2013 BMW 328i Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2013 BMW 328i ranks 3rd worst out of 12 model years, with a complaint index of 82 and 257 complaints logged with NHTSA. It carries an Avoid verdict, driven mainly by engine complaints (53% share) and five recall campaigns including brakes and airbags.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 82/100
- #3 of 12 328i years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 257
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 24
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 17
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
Top 2013 BMW 328i problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine137 (53%)
- Electrical System63 (25%)
- Airbags39 (15%)
- Brakes37 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain23 (9%)
- Fuel System20 (8%)
- Other19 (7%)
- Structure & Body13 (5%)
- Seat Belts10 (4%)
- Steering8 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly fail suddenly at low speed, including in parking lots, sometimes leading to a collision with a curb or wall.
- Owners describe brake failure at highway speed where the pedal does not respond and the car keeps moving.
- Some airbag-related complaints describe the airbags not deploying during a crash, including a rear-end collision that also involved a fire.
- Several owners report the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating or losing steering control at the same time brakes fail, along with seat belts releasing on their own.
- Engine complaints include the vehicle drifting from side to side at highway speed and, separately, a parked car moving on its own into a garage wall.
2013 BMW 328i recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V608000Aug 13, 2024Electrical System720,796 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- NHTSA 20V017000Jan 15, 2020Airbags59,965 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
- NHTSA 15V520000Aug 17, 2015Electrical System7,727 vehicles
Exterior lighting
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. The affected vehicles may have been programmed with new software that inadvertently makes the front side marker lights inoperative in conjunction with the parking lights or the headlights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the side marker lights do not illuminate, the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 [email protected].
2013 BMW 328i fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other 328i years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 BMW 328i reliable?
- Compared with other 328i model years, 2013 ranks poorly. It has a complaint index of 82, the 3rd worst of 12 model years covered, and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW 328i?
- NHTSA complaints are led by the Engine (137 complaints, 53% share), followed by Electrical System (63 complaints, 25%), Airbags (39 complaints, 15%), and Brakes (37 complaints, 14%).
- Does the 2013 BMW 328i have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 328i covering the Electrical System, Airbags, and Brakes, including a vacuum pump lubrication issue and a camshaft seal disk fix.
- What year BMW 328i should I avoid?
- Among 328i model years with data, 2011 has the highest complaint index at 100 and is rated Avoid, followed by 2007 at 91 and 2013 at 82, both also rated Avoid.
- At what mileage do 2013 BMW 328i problems typically appear?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: Engine complaints cluster around 79,500 miles, Electrical System around 88,782 miles, and Brakes around 8,000 miles.