2013 BMW 3 Series fuel/propulsion system problems

“The car died without warning on highway. Lost control because of no power. Car was towed. no codes found. Car died again on highway, lost control no power to brakes and steering. Car was hit trying to got off into breakdown lane. High pressure fuel pump no good.”

“Dear NHTSA, I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my [Your BMW Model & Year]. My vehicle was recalled due to an issue with the engine coolant pump, which could lead to a short circuit and, in rare cases, a fire. •The recall was issued over a month ago, but BMW has not provided a solution or a repair date. •On March 26th, 2025, I visited an authorized BMW service center for an oil change and to address the recall, but they informed me that the necessary parts were not available and gave no timeline for the repair. •For the past three weeks, white smoke has been coming from the hood, and there is a noticeable burning smell. •I have a video documenting this issue. •My vehicle is in active use, and the problem is getting worse daily, increasing the risk of engine failure or fire. BMW’s delay in addressing this recall is putting my safety and the safety of others at risk. I request immediate action to ensure that BMW prioritizes this repair and prevents further damage to my vehicle. I would appreciate your urgent attention to this matter. Please let me know how I can proceed with this complaint. Best regards, Name: [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Vin Number : [XXX]”

“I checked the car history report for this car, it said that it had all of the scheduled maintenance. I have not driven this car hard, I used the best gas I could. I had this car for only 4 months - I took it in to Carmax to get checked out about 2 weeks after I got it back in October. They ran tests, and told me everything was fine that "it could've been a loose fuel cap". 3 months later, well before even an oil change was required - my car gave me the same error message only now it would turn off everytime I put it in drive. If this happened on the road I definitely could've been killed. This car showed 0 signs of any type of malfunction and did not give me any indication that anything was wrong. Fast forward to taking it to the Mins Auto (BMW recommended) they informed me that this car did not in fact seem it had regular oil changes contrasting what was in the carafe report. the timing chain seems to be the culprit and now I'm stuck with a $10,000 bill on a car before it's first oil change, on top of the dealership (carmax) not being helpful at all - when I did everything right with this car. When MinsAuto ran tests they found so many errors - I don't…”

“I filled tank up with gas and developed a gas leak with strong gas odor and gas dripping onto the roadway. My safety was put at risk because gasoline was dripping past my hot exhaust piping which has the potential to catch on fire. My independent service center has confirmed this issue. The manufacturer has denied that their is a systemic failure that could result in a gasoline fire. There were no warning lamps or messages indicating a problem.”

“I started smelling burning oil from my engine and brought it to the mechanic. He confirmed that my car has a valve cover leak and a electrical issue. The Car dies after being left off for more then 12 hours. The car miss fire and have ruff idle. Warning lights power train came on after I had the miss fire. Had P0171 and 02 sensor code.”

“I recently had my car serviced and the oil changed over the summer, so there were no warning indicators or service issues prior to this incident. I left for work and had no indications of any problems. I drove for about 10-15 minutes when a warning notification popped up stating engine oil pressure low. A few seconds later, the check engine light came on with a notification there was a "drivetrain malfunction". The car started to decrease speed significantly and I pulled over as soon as I could. I turned the car off and waited a couple minutes, then tried to turn it on. The car power/battery was still working properly, but the engine did not start. I had the car towed to the dealership that I use. I was notified that the drivetrain malfunction is due to "timing chain components failure" and the cost is approximately $16,000. I have taken care of any previous recalls and there are no open recalls that exist currently. In 2014, the same situation occurred, in the same car, where I also received a "drivetrain malfunction" and check engine light. During this time my vehicle also stopped working while I was driving it. Both of these incidents happened very quickly,…”