RoadVitals

2013 BMW X6 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.
25
Latest Jul 1, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 BMW X6, 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

  • Airbags1440.0%
  • Engine720.0%
  • Powertrain (other)617.1%
  • Steering38.6%
  • Fuel system25.7%
  • Electrical12.9%
  • Driver assistance12.9%
  • Suspension12.9%

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

Airbags

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

14
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID 11210452 · filed May 28, 2019

BMW DEALERSHIP IN GEORGIA, TBILISI IS LIAR. I VISITED THEM FOR CUSTOMER CAR PACKAGE. UNDER THIS CCP MUST BE REPLACED SOME PARTS WITHOUT CHECKING AND SOME OF THEM AFTER CHECKING. THAT DEALERSHIP CHAMGED ME ONLY AIR MASS SENSORS WHEN BMW AG STATES THAT VENT PIPE BANK 1 AND 2, CONNECTING LINE BANK 1 AND 2, AOR MASS SENSORS, INTAKE AIR DUCT MUST BE REPLACED ON EVERY N63S. INJECTORS, VACUUM PUMP, CHAIN AND SOME ORHER PARTS MUST BE REPLACED AFTER CHECKING IF THEY ARE FAULTY. THAT DEALERSHIP LIED ME THAT THEY RECEIVED NEW DOCUMENTATIONS FROM BMW AND ONLY AIR MASS SENNSORS MUST BE CHANGED. THEY ARE LIARS. MY CAR IS UNDER BURNING RISK BECAUSE THEY CHANGED ONLY AIR MASS SENSORS AND DID NOT PERFORMED THE CCP PROPERLY. THEY DID NOT CHECK MY TIMING CHAIN TOO. MY CONTACT NUMBER +995 591227222

NHTSA ID 11071979 · filed Feb 9, 2018
All 14 reports naming airbags

Engine

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

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

While driving on the highway, the warning “engine power reduced” came on and the car just started slowing to a complete stop. Smoke started coming from the engine and the rear, then came to a complete stop and has not started again. Was towed from the highway to a safe location and I was told by mechanic that it was leaking all engine oil and power steering fluid

NHTSA ID 11598030 · filed Jul 1, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID 11395697 · filed Feb 11, 2021

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.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X6. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and ascending an incline, the vehicle started to lose forward momentum and was vibrating. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the front driveshaft needed to be replaced, and that the transmission was leaking and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 17V138000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

NHTSA ID 11555036 · filed Nov 14, 2023

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V071000 AND 17V138000 (AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID 11033041 · filed Oct 12, 2017

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

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ISSUES: BOTH FRONT THRUST ARM BUSHINGS WORN, OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, REPLACEMENT OF MICROFILTER NEEDED, BRAKE FLUID FLUSH SERVICE AND SUNROOF NOT INITIALIZED. COMMENTS: I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AS I WAS GETTING A DRIVER STABILITY MALFUNCTION ERROR AND WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLES OR ANY UNEVEN STREET/HIGHWAY, WHEEL WOULD JERK EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING ME TO ENTER OTHER LANES. VEHICLE WAS PULLING HARD AND I HEARD NOISE EVERY TIME I DROVE OVER UNEVEN ROADS. I WAS ALSO GETTING AN ANTI-TRAP MALFUNCTION FOR SUNROOF ERROR MESSAGE. ISSUES: VEHICLE SPUTTERED, SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE STILL PULLING AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT TIRES. COMMENTS: DUE TO THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING, SPUTTERING AND NOT STARTING, I WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER MOTORISTS HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ISSUES: 2ND OCCURRENCE: FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND EKPS (< ONE MONTH AFTER FIRST REPAIR). VEHICLE NEEDED RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED. COMMENTS: UPON DRIVING MY VEHICLE ONTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT TO HAVE MY TIRE REPLACED, AS SOON AS THE TECHNICIAN GOT IN THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. ISSUE: 2ND OCCURRENCE: LEFT FRONT THRUST ARM BALL JOINT LOOSE CAUSING CLUNK IN FRONT END. ISSUE: 3RD OCCURRENCE: LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BENT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT NEEDED DUE TO BENT CONTROL ARM. COMMENTS: MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE TIRE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ISSUES PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER AND COULD HAVE SEVERELY CAUSED MY FAMILY HARM AND/OR HARM TO OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID 11386880 · filed Jan 6, 2021

DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING ALL AROUND THE GEAR AND CHECKED MY VIN AND IS NOT ON THE RECALL. IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT A 3 TO 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS 2013 BMW X6 STEERING NHTSA CAMPAIGN #12V267000 AND NOT BE PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE.

NHTSA ID 10970485 · filed Apr 4, 2017

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ISSUES: BOTH FRONT THRUST ARM BUSHINGS WORN, OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, REPLACEMENT OF MICROFILTER NEEDED, BRAKE FLUID FLUSH SERVICE AND SUNROOF NOT INITIALIZED. COMMENTS: I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AS I WAS GETTING A DRIVER STABILITY MALFUNCTION ERROR AND WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLES OR ANY UNEVEN STREET/HIGHWAY, WHEEL WOULD JERK EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING ME TO ENTER OTHER LANES. VEHICLE WAS PULLING HARD AND I HEARD NOISE EVERY TIME I DROVE OVER UNEVEN ROADS. I WAS ALSO GETTING AN ANTI-TRAP MALFUNCTION FOR SUNROOF ERROR MESSAGE. ISSUES: VEHICLE SPUTTERED, SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE STILL PULLING AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT TIRES. COMMENTS: DUE TO THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING, SPUTTERING AND NOT STARTING, I WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER MOTORISTS HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ISSUES: 2ND OCCURRENCE: FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND EKPS (< ONE MONTH AFTER FIRST REPAIR). VEHICLE NEEDED RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED. COMMENTS: UPON DRIVING MY VEHICLE ONTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT TO HAVE MY TIRE REPLACED, AS SOON AS THE TECHNICIAN GOT IN THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. ISSUE: 2ND OCCURRENCE: LEFT FRONT THRUST ARM BALL JOINT LOOSE CAUSING CLUNK IN FRONT END. ISSUE: 3RD OCCURRENCE: LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BENT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT NEEDED DUE TO BENT CONTROL ARM. COMMENTS: MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE TIRE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ISSUES PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER AND COULD HAVE SEVERELY CAUSED MY FAMILY HARM AND/OR HARM TO OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID 11386880 · filed Jan 6, 2021

UPON ON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DROPPING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS ON , THE THE TACHOMETER JUMPS TO 1000 AND EVEN UP TO 1500 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE THREE TIME TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY COULD FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS AND ALMOST RAN INTO OUR BUILDING, I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BREAK VERY HARD TO REDUCE THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD, THE CAR STILL TRAVELS WITH MY BRAKE ON, IF THERE WERE A CHILD OR PERSON IN FRONT OF ME THEY WOULD BE INJURED SEVERELY, THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE TACHOMETER GOING FROM 0-1000 ALMOST COMING TO A STALL, IT HAS STALLED TWO TIMES IN THE PAST.

NHTSA ID 10743704 · filed Jul 27, 2015

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

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WATER PUMP ISSUES, DEALER SUPPOSENLY FIXED MONTHS AGO. CAR IS LIKE NEW WITH 40K + MILES AND ALREADY WATER PUMP REPLACED. THEN NOTICED SMOKE & BURNING SMELL LIKE POSSIBLE FIRE FROM ENGINE AREA A WEEK AGO WHILE CAR IN IDLE, I THEN TOOK IT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND SOMETHING WASNT REPLACED BY DEALER DURING WATER PUMP EXCHANGE/REPLACEMENT. I THINK IS A LIE, I CERTAINLY THINK VEHICHLE HAVE THAT STEERING ISSUE. ALSO PASSENGER DOOR FROM INSIDE DIDNT OPEN ANYMORE WHICH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. BUT CAR LIKE I SAID IS LIKE NEW TO ME FOR IT TO BE 3 YEARS OLD WITH 40K MILES. JUST MAJOR FAULTS FOR SUCH AGE OF CAR. BAD BMW MAKER FOR PRICEY CAR AND SO MANY ENGINE / ELECTRICAL ISSUE ISSUES. I SEE WHY NOT MANY ON US ROADS. 12/2015 SOMETHING IN WATER PUMP AREA REPLACED AGIAN, DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR FROM INSIDE DIDNT OPEN ANYMORE, FRONT CAMERAS DIDNT OPERATE ANYMORE/CORRODED SUPPOSENLY, COOLANT WAS GONE (BUT WATER PUMP REPLACED 2014) SO EITHER LEAK OR DEALER WAS CHEAP PUTTING BACK IN, NOW SINCE ALL THESE REPAIRS CAR DRIVES ROUGH. AND YES ALL WAS DONE ON 1 VISIT AT DEALER. AND I FORGOT TO MENTION TO THEM MY SEATBELT LOCKS ON ME SO I DRIVE WITH IT CLAMP ALREADY AND JUST DUCK UNDERNEATH STRAP WHEN READY TO DRIVE. WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN (STATE POLICE WITNESS TO THAT)

NHTSA ID 10809865 · filed Dec 13, 2015

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

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

UPON ON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DROPPING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS ON , THE THE TACHOMETER JUMPS TO 1000 AND EVEN UP TO 1500 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE THREE TIME TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY COULD FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS AND ALMOST RAN INTO OUR BUILDING, I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BREAK VERY HARD TO REDUCE THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD, THE CAR STILL TRAVELS WITH MY BRAKE ON, IF THERE WERE A CHILD OR PERSON IN FRONT OF ME THEY WOULD BE INJURED SEVERELY, THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE TACHOMETER GOING FROM 0-1000 ALMOST COMING TO A STALL, IT HAS STALLED TWO TIMES IN THE PAST.

NHTSA ID 10743704 · filed Jul 27, 2015

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

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ISSUES: BOTH FRONT THRUST ARM BUSHINGS WORN, OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE, REPLACEMENT OF MICROFILTER NEEDED, BRAKE FLUID FLUSH SERVICE AND SUNROOF NOT INITIALIZED. COMMENTS: I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AS I WAS GETTING A DRIVER STABILITY MALFUNCTION ERROR AND WHEN DRIVING OVER POTHOLES OR ANY UNEVEN STREET/HIGHWAY, WHEEL WOULD JERK EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING ME TO ENTER OTHER LANES. VEHICLE WAS PULLING HARD AND I HEARD NOISE EVERY TIME I DROVE OVER UNEVEN ROADS. I WAS ALSO GETTING AN ANTI-TRAP MALFUNCTION FOR SUNROOF ERROR MESSAGE. ISSUES: VEHICLE SPUTTERED, SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE STILL PULLING AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT TIRES. COMMENTS: DUE TO THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING, SPUTTERING AND NOT STARTING, I WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. OTHER MOTORISTS HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ISSUES: 2ND OCCURRENCE: FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND EKPS (< ONE MONTH AFTER FIRST REPAIR). VEHICLE NEEDED RIGHT FRONT TIRE REPLACED. COMMENTS: UPON DRIVING MY VEHICLE ONTO THE DEALERSHIP LOT TO HAVE MY TIRE REPLACED, AS SOON AS THE TECHNICIAN GOT IN THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. ISSUE: 2ND OCCURRENCE: LEFT FRONT THRUST ARM BALL JOINT LOOSE CAUSING CLUNK IN FRONT END. ISSUE: 3RD OCCURRENCE: LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BENT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT NEEDED DUE TO BENT CONTROL ARM. COMMENTS: MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE TIRE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO JERK. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ISSUES PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER AND COULD HAVE SEVERELY CAUSED MY FAMILY HARM AND/OR HARM TO OTHER VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID 11386880 · filed Jan 6, 2021

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 .