2013 BMW 328I Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: August 1, 2026 · Filed: August 2, 2026

I was at the John Wayne Airport, going from the arrivals to departures. I had a lot of stop and go traffic, and when I was going down toward the bottom, my brakes failed. I kept pumping them to try and stop but they were not working. I saw an empty area where the car rental returns were and I was able to pull over and come to a stop. I was very lucky that there was a spot to pull over, I used the emergency brake as well when I finally came to a stop. I want the brake system to be looked into. After seeing the other complaints regarding the exact situation, I do not understand why this was not looked into before I got this car.

Incident: July 28, 2026 · Filed: July 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The drivetrain and passenger’s side air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 25 MPH and the vehicle was shaking erratically. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 174,775.

Incident: December 15, 2025 · Filed: March 12, 2026

2013 BMW 328i, N20 engine. Timing chain guide assembly and oil pump drive chain failed catastrophically. Vehicle is available for inspection, however the authorized BMW dealership has already made clear they will accept no responsibility, and I would bear the expense of towing it two hours to their facility. The failure is a known issue with a class action case, but BMW took no responsibility, and falsified information stating the vehicle showed no signs of an issue when I brought my vehicle in for inspection. Eighteen months before failure, steam came from the engine compartment on a humid day, later connected to the water pump electrical connector recall. Following this, the vehicle ran consistently hotter than normal and lost noticeable power. Twelve months before failure, an intermittent oil pressure warning began triggering under load at highway speeds, particularly on inclines above 70mph. I brought the vehicle to Sandia BMW in Albuquerque, NM and reported all symptoms when I was contacted by them for the recall. The service advisor falsely claimed elevated operating temperature was optimal, suspected a faulty sensor, and returned the vehicle without offering further diagnosis or making me aware of the impending issue, all classic signs of the engine faults. Eight weeks later, the oil pressure light activated on a highway, followed immediately by a drivetrain malfunction warning, a violent grinding sound, and complete loss of power. The vehicle was towed and has not restarted since. I contacted BMW of North America's recall line. A case was opened and an advocate stated BMW would accept no responsibility because the class action was closed and I'mpast 70K miles. I raised the dealership's direct culpability. The advocate stated a dealership representative would contact me. No call was ever received. This failure is consistent with BMW Service Bulletin SI B11 03 17. A engine safety recall is warranted regardless of age to protect the public.

Incident: December 26, 2025 · Filed: January 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a hole on top of the fuel tank. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had previously initiated an extended warranty coverage for similar vehicles; however, the repair was not covered under the Extended Warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 56,910.

Incident: December 11, 2025 · Filed: December 11, 2025

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 manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the manufacturer also denied the reimbursement claim. The approximate failure mileage was 89,565.

Incident: October 16, 2025 · Filed: November 14, 2025

See attached document for complaint. I am writing in reference to the recall on my 2013 BMW-328xi. The vin number is. The recall is for the water pump electrical connector. My water pump failed May 2024. I went to an independent repair service center that specializes in BMW repair, which in turn was the closest service center to where the vehicle broke down. I paid out of pocket for the repair. Now there is a recall on this part, I would appreciate reimbursement for the charges. I am enclosing a copy of the invoice.

Incident: September 10, 2025 · Filed: September 10, 2025

Passenger Restraint system malfunction for the front passenger seat. This may not trigger the airbag for a passenger sitting in the front if a collision occurs and can seriously injure someone. This problem appears to be very common with BMW models within this timeframe. All over car forums and youtube videos, some videos with over 100k views per video. I am not sure how BMW has not recalled this safety issue as it seems to linger throughout many of their models for many years. As soon as the malfuction occured\, the warning sign and lamp lights did flash on.

Incident: July 23, 2025 · Filed: July 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact’s daughter stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); and the vehicle was taken to the dealer to have the water pump replaced. The contact was informed by the dealer after the repaired that the valve cover gasket had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

Incident: May 31, 2025 · Filed: July 16, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

Incident: June 9, 2025 · Filed: July 2, 2025

See attached document for complaint.