2013 BMW X3: check engine light

Filed May 12, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · 106,000 miles · MI

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.

Filed Oct 28, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · OH

I had a terrible BMW X3 (2013) Engine timing chain failure leading to Engine failure (known BMW X3 N20 engine time chain and engine coolant pump defect). The Car is non drivable and had to be towed to BMW Cleveland dealership and should be available for inspection. While driving on busy [XXX] , suddenly showed “low coolant” indicator and yellow engine light which turned red after sometime and the car stalled complelely on the road that caused huge safety risk for me the driver and incoming traffic. Had to call 911 to help manage incoming traffic and help with towing the car to the dealership. Dealership reported engine timing chain and pump failure and recommending replacing them along with total engine replacement at a cost of $21000. There is also an open recall for this car, which was not fixed by the dealership (the federal safety agency Recall Number 24V608: ENGINE COOLANT PUMP) and I was told there is no remedy for this available. Due to the severe damage to car owing to faulty engine coolant pump and engine timing chain, I request the federal safety agency to order a recall and fix of all defective BMW 2013 X3 engines, coolant and fuel pumps by the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 19, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · GA

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 the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jul 27, 2022 · Engine · DC

We dropped our BMW X-3 on April 11, 2022, to get checked out, due to a continued check engine light. We had dropped it a few weeks prior because of the same issue. We thought they had corrected the problem as the check engine light was no longer on after the first time we received it back. The car stalled a couple of times at the stop light when accelerating. They have done extensive work, they said, in trying to analyze the problem. They are trying to force us to bring the loner back and take our car back unfixed. They have exhausted the third party warranty money because they went down the wrong rabbit hole. The warranty company obviously doesn't want them tearing apart the engine and going in another direction because Rockvile BMW has already had the car so long they could have rebuilt the whole vehicle from scratch. It doesn't make sense for us to tell them to go ahead and spend our money either as they obviously don't know what they are doing. I called BMW headquarters in NJ. The gentleman there suggested I ask them to call the regional dedicated group of service engineers to help with the problem. He also suggested that if they have gone that route that I escalate the problem to the general manager of Rockville BMW. I called the dealership and spoke to William Rodriguez, the service assistant who had been keeping us abreast of what was being done to our vehicle. He said they had designated regional service engineer come over and look at the vehicle, and that person also had no luck with the fix. William said there was nothing else that they could do. More details in attached file.

Filed Aug 23, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · GA

I was driving on the highway and took my exit and the car suddenly stopped with the message "Drivetrain malfunction. Drive moderately." After this, the car would not move even with the engine on. It was as if the it was stuck in one gear and wouldn't move to "Drive". I turned the car off and back again. At this time, the car started to sputter after it started. Then, I let it stopped the engine for about 20 minutes. When the problem happened, the check engine light came on. After 20 minutes, I started the car again and I was able to drive it and the check engine light went away. However, since I had to go back on the highway, I was concerned about driving as it might stop suddenly on the highway and create a major accident. As per google, this seems to be a common issue with BMW X3's. The company should recall and repair such an incidence from happening.

Filed Jun 23, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · AL

My cars check engine light and drive train alert came on, so I took it to be inspected. It was not running well, seems to have much less power than usual on the way to the mechanic. I have been told that the power chain guides have broken and must be replaced. This could cause the power chain to come off mid-drive and completely shut the car down.The cost of parts and labor for repair will be around $3,300. This car isn’t old, is well cared for and maintained and does not have high mileage.

Filed Apr 30, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · FL

My 2013,_bmw x3 check engine light went on and I noticed power loss when it didn't drive over 40mph. I had the vehicle diagnostics done at my local bmw shop and they told me I have a bad timing chain and sprockets and gave me a bill in the thousands. I called bmw corporate and spoke to lori who is aware of the issue and said, an extended warranty was issued but that it expired in 2018. They offered me no other financial assistance because my car has 100,499 miles. So that's it a car dies at 100,000 miles and they can't help??? That's awful. There's so many complaints about this issue. My other 2007 bmw x3 huge problems too overheating, my motor mount bolt broke the engine dropped and broke the water pump. Garbage, garbage, garbage I will never buy bmw. Shame on bmw for not helping!!!! My toyota went past 200,000 miles and it's still driving.

Filed Feb 5, 2021 · Brakes · 48,888 miles · NC

While driving down business 40 going about 60 MPH, my car suddenly stopped in the left lane. The car was still running but it was as if someone had put on the brakes for me -- like a ghost in the machine. The car behind me was able to stop but within a couple of feet from rear ending me at a high speed. The cars behind him were swerving not to hit him. We are lucky it was not a multi car accident. I was able to get the car going by continuing to step on the accelerator. No lights on the dash came on not even a check engine light. I thought that perhaps I had done something to cause this and kept driving in the right lane at a lower speed. Then it happened again. Luckily no one was close behind me and this time I knew what was happening. I pulled over and put on my hazards and drove on the shoulder. The car was sputtering, the wheel was shaking. I pulled over and turned off the car. Let it rest and inspected the outside of the car. I went the next day to the bmw dealership -- they said to replace the brake calipers but I did not thing that was it --- as it seems almost like a force engaged the brakes, not that they failed. My foot had not been on the brakes when they engaged. I took it to another mechanic who was able to replicate this and said the car was unsafe to drive. I am only the 2nd owner and it has less than 50k miles. I then had it inspected at a different dealership who said it was the dsc which seems more likely as they were able to recreate the braking while driving. I then called bmw na who sent out and engineer but they are saying it is regular wear and tear on a car. This seems impossible to me. I have had brakes need replacing and rotors and nothing like this has ever happened. It was incredibly scary, and dangerous and I (and others) could have been seriously injured.

Filed Oct 22, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 88,848 miles · IN

My 2013 x3 just dead on me in middle of highway, on my way to work, without and ahead notice, it was just not even 30 seconds sign of "oil pressure low" then check engine light on, car was shaking, it totally lost the power, I called road service to tow it to dealership. When I called the bmw service center, the girl just told me to clam down, doesn't need be upset. I was super upset, never expect to drive a car suddenly dead in middle of highway, it could easily get me killed, or cause seriously car accident. It was happened last may (2019), at mileage 88k, two options: trade it in for $2k or fix it $11,500 with replace new engine. I end paid it all from my own pocket. It is just one year later, the warning sign on for " drivetrain malfunction, drive moderately, maximum drivetrain output not available" sent it to dealership, I was told the turbo need replace, quote for $5500... How could bmw sold those poor designed crap to their customer, the issues just one after another, very disappointed, such shame on bmw, I would not buy any bmw anymore

Filed Oct 20, 2020 · Engine · 62,000 miles · OH

I have a 2013 bmw x3 with 100,110km on it. On october 15, I was driving normally, and I got a message on my dash saying there was a 'drivetrain malfunction'. After a few minutes, the message went away and low engine oil pressure warning and the check engine light came on. The vehicle slow down and came to a stop and at the end locked to parking position by itself. I had to get my vehicle towed to a mechanic who diagnose and confirm it is timing chain failing and said that this issue is a known problem with this model of bmw vehicle. I called bmw canada the following morning and was told to get it checked out by performance bmw which is nearby dealership. The dealership told me the diagnose result of oil pump chain guides broke and timing chain failure and also told me that my vehicle's warranty expired a few months ago. Because of the pandemic, I almost never drove this car so if I drove normally, this issue would have come up much sooner, probably before the warranty expired. I would like to request an extension of my warranty to cover this issue as I read online that it is a very common issue with this vehicle model (because of the plastic frame for the timing chain and oil pump chain). When it's a common issue, bmw should make a recall! Somebody might get killed sooner or later if the engine fail happen on busy trafic highway!!!!

Filed Jul 24, 2020 · Engine · 82,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the highway when many warning messages started to appear, check engine, check oil, battery, check coolant and some others and in a rapid succession. Car began to slow and powered off. I was unable to restart my car and had to have the car towed. Engine is completely dead. Quoted between 20k (bmw) to 8k (used shop) to repair. Bmw has refused to replace the defective engine or provide any assistance in the matter.

Filed Jun 18, 2020 · Engine · 91,450 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 bmw x3. The contact stated that when his wife arrived home, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that his wife attempted to start the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to pacific bmw (800 s. Brand blvd, glendale, ca 91204, 8182-46-5600) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 91,450.