Reliable Auto DB

2013 BMW 320i reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 320i over 14 years — 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most 320i years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Exterior lighting, Hoses and fittings, and Vacuum.

2013 BMW 320i
Photo by Ghostofakina, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

9

Per year

1

Recalls

3

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (2 of 9), then Engine (2) and Powertrain (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Next to 2014

The 2014 320i has 52 complaints, 3 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 BMW 320i. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Exterior lighting 2015-08-17 · NHTSA campaign 15V520000
Summary 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."
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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Recall hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum, hoses and fittings 2014-10-07 · NHTSA campaign 14V627000
Summary BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2012-2014 BMW 320i Sedan, 328i Sedan, 320i xDrive Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 2012-2013 BMW 528i Sedan, 528i xDrive Sedan, 2013-2014 BMW X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2013-2014 BMW X3 xDrive28i Sports Activity Vehicle, 2012-2014 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster, and 2014 BMW 428i Coupe, and 428i xDrive Coupe. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13V-454.
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a locking ring in the camshaft to retain the camshaft seal disk in the proper location, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall hydraulic brakes, power assist, vacuum 2013-09-26 · NHTSA campaign 13V454000
Summary BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 320i, 328i, 320i xDrive, and 328i xDrive sedans; model year 2014 328i xDrive Sports Wagons; model year 2012-2013 528i and 528i xDrive sedans, model year 2013-2014 X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i vehicles and model year 2012-2014 Z4 sDrive28i roadsters. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent insufficient vacuum pump lubrication, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 31, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Complaints by component (9 total)

Air bags
2
Engine
2
Powertrain
2
Structure
2
Exterior lighting
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Seat belts
1
Service brakes
1
Show 1 more Show less
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120131201422019320201202212023
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2013 BMW 320I. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the exhaust pipe due to engine oil leaking into the catalytic converter. As a result, the catalytic converted…"
    Engine · filed 2023-01-12
  • "engine overheating, passenger safety belt, failed speed control (difficulty accelerating) Due to these issues and malfunctions; it causes injury to the driver as the airbags/seat belts are not stable. If the car…"
    Air bags, Seat belts, Engine · filed 2022-01-12
  • "REVERSE LIGHT HOUSING FALLS OUT. MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS STATING IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW AND DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE. POTENTIAL HAZARD IF HOSING FALLS OFF ON HIGHWAY OR LACK OF A REVERSE LIGHT."
    Exterior lighting, Structure · filed 2020-08-14
  • "FRONT DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AND CAN'T USE KEY TO INTER MANUALLY, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF EMERGENCY AND CAN'T GET INTO THE CAR EASILY"
    Structure · filed 2020-07-11
  • "AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY"
    Air bags · filed 2020-01-30

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
320i 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 23 35 28 MPG $2850
320i 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Rear-wheel drive 23 35 27 MPG $2950
320i xDrive 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed All-wheel drive 22 33 26 MPG $3050
320i xDrive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 23 34 27 MPG $2950

Specs and fitment

F30 generation, 2013–2018
Body styles Sedan
Oil SAE 0W-30 (2013 N20); SAE 0W-20 (2015–2018; confirm BMW LL on under-hood label)
Tire size 225/50R17, 225/45R18, 255/40R18 (trim-dependent) front / 225/50R17, 225/45R18, 255/40R18 (trim-dependent; staggered on some packages) rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 13V454000 covers certain 2012-2014 320i and 320i xDrive sedans (with 328i models on the same campaign) for a brake vacuum pump concern that can reduce power brake assist. Recall 14V627000 covers overlapping 2012-2014 320i sedans for related brake vacuum hose and line issues. Recall 24V288000 covers certain 2014-2015 320i sedans (with other F30 and F32 models) for head air bag inflators that may rupture or leak; dealers replace the head air bags.

Compare

Next year 2014 BMW 320i See every BMW 320i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 BMW 320i reliable?

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 320i over 14 years — 1 per year. That is more complaints per year than most 320i years here — over the median of the other years, which is 0. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Exterior lighting, Hoses and fittings, and Vacuum.

What are common problems with a 2013 BMW 320i?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (2 of 9), then Engine (2) and Powertrain (2). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Is the 2013 BMW 320i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 320i has 52 complaints, 3 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 BMW 320i been recalled?

The 2013 BMW 320i has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 BMW 320i?

Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 2013 BMW 320i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 BMW 320i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 BMW 320i is 27 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

Is oil specified for the F30 320i on this record?

Not yet with a sourced fill here — confirm BMW LL viscosity from the under-hood label for your N20 production date.

What does recall 13V454000 cover on early 320i?

Certain 2012-2014 320i and 320i xDrive sedans (with 328i on the same campaign) for a brake vacuum pump concern that can reduce power brake assist.

What years does the F30 320i cover?

2013-2018 on this site.