How common are transmission and powertrain problems in the 2013 BMW 528xi?

NHTSA shows 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for this year, accounting for 29% of the 56 total complaints filed against the 2013 528xi.

At what mileage do these problems usually appear?

The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2013 528xi is 82,000 miles.

Is there a recall for the 2013 BMW 528xi transmission or timing chain?

No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area of the 2013 528xi.

Did these transmission and powertrain complaints involve crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data shows zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries among the reported Transmission & Powertrain complaints for this year.

How does the 2013 528xi compare to the 2012 model for this issue?

The 2012 528xi has slightly more complaints in this area, 18 versus 16, representing 33% of its total complaints compared to 29% for 2013.

2013 BMW 528xi Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2013 BMW 528xi, 29% of its 56 total complaints. Median mileage at failure is 82,000 miles, and there are no related recalls for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 16; 29% of 56
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 82,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Drive-train malfunction warnings appear with sudden loss of power or the car entering limp mode, sometimes while accelerating from a stop or merging into traffic.
Timing chain guides made of plastic wear out and break, leading to excessive chain play, camshaft timing errors, and in some cases complete engine failure.
Low oil pressure warnings precede engine shutdown while driving at highway speed, forcing the car to coast to the shoulder.
Vehicles stall after short rest periods or on extended drives, triggering powertrain and fuel module codes; a high-pressure fuel pump replacement did not permanently resolve the issue for one owner.
A u-joint failure caused the driveshaft to break while driving, damaging the oil pan and other components with no prior warning light.
Owners describe the powertrain service message appearing before the car begins to power down on its own.

When 2013 BMW 528xi transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 11, 2017, latest Sep 8, 2025.

16 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Sep 2025; peak May 2017 (1).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2013 BMW 528xi

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by 528xi model year

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

20081 (3%)
20091 (17%)
20100 (0%)
201218 (33%)
201316 (29%)
20140 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission and powertrain problems in the 2013 BMW 528xi?: NHTSA shows 16 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for this year, accounting for 29% of the 56 total complaints filed against the 2013 528xi.
At what mileage do these problems usually appear?: The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2013 528xi is 82,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2013 BMW 528xi transmission or timing chain?: No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain area of the 2013 528xi.
Did these transmission and powertrain complaints involve crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data shows zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries among the reported Transmission & Powertrain complaints for this year.
How does the 2013 528xi compare to the 2012 model for this issue?: The 2012 528xi has slightly more complaints in this area, 18 versus 16, representing 33% of its total complaints compared to 29% for 2013.