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2013 BMW X1

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 BMW X1 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 38 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

38 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2021
Engine

THE TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP CHAIN IN THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN. THE ENGINE CEASE AND STOP IN A HIGH TRAFIC STATE ROAD. NEAR MISSED WHICH COULD KILL PEOPLE IN THE CAR. EMTREMELY SERIOUS SYSTEM FAILURE. MY SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED. THE AUTO HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW CENTER IN SHREWSBURY MA AND BE INSPECTED BY BMW DEALER. NOWA…

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THE TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP CHAIN IN THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN. THE ENGINE CEASE AND STOP IN A HIGH TRAFIC STATE ROAD. NEAR MISSED WHICH COULD KILL PEOPLE IN THE CAR. EMTREMELY SERIOUS SYSTEM FAILURE. MY SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED. THE AUTO HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW CENTER IN SHREWSBURY MA AND BE INSPECTED BY BMW DEALER. NOWARNING OF PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT. THE ENGINE CONSIDER TOTAL LOSS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED . THE BMW HAD A TIMING CHAIN LAWSUIT REACH A SETTLEMENT FOR THE SAME SAFETY

NHTSA ODI #11441408

96,000 miles · Sep 21, 2021
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X1. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake sensor warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that no issues were found, however, the brake sensor system was reset. The contact stated the failure reoccurred while driving and c…

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The contact owns a 2013 BMW X1. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake sensor warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that no issues were found, however, the brake sensor system was reset. The contact stated the failure reoccurred while driving and coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated while driving at 20-25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond and went all the way to the floorboard, causing the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the independent mechanic with assistance. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V627000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) as her VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #11433897

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2021
Engine

Total engine failure while driving. No prior warning message. Car stopped dead in the middle of an intersection. Wheels would not turn to move the car. These cars have known defective time chain module, it is made of plastic and it breaks down causing engine failure. There is a class action lawsuit, see Gelis v. BMW North Ameri…

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Total engine failure while driving. No prior warning message. Car stopped dead in the middle of an intersection. Wheels would not turn to move the car. These cars have known defective time chain module, it is made of plastic and it breaks down causing engine failure. There is a class action lawsuit, see Gelis v. BMW North America. BMW sold 600,000 cars with this defect to Americans and has not done a recall. Car is at BMW of Palm Springs and they refuse to repair. You are welcome to inspect it.

NHTSA ODI #11422471

74,000 miles · Sep 24, 2020
EnginePower TrainSteering

LEAKING POWER STEERING LINES. NEED TO BE REPLACED AND BLED OUT$1300.00. OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET LEAKING$513.00 TIMING CHAINS STRETCHED AND ENGINE MAKING TICKING SOUND. GUIDES BROKEN. OIL MOD ALSO RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL ENGINE ISSUES AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY CERTIFIED BMW DEALERSHIP. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS $6200.00 WHIT…

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LEAKING POWER STEERING LINES. NEED TO BE REPLACED AND BLED OUT$1300.00. OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET LEAKING$513.00 TIMING CHAINS STRETCHED AND ENGINE MAKING TICKING SOUND. GUIDES BROKEN. OIL MOD ALSO RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL ENGINE ISSUES AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY CERTIFIED BMW DEALERSHIP. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS $6200.00 WHITE HORSE AUTOMOTIVE WOULD NOT DO REPAIRS AT A CERTIFIED BMW REPAIR SHOP. THIS CAR WAS NOT JUST TRADED. THE ENGINE WAS LITERALLY SEIZED I HAD NO CHIICE

NHTSA ODI #11360852

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2020
Electrical System

I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT IN OCT (#JJN21-55607) AND IN DEC (#11291377) AND NOW AGAIN! ON MARCH 18, 2020, THE BRAND NEW BMW OEM CAR BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN!!! SPECIFICALLY, THE CAR DOES NOT REMOTE UNLOCK, THE LIGHTS ARE ALL OFF, AND THE CAR DOES NOT TURN-OVER. I CAN JUMP THE CAR AND IT WORKS, BUT TEMPORARILY. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11322393

135,000 miles · Apr 10, 2020
Engine

WHEN STARTING MY CAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER OUTPUT WAS REDUCED TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TURBO MALFUNCTION WASTE GATE ACTUATOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR DURING EACH EPISODE BUT I WAS TOLD WHEN THE PART GOES OUT COMPLETELY THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11320758

131,000 miles · Apr 1, 2020
EngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND BRAKE VACUUM R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND BRAKE VACUUM RESERVOIR NEEDED TO BE FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ODI #11319912

68,000 miles · Mar 16, 2020
Engine

VEHICLE WITH 68,000 MILES BEGAN HAVING WHIRRING NOISE THAT PROGRESSED TO RATTLING WHILE DRIVING. WHIRRING FIRST HEARD WHILE ENGINE RUNNING IDLE THEN DISAPPEARED. THEN NO ISSUES WITH POWER OR NOISE FOR SEVERAL MILES, THEN NOISE RESTARTED WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS. SAFELY PULLED OVER THEN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED ENGINE MALFUNCTION…

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VEHICLE WITH 68,000 MILES BEGAN HAVING WHIRRING NOISE THAT PROGRESSED TO RATTLING WHILE DRIVING. WHIRRING FIRST HEARD WHILE ENGINE RUNNING IDLE THEN DISAPPEARED. THEN NO ISSUES WITH POWER OR NOISE FOR SEVERAL MILES, THEN NOISE RESTARTED WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS. SAFELY PULLED OVER THEN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED ENGINE MALFUNCTION. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SERVICE SHOP, AS IT COULD NOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN. DIAGNOSED TIMING CHAIN ON OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. BECAME AWARE OF TSB SI B11 03 17 AFTER THE CAR FAILED. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THROUGH THE DEALER WHERE SERVICED OR WHERE CPO WARRANTY CAME FROM REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAD RECEIVED MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES AT PRESCRIBED INTERVALS.

NHTSA ODI #11318274

Official recalls

2

24V608000 · Electrical System:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles; Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:pump

Aug 13, 2024

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:wiring:connectors/plugs/receptacles

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.

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:pump

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.

Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

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.

20V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 15, 2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.