Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2013-BMW-320I NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
BMW

2013 BMW 320i problems

The 2013 BMW 320i has 3 active recall campaigns on file and only 9 owner complaints in the NHTSA database. Often that means the recall caught it before the field did.

The 2013 BMW 320i has 9 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

BMW 320i owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2013 320i (this page) 9 3
2014 320i 51 7
2015 320i 33 3
2013 BMW 320i
Photo: Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the BMW 320i
0 5 10
Reliability score
Not rated

Limited NHTSA data — only 9 complaints on file. The score reflects what's reported, but a small sample skews easily. 3 active recalls on file.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2013 320i?
Not enough data for a verdict

Only 9 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident call. The 3 active recalls above remain authoritative; read those first.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Embed this reliability snapshot

Free to use on your site, post, or video — just keep the "Source" credit line below the chart. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2013-bmw-320i/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2013 BMW 320i reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2013-bmw-320i/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2013 BMW 320i reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2013 320i's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2013 320i · brakes Crash
Re: tcn-kdn21-40701 on 9/17/13 I was involved in a car accident. I was unable to stop my car as it rolled down a hill - although I applied the brakes. The accident occurred as I was leaving a driveway which is positioned on a hill. Immediately prior to the accident a…
11/21/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10553277.0
2013 320i · powertrain
Hello I see there was a recall on a malfunction of the engine were the engine stalls due to timing chain and internal parts that gives the engine power. My car showed and emergency indicator light that said engine oil pressure low and to carefully stop and stop engine of risk of…
11/06/2019 · at 93,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11278375.0
2013 320i · lighting
Reverse light housing falls out. Multiple online forums stating it is a known issue with BMW and dealerships are aware. Potential hazard if hosing falls off on highway or lack of a reverse light.
08/14/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11349335.0
2013 320i · body
Front doors will not unlock from the outside and can't use key to inter manually, this is a safety issue if emergency and can't get into the car easily
07/11/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11338821.0
View all 9 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2013 BMW 320i? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 15V520000 August 17, 2015

BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, and ActiveHybrid3 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2011, to June 22, 2015, 2014-2015 328xi Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured March 21, 2013, to March 17, 2015, 2014-2015 328d, 328xd vehicles manufactured June 28, 2013, to April 21, 2015, and 2014-2015 328xd Sports Wagon vehicles manufactured July 5, 2013, to April 21, 2015

If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will upload revised software to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
severe NHTSA 14V627000 October 7, 2014

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe

A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
severe NHTSA 13V454000 September 26, 2013

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters

A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA

EA Air Bags › Frontal · opened September 2021

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2013 BMW 320i reliable?

Limited NHTSA data. Only 9 owner complaints have been filed for the 2013 BMW 320i, which is not enough for a meaningful reliability score. Active recalls (if any) are listed on this page and remain authoritative — those are verified defects regardless of complaint volume. For a confident reliability read we look for at least 10 owner complaints in the federal database.

Should you avoid the 2013 BMW 320i?

Only 9 NHTSA complaints on file — too few for a confident call. The 3 active recalls above remain authoritative; read those first. We don't issue a buy/avoid verdict on the 2013 BMW 320i without a meaningful complaint sample — doing so off a handful of filings would be guesswork.

What should I check before buying a used 2013 BMW 320i?

There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2013 BMW 320i to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.

Is the 2013 BMW 320i a good used car to buy?

Hard to say from federal data alone — only 9 owner complaints have been filed. Lean on the recall list above, a pre-purchase inspection, and a vehicle-history report on the specific VIN. Our data tells you what the model is known for; a history report tells you what that exact car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2013 BMW 320i?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

How do I check if my BMW 320i has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 BMW 320i?

Hard to say from NHTSA data alone with only 9 complaints on file. A quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. The decision comes down to your specific situation: vehicle cost, miles on it, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you can absorb a $3K–$8K repair without straining cashflow. With limited public data on this vehicle, lean on the recall list above and check owner forums before committing.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/BMW/320i. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with BMW. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Sponsored
Get a free warranty quote →