YearToAvoid

2013 BMW 328i Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 23 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 BMW 328i, 9% of its 257 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 70,000. There are no related recalls filed for this component on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
23
9% of 257
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a sudden "drivetrain malfunction" warning accompanied by a loss of power while accelerating or merging into traffic.
  • Some describe the vehicle violently jerking or stalling at highway speed after oil pump and drivetrain warning lights illuminate.
  • Several report the drivetrain malfunction message appearing repeatedly on nearly new vehicles with very low mileage, even after dealer repairs.
  • Some link the warning to timing chain problems, including one case where the timing chain broke and the engine had to be replaced.
  • A few report smoke from the exhaust or hood along with the powertrain malfunction message, prompting them to pull over and shut the car off.

When 2013 BMW 328i transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 29, 2013, latest Jul 28, 2026.

2013 BMW 328i transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2013Oct 2016Sep 2019Sep 2020Aug 2022Oct 2024Jul 2026
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2013 to Jul 2026; peak Oct 2024 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 BMW 328i

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by 328i model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20104 (3%)
  2. 201124 (4%)
  3. 201220 (15%)
  4. 201323 (9%)
  5. 20149 (6%)
  6. 201513 (10%)
  7. 20168 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2013 BMW 328i?
NHTSA logs 23 complaints in this area for the 2013 328i, which is 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 BMW 328i transmission or drivetrain?
No related recalls are listed for this component on the 2013 328i in the data reviewed.
At what mileage do these problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure for these transmission and powertrain complaints is 70,000 miles.
Did any of these complaints involve a crash, fire, or injury?
NHTSA data shows no crashes and no fires tied to these complaints, but one injury was reported.
How does the 2013 328i compare to other 328i model years for this issue?
The 2013 328i's 9% share is higher than the 2010 (3%), 2011 (4%), and 2014 (6%) model years, but lower than the 2012 (15%) and 2016 (14%) model years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.