2013 BMW X3 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

147Engine complaints

65%Of all 226 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE147 · 65%

POWER TRAIN60 · 26.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28 · 12.4%

SERVICE BRAKES17 · 7.5%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16 · 7.1%

Share of the 226 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 BMW X3 overview page.

What owners report

“ANOTHER TIMING CHAIN VICTIM. TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN REPLACED 2/2017, 51K MILES AND EVIDENTLY WAS REPLACED WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, PRIOR TO BMW'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF…”NHTSA complaint 11301328 — filed 01/23/2020

“MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE CAR GAVE AN ALERT: 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION'DRIVE MODERATELY.' THEN MY HUSBAND GOT ANOTHER…”NHTSA complaint 11296934 — filed 01/03/2020

“1. WARNING DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION 2. DROVE MODERATELY ON WAY DRIVING IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR 3. OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP OR RISK DAMAGE TO…”NHTSA complaint 11292447 — filed 01/01/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 BMW X3 have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 BMW X3: 147 of 226 complaints on file (65%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 BMW X3 have in total?

226 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.