2013 BMW X3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 2013 BMW X3, and owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 2013 BMW X3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Connectors/plugs/receptacles (electrical system) and pump (engine and engine cooling)
BMW 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 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW…
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Inflator module (air bags)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe…
Remedy: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Inflator module (air bags)
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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Latch strap (child seat)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…
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Vacuum (service brakes) and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW…
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Instrument cluster/panel (electrical system) and air bags
BMW 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 to a production process error, the tear seam on the instrument panel was not manufactured correctly.
Remedy: BMW has notified owners and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2013. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes) and vacuum (service brakes)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at…
226 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2013 BMW X3 have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,876 miles. Complaints peaked in 2020 with 56 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“My Brake Vacuum Pump is broken, with oil leaking into the vacuum reservoir. The brake distance is much longer. I searched the web and found out a lot of people had the same issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 10, 2026 · Service brakes
“The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light and drivetrain warning light illuminate”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 12, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2013 BMW X3 (X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 26–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare BMW X3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW X3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 BMW X3 | 1 | 138 |
| 2005 BMW X3 | 1 | 103 |
| 2006 BMW X3 | 2 | 143 |
| 2007 BMW X3 | 3 | 98 |
| 2008 BMW X3 | 3 | 66 |
| 2009 BMW X3 | 3 | 19 |
| 2010 BMW X3 | 4 | 32 |
| 2011 BMW X3 | 4 | 113 |
| 2012 BMW X3 | 2 | 42 |
| 2013 BMW X3 | 7 | 226 |
| 2014 BMW X3 | 6 | 86 |
| 2015 BMW X3 | 7 | 105 |
| 2016 BMW X3 | 5 | 82 |
| 2017 BMW X3 | 6 | 92 |
| 2018 BMW X3 | 11 | 76 |
| 2019 BMW X3 | 10 | 170 |
| 2020 BMW X3 | 16 | 109 |
| 2021 BMW X3 | 10 | 111 |
| 2022 BMW X3 | 7 | 81 |
| 2023 BMW X3 | 4 | 15 |
| 2024 BMW X3 | 3 | 40 |
| 2025 BMW X3 | 9 | 38 |
| 2026 BMW X3 | 2 | 19 |
Checking a specific 2013 BMW X3
How do I know if my 2013 BMW X3 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2013 BMW X3; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V454000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.