Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 BMW 328i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2013 BMW 328i. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied in a friend's driveway when a pop was heard and the contact noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that the engine compartment was engulfed in flames. The contact stated that a police officer who was riding through the neighborhood stopped and attempted to extinguish the fire, however, they were unsuccessful. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. No injuries and no medical treatment was provided. The fire caused damage to the friend's garage and the window above the garage. In addition, the friend's vehicle, which was parked in the driveway next to the contact's vehicle, was damaged on the driver's side front bumper and headlight and the driver's side front tire. The vehicle remained at the fire location. …
The contact owned a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that upon parking the vehicle on the sidewalk in front of his driveway, it caught on fire. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The location of the fire was the front engine compartment. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police department report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries. The contact also noted that no warning lights had been illuminated prior, and received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) and believed the recall as probable cause for the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owned a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside of a friend's home, her friend received a call from a neighbor that a vehicle outside the home had caught fire. The fire department was called and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was completely destroyed but had yet to be towed. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started running rough with the temperature gauge rising. The stabilizer warning light was illuminated. On another occasion, while driving to the residence at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that a message related to the fuel was displayed. The vehicle was under warranty and was repaired. …
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle was difficult to start. The contact stated while driving approximately 25-60 MPH, the engine overheated with smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact would pull over and allow the engine to cool down before resuming to drive. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated while driving at various speeds for an extended period, the contact noticed that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. Additionally, there was an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine coolant pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. An orange triangle warning light was illuminated. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. …
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, and multiple warning lights were illuminated. The contact then stated that the vehicle lost power and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the water pump and electrical plug connector had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact requested reimbursement for the cost of the repair that was performed prior to the safety recall, but the dealer informed the contact that the reimbursement claim was denied. …
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated there was smoke entering the vehicle through the vents. In addition, the contact stated that smoke was coming from under the hood. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly vibrated before losing motive power, after which the message "Drivetrain Malfunction" was displayed. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No other warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who observed that the guides for the timing chain were fractured, causing engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the Service Information Bulletin: 11-03-17. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump and water pump connector. The contact was advised to discontinue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. The failure mileage was 201,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine complaints in other 328i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2013 BMW 328i?
NHTSA has 133 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2013 BMW 328i, 52% of the model year's 257 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 BMW 328i engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2013 BMW 328i, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 BMW 328i engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 7 fires and 4 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.