (less than 10 mph) it goes in a very low speed with no acceleration; This is a safety hazard, as it becomes easy to be rear-ended by another driver when it slows substantially. This can cause injury to the driver and surrounding drivers. The problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The water pump and thermostat was replaced, however, the car still does not accelerate and is in a low driving speed mode. It still shuts off unexpectedly. The issue has not been resolved. The warning signs were 'drive moderately, engine overheated, passenger safety belt, with cranking noises, no acceleration, limp mode (car is going very slow no more than 10 mph).

NHTSA ID 11447154 · filed Jan 12, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

RE: TCN-KDN21-40701 ON 9/17/13 I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR AS IT ROLLED DOWN A HILL - ALTHOUGH I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS LEAVING A DRIVEWAY WHICH IS POSITIONED ON A HILL. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT A WARNING MESSAGE FLASHED ON MY SCREEN. I THEN HEARD A LOUD "POP" AND THEN A "GRINDING" NOISE. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR CONTINUED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AND THE AIRBAG POPPED OUT - KNOCKING ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN MY CAR REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, IT HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR AND THEN TRAVELED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. IT'S A MIRACLE I WASN'T KILLED! IRONICALLY, THE MAKE/MODEL MODEL OF MY CAR WAS RECALLED THE WEEK AFTER MY ACCIDENT. (REFER TO NHTSA RECALL # 13V454000). BMW CHECKED MY CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND CLAIMED THAT MY CAR PASSED WITH "FLYING COLORS". THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE CONSIDERING THAT THE CAUSE OF MY ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO MY INABILITY TO STOP THE CAR - YET THE CAR WAS RECALLED DUE TO BRAKING PROBLEMS. BMW WAS ALSO UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH AN EXPLANATION REGARDING THE GRINDING NOISE, THE POPPING SOUND OR WHY MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. MY CAR FIT ALL OF THE CRITERIA FOR THE CARS BMW WERE RECALLING. WHEN I INITIALLY ASKED BMW IF MY CAR WAS ON THE RECALL LIST THEY FIRST TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE COMPLETE VIN# LIST. WHEN I INQUIRED THE SECOND TIME - BMW CLAIMED THAT MY CAR'S VIN # WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I DO NOT BELIEVE BMW. AND THE FACT THAT BMW CHECKED THE CAR AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT IS LIKE THE POLICE POLICING THE POLICE. BMW DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY CAR WAS SUBJECT TO THE DEFECT THAT IT WAS BEING RECALLED FOR WHICH IS WHY THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. BMW DOES NOT WANT TO SUBJECT IT SELF TO LITIGATION. HOWEVER, I DO NOT ACCEPT BMW'S FINDINGS BECAUSE IT IS NOT OBJECTIVE. BMW IS LYING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10553277 · filed Nov 21, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE TICKING NOISE FROM THE VALVES IS TERRIBLE, THE PEOPLE AT BMW SAID IS NORMAL BUT THAT NOISE IS TOO MUCH, ITS SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL CAR

NHTSA ID 11165636 · filed Jan 3, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

REVERSE LIGHT HOUSING FALLS OUT. MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS STATING IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW AND DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE. POTENTIAL HAZARD IF HOSING FALLS OFF ON HIGHWAY OR LACK OF A REVERSE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID 11349335 · filed Aug 14, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .