2013 BMW X3 Electrical Problems

Which parts fail

• 12V/24V/48V battery
  1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  417%
• 25k–50k
  313%
• 50k–75k
  29%
• 75k–100k
  417%
• 100k–150k
  939%
• 150k+
  14%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 BMW X3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, smoke was noticed leaking from under the hood. The contact stated that after she opened the hood, the vehicle caught on fire. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that she and a neighbor had extinguished the fire utilizing a fire extinguisher. No police report was filed. The fire department did not arrive on scene. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was not deemed a total loss. The contact was burned on her hand however, she did not seek medical attention. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that spark plug wires and other unknown parts were burned. …

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. 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 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 that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The vehicle displayed a message to reduce the speed as the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact merged to the side of the road and contacted a tow truck company; however, before the tow truck arrived, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with turbo failure. …

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine overheating warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor in the cabin of the vehicle. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that low oil pressure had damaged the engine and the entire engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The contact related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown message displayed, and the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the low brake fluid message displayed intermittently even when the brake fluid level was not low. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that the owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that while her mother was driving 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked, with an abnormal sound coming from the engine before the engine seized. The message "Service Engine" was displayed. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart; however, an abnormal sound was coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had received the notification after the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,262.

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 illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the positive battery terminal motherboard had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

The contact owned a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered a fire on the water pump. The fire spread throughout the entire vehicle causing major cosmetic damage. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop where it was determined that the vehicle was totaled. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. 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 issue. The contact stated that for the past several months the vehicle needed several attempts before the vehicle started. The contact called a dealer and was informed that parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

My wife was driving the car (her main, work car) with our 13 year old. She called me upset and told me that the car would barely move. This was disturbing. She was in heavy traffic. Also the car has been mostly reliable and we only have above 120k on the vehicle after almost 10 years. My wife slowly made it down busy Stocton Blvd. A few hundred feet and safely made it to a business parking lot. I came ASAP. (20min later). There was a message from the car - "Drive Train malfunction " it looked very serious. (Note: My wife is about the best, skillful and careful driver I know. Especially for a person originally from foreign country (China). I gave my wife and child my car and took over the situation. The car would only putt along at 5 mph. So with my emergency flashers on I drove it all the way home using the shoulder. Its about 5 miles home, (more or less). …

While being parked with the engine off and in a covered condominium garage for 12 days, my 2013 BMW X3 caught fire and burned until the fire fighters extinguished the fire. The engine burnt to the point of virtually disintegrating. Other areas of the car suffered extensive damage because of the heat but the insurance investigation established that the fire originated in the engine compartment. The car in the next parking spot also was a total loss and the building had damages. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The engine had been replaced by BMW, at an authorized dealer, in November of 2021 as part of a class action suit settlement. Therefore, although the car had approximately 76000 miles, the engine had only about 7000 miles. The last service it had was a regular oil change on October 6, 2022. …

Related recalls

Electrical complaints in other X3 years