WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL START SHAKING WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE MAIN SCREEN DISPLAYS "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER" DURING THE MALFUNCTION THE CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT SHAKING, LOSES NEARLY MOST POWER AND THE CAR MUST COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP ANDTHE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TURNED…
2013 bmw 650i powertrain problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Presently this vehicle has 57,000 miles on it. It began having issues with a drivetrain malfunction warning back in 2021. Reported on complaint # 11427753. To date I have had to have fuel injectors replaced, a catalytic converter, the transfer case, two high pressure fuel pumps and an O2 sensor to resolve issues. Approximately $15,000.00 in repairs over the last 20k miles. This particular engine i…
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ACCELERATING, 'DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION' LIGHT POPS ON, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER, RUNS ROUGH, AND STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING TWICE, AND VEHICLE BECOMES INSTANTLY DISABLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SEVERAL OTHER 2012 ' 2015 BMW 6-SERIES COUPE/CONVERTIBLE OWNERS AS WELL. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION, CONSIDERING IT HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING, OR DRI…
PRIOR TO 4/3/2018 ON APPROXIMATELY 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STARTED AND IDLED ROUGH. ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED AND RAN SMOOTH. ON 4/3/2018 THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST (NO POWER STEERING, NO FORWARD MOTION) BUT ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE OK. TOWED CAR TO BMW DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND (2) HIGH PRESSURE AND (1…
WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL START SHAKING WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE MAIN SCREEN DISPLAYS "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER" DURING THE MALFUNCTION THE CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT SHAKING, LOSES NEARLY MOST POWER AND THE CAR MUST COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP ANDTHE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TURN…
Due to ongoing issues with the BMW N--63 engine which is known for excessive oil use! They claim that one quart per 750-1000 miles is normal ???Car now stutters on acceleration, BMW serviced the vehicle, changing transfer case fluid ( All fluid was not able to be exchanged without removing the transfer case and that was not done )and recalibrated transfer box. Replaced O2 Sensor as well. Repairs d…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 bmw 650i?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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