2013 BMW 650I

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Presently this vehicle has 57,000 miles on it. It began having issues with a drivetrain malfunction warning back in 2021. Reported on complaint # 11427753. To date I have had to have fuel injectors replaced, a catalytic converter, the transfer case, two high pressure fuel pumps and an O2 sensor to resolve issues. Approximately $15,000.00 in repairs over the last 20k miles. This particular engine is known to have issues with excessive oil consumption. I had the same issues with a 2012 BMW 550GT which at 102,000 miles I was forced to get rid of the vehicle as BMW told me the only way to fix the car was to replace the engine at a cost of $23,000.

NHTSA ID

11669655

Incident

May 15, 2025

BMW issues a customer care package regarding issues with the fuel injectors. I originally had to have #8 injector replaced. Shortly after leaving dealership the check engine light came on. To find out now that the catalytic converter on that side of the engine needed replaced ($3400) which they would not provide any assistance on, even though it was most likely caused by the excess fuel being passed through. The car had 38,558 miles on it at the time but was two months passed the 8 year warranty!!!! At 51,875 miles, problem had existed for several thousand miles. The dealership replaced the oxygen censor and a partial flush of the transfer case fluid. Did not resolve the problem, had to have transfer case replaced. $5400. It is currently in for repair as check engine light came on and car was showing a drive train malfunction alert. Using a code reader it was showing a failure of fuel injectors, 1, 2 and three. I can only imagine they are going to tell me that the catalytic converter on that side now needs replaced. Regardless of the age of the vehicle, a car with 54,000 miles on it should not require this level of repairs and failures !!

NHTSA ID

11600920

Incident

Jul 5, 2024

Due to ongoing issues with the BMW N--63 engine which is known for excessive oil use! They claim that one quart per 750-1000 miles is normal ???Car now stutters on acceleration, BMW serviced the vehicle, changing transfer case fluid ( All fluid was not able to be exchanged without removing the transfer case and that was not done )and recalibrated transfer box. Replaced O2 Sensor as well. Repairs did not solve the issue, slight improvement but stuttering continues. Now they say that to resolve this the transfer case would need replaced !! This car has 52,000 miles on it! Due to the failing fuel injectors the catalytic converter needed replaced at 44,000 miles at a cost of $3,000.00. BMW will never admit to issues with their vehicles. I have owned 8 BMW's and have been through this with most of them!

NHTSA ID

11568036

Incident

Oct 9, 2023

BMW voluntarily came out with an extended warranty for faulty fuel injectors (not a recall). Warning of drive train malfunction came on, vehicle would barely run. Dealer determined that #8 fuel injector was the problem and was replaced. The fuel injection shuts down during DT malfunction so all fuel is not being burned. A short time after leaving dealership the check engine light came on (less than . Now I have a bad catalytic converter, BMW states that is not covered as a related repair because it was not done at the time of the fuel injector repair?? The catalytic converter is covered for 8 years or 80,000 miles. My car had 38,000 miles but was 8yrs 4 months old?? BMW refuses to assist with repair which seems to be a direct result of the acknowledgement of the problem with the fuel injectors?? Also had a failed fuel injector on VIN[XXX] which was not covered by the extended warranty! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11427753

Incident

Jun 14, 2021

I'VE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, WHICH HAVE BEEN QUITE DISAPPOINTING. DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT POPPED UP JUST AROUND 52K MILES, IT HAD A ROUGH IDLE, MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRES AND WOULD GO LIMP OFTEN. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, WHERE THEY TOLD ME AFTER DIAGNOSTICS THEY WERE NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE COILS/SPARK PLUGS. CHANGED OUT BOTH OF THOSE AND IT RAN GOOD FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. 58K MILES, 65KMILES , 70K MILES AND NOW 85-90K MILES ALL HAVE HAD THIS DRIVETRAIN PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOW AT 92K MILES AND IS ROUGH IDLING AND MISFIRING OFTEN AGAIN. OTHER THINGS TO NOTE, THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD (COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY), AUXILIARY RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND I HAVE CHANGED ALL COILS AND SPARK PLUGS TWICE IN THE LAST 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. ALL DRIVETRAIN PROBLEMS HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION (MISFIRES) AND ROUGH IDLES WHEN STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11352501

Incident

Aug 29, 2020

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 650I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEIZED IN MOVING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO THE FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. THE VEHICLE LOST MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PASSPORT BMW (LOCATED AT 4730 AUTH PL, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, MD 20746, (301) 423-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,300. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11196656

Incident

Apr 14, 2019

Mileage

44,300 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKING AND VIBRATING AND SMOKING LIKE HELL. VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAYED STATED DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTIONS DRIVE MODERATELY. I CALL UP THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHICH WAS LIKE 2 MILES AWAY. WHEN I REACH TO THE DEALER LOCATION I SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TAKE THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT'S THE PROBLEM. 2 DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALLED ME TO COME DOWN AND LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE VEHICLE, THEY HAD IT ON A LIFT. FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OTHER PARTS BURNED UP AND FUEL WAS DRIPPING WITH FUEL SMELL. THE DEALER SAID THEY NOT GOING TO FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. I WENT AHEAD AND FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR FIRE DAMAGE. AFTERWARD THE DIAGNOSTIC STATED FAILED FUEL INJECTORS. ALL 4 INJECTORS AT BANK 2 FAILED AND ALL 4 CYLINDERS FULL OF EXCESSIVE FUEL AND WAS MIXING WITH ENGINE OIL. INJECTORS WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA DENIES FAULT OF FIRE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID

11171421

Incident

Nov 19, 2018

Mileage

52 mi

PRIOR TO 4/3/2018 ON APPROXIMATELY 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND IDLED ROUGH. ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED AND RAN SMOOTH. ON 4/3/2018 THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST (NO POWER STEERING, NO FORWARD MOTION) BUT ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE OK. TOWED CAR TO BMW DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND (2) HIGH PRESSURE AND (1) LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURES WHICH WERE REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. NO OTHER ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED THROUGH THE INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. ON 5/22/2018 (PM) UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT RAN ROUGH. WE TRIED TO STOP AND RESTART BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON 5/23/18 (AM) THE VEHICLE STARTED PROPERLY AND WAS TAKEN INTO TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ON EACH OCCASION NOTED ABOVE THE DISPLAY SCREEN PROMPTS WITH THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION MESSAGE, BUT CHECKING THE ON-BOARD VEHICLE STATUS ALL SYSTEMS ARE "OK". REDUCED POWER AND/OR COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER IN A CRITICAL SITUATION COULD PROVE TO BE DISASTROUS. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND POTENTIAL RISK THE FACTORY SHOULD ELEVATE THIS COMPLAINT TO A RECALL STATUS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT (IF THAT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED).

NHTSA ID

11097592

Incident

May 22, 2018

Mileage

72,000 mi

N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

The 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. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning light comes on while driving. The following DSC fault codes for the wheel speed sensors are stored: 480712 and/or 480715 and/or 480718 and/or 48071B They cannot be cleared, even though the wheel speed sensors work correctly and no problem can be found with the wiring harness.

After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.

With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Isley, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC. The Settlement Benefits are effective and available on and after February 9, 2022. Note: This bulletin is a notice of a Class Action Settlement Service Campaign benefits that are now available.