Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 BMW M3 problems

Owners filed 13 complaints about the 2013 BMW M3 with NHTSA between Jan 2016 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (7).

Complaints
13
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags7
  2. Engine4
  3. Power train3
  4. Electrical system2
  5. Fuel/propulsion system1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20164
20175
20181
20190
20201
20211
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

7 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact filed the complaint on behalf of her son who owned a 2013 BMW M3. The contact stated the vehicle was parked in a school parking lot, and the contact's son was sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle when the vehicle was crashed into violently by four vehicles. The vehicle was damaged in the front end, passenger's side, and rear. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was condemned to total loss. The son was forced out of the vehicle by the attackers and the occupants of all 4 vehicles inflicted bodily harm in addition to the unknown injuries sustained due to the crash. The son ran into the highway where the ambulance provided medical attention. The police department arrived at the scene however the son had fled from the scene due to being fearful for his safety; the attackers provided details for the police report. The contact stated that none of the air bags were deployed and that the vehicle remained in her possession. The repair shop was contacted and confirmed that the air bags were faulty however no further information was provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,838.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2024Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11615934

Engine

4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREET AT APPROX 35MPH I WAS FORCED TO SWERVE DUE TO BEING CUT OFF BY AN ADJACENT WRECKLESS VEHICLE. MY 2013 BMW E93, WITH JUST OVER 43,000 MILES, AND WHICH I HAD PURCHASED LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR, IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS LITERALLY LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET WITH ZERO FUNCTIONALITY. FROM ELECTRICAL TO EVERY ASPECT OF MECHANICAL, THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO FUNCTION OF ANY KIND. MY VEHICLES COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED FAILURE WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT REQUIRED MULTIPLE TOW TRUCKS IN ORDER TO LIFT THE REAR, AS IT HAD LOCKED UP ENTIRELY AND THE MOTOR SEIZED. UPON ARRIVING AT CENTER BMW (SHERMAN OAKS, CA), THEY CONFIRMED THE OBVIOUS COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THEIR MASTER MECHANIC, SHAUN, VERIFIED THE OIL WAS FULL AND CLEAN, AND NOTED THEY TOO RECEIVED NO ERROR CODES OR IDICATORS OF ANY KIND UPON IN DEPTH INSPECTION. THIS BMW DEALERSHIP & SERVICE CENTER IS AS BEWILDERED AS I AM. BECAUSE I HAD LITERALLY JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WITH A FULL WARRANTY, I NOTIFIED MY WARRANTY COMPANY RED AUTO WHOM SENT A 3RD PARTY INSPECTOR. WITHOUT ACTUALLY INSPECTING THE MOTOR, THE WARRANTY CO HAS DENIED MY CLAIM AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2017Power train, EngineODI 11000637

Power train

3 reports
“I INITIALLY EXPERIENCED ABRUPT CATASTROPHIC CLUTCH FAILURE THIS PAST DECEMBER 2019 WHEN WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IT FAILED TO RELEASE LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD IN 2ND GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR A STOP AND THEN PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MORRISTOWN BMW IN MORRISTOWN NJ. BMW NA AGREED TO PROVIDE THE PARTS AND THE CLUTCH WAS REPAIRED. UNFORTUNATELY, LAST WEEK I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITHOUT WARNING. I AM NOW TOLD THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT SPEED. I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. AS THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES, THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY OTHER 2013 M3 ON THE ROAD WHO'S DRIVERS ARE AT RISK FOR SIMILAR ABRUPT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND BMW SHOULD BE CONTACTED TO COMMENT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2020Power trainODI 11330176

Electrical system

2 reports
“THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WHEN I RUN MY A/C. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND THEY STATED IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER RECALL. BUT I CHECKED THE RECALL NOTICE AND IT ONLY COVERS MY VEHICLE UP TO 2011, BUT MINE IS A 2013. HOWEVER, THE BLOWER MOTOR PARTS IN MY CAR ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 2011, SO I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH A/C BECAUSE SOMETHING IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAS ALREADY BURNED SO FAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2021Electrical systemODI 11416316

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“WHEN I ACCELERATE QUICKLY AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN I GET A GREEN LIGHT, THE ENGINE LOOSES ALL POWER BUT KEEPS RUNNING. BMW HAS NO IDEA AS NO CODES ARE BEING SAVED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE GENERAL MANAGER SAID IT PROBABLY COMPUTER PART BUT WE MAY NEVER KNOW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2016Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10910460
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.