Reliable Auto DB

2013 BMW X3 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2013 BMW X3 has 0 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most X3 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 7 recalls on file, including Pump, Inflator, and LATCH strap.

2012 BMW X3
Photo by Alexander-93, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

0

Per year

0

Recalls

7

Years on the road

14

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 X3 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2014 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2012. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as 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 X3. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (7)

Recall engine and cooling, cooling system, pump 2024-08-13 · NHTSA campaign 24V608000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2024-07-11 · NHTSA campaign 24V527000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Remedy The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2017-08-08 · NHTSA campaign 17V495000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall child seat, LATCH strap 2016-05-23 · NHTSA campaign 16V333000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 Air bags 2013-11-15 · NHTSA campaign 13V570000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 X3 xDrive 28i/35i vehicles manufactured February 11, 2013, through February 27, 2013. Due to a production process error, the tear seam on the instrument panel was not manufactured correctly.
Remedy BMW has notified owners and dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2013. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
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 (0 total)

No complaints on file with NHTSA for this model year.

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 BMW X3 Xdrive28i SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2013 BMW X3 Xdrive35i SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
X3 xDrive28i 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $3300
X3 xDrive35i 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 19 26 21 MPG $3800

Specs and fitment

F25 generation, 2012–2017
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-30 full synthetic , 5.3 qt capacity
Tire size 245/50R18 to 245/45R19 (trim-dependent) front / 245/50R18 to 275/40R19 (trim-dependent) rear

Known issues for this generation

Recall 20V598000 covers certain 2019-2021 BMW X3 sDrive30i and xDrive30i vehicles (with many other BMW models in the same campaign) where an improperly welded tow hook receiver may break when used, increasing crash risk if a trailer becomes detached. Recall 21V096000 covers certain 2019-2021 X3 models (with X4, X5, and other BMW models) for a similar tow hook receiver weld concern; dealers inspect and replace the receiver as needed.

Compare

Next year 2014 BMW X3 See every BMW X3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 BMW X3 reliable?

The 2013 BMW X3 has 0 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most X3 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 7 recalls on file, including Pump, Inflator, and LATCH strap.

Is the 2013 BMW X3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 X3 has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2014 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2012. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014.

Has the 2013 BMW X3 been recalled?

The 2013 BMW X3 has 7 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 X3?

Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2013 BMW X3 with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 BMW X3 get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 BMW X3 is 22.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2019 BMW X3?

G01 generation (2018-on).

What oil does a recent BMW X3 take?

G01 US notes list 0W-20 full synthetic; F25 (2012-2017) notes often list 5W-30 full synthetic.

What tire sizes does a BMW X3 use?

F25 fits often run 245/50R18 to 245/45R19; G01 trims commonly use 225/60R18 to 245/45R20.