Vehicle Data Hub

2013 BMW X3 engine problems

Owners reported engine problems in 160 complaints for the 2013 BMW X3, 46% of the complaints on file. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
160 46% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
86,000 miles 115 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 6
Injuries and deaths
4 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2013 BMW X3 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 86,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 8 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 2 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 7 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 24 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 46 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 21 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 6 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 86,000 miles
Based on 115 complaints that include mileage. 15% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles8
20k to 40k miles2
40k to 60k miles7
60k to 80k miles24
80k to 100k miles46
100k to 120k miles21
120k to 140k miles6
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 115 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 86,000 miles, and 15% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries.

What owners wrote

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.

Reported at 160,000 miles, August 2025 FireInjury

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 BMW x3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the vehicle exploded and caught on fire. The flames and heat damaged two parked and occupied vehicles. The contact stated that the michigan fire department was present. The fire department was unable to locate where the fire initiated. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 101,400. The VIN was invalid.

Reported at 101,400 miles, January 2020 Fire

Other problems reported for the 2013 BMW X3

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all BMW models