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2013 BMW M3 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 BMW M3 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 13owner complaints
- 2crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 11%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about BMW M3 year on file: 13 complaints, against an average of 5 for the other 6 model years.
Every BMW M3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 BMW M3?
The components named most often in the 13 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2013 BMW M3 been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Is the 2013 BMW M3 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSATakata Driver and/or Passenger Airbag Recall (Global VINs)
Risk: Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Fix: Vehicles will have the affected airbags checked and if necessary replaced.
UK DVSAA possible degradation of the propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which…A possible degradation of the propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
Risk: A possible degradation of airbag propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
Fix: On affected vehicles the drivers airbag module will be replaced.
UK DVSAPlug in contact cable may malfunction
Risk: It is possible that the connection between the B+ cable and the Power Distribution Box can become damaged by wear and heat which is caused by high current flow and high contact resistance. Normally this will result in a non-start situation after parking the vehicle. However it is possible that this could in extreme cases occur whilst the vehicle is in motion. The driver should be made aware of the issue by flickering of the instrument cluster (dash) or an engine mis-fire; but if the driver does not then the engine could cut-out without warning.
Fix: Recall all affected vehicles with petrol engines and replace the cable/connection with a more robust item.
EU Safety GateThe driver airbag inflator may malfunction due to long-term degradation.In this case, if the airbag is deployed in an accident, the internal pressure in the inflator may be too high. The inflator could burst. Metal fragments may cause injuries.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe accumulator in the driver/passenger head airbag inflator can leak, preventing the airbag to fully deploy if activated in an accident,…The accumulator in the driver/passenger head airbag inflator can leak, preventing the airbag to fully deploy if activated in an accident, impairing the protective effect of the airbag. Moreover, the accumulator can detach, entering the interior of the vehicle or becoming detached from the vehicle. This can lead to an increased risk of injury for passengers and/or other road users.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag can deteriorate due to high humidity and temperature variations.In the event of an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could result in fragments from the inflator casing coming loose and injuring the vehicle’s occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 29/06/2021
EU Safety GateThe airbag propellant may deteriorate over time, and If deployed, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to burst and…The airbag propellant may deteriorate over time, and If deployed, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to burst and metal fragments could pass through the cushion material causing injury to occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2013 BMW M3 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 BMW M3 owners report?
12 of the 13 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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…
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.
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…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM WAS STRUCK BY THE AIR BAGS AND WAS INJURED BY METAL FRAGMENTS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER (MOTORWERKS BMW, 1300 AMERICAN BLVD W, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55420, (952)-888-2700) WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. USAA INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED THE…
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (JACKY COOPER IN EDMOND, OK) AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL. I'VE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE LAST TIME I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. MY VIN SHOWS ON THE RECALL LIST AND I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM BMV TO CONTACT THEM. KEELER MOTOR CAR IN LATHAM NY IS THE DEALER.
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…
TAKATA RECALL. REASONABLE TIME HAS PASSED SINCE THE AIRBAG RECALL. BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD AS TO WHEN THIS SAFETY ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED.EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR I FEEL I AM RISKING MY LIFE OR CHANCE FOR SERIOUS INJURY. BMW HAS BEEN COMPLETELY NEGLIGENT WITH REGARDS TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. BMW SHOULD TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE SITUATION BY REPLACING THE CAR WITH A SIMILAR VEHICLE. I NEED THIS TO BE RESOLVED NOW!!!. ALSO THE DRIVE TRAIN HAS A CLUNKING NOISE OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE NEW. THEY HAVE MADE TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT BUT THE PROBLEM STILL SURFACES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I SHIFT GEARS…
ROD BEARINGS. THERE IS CLICKING NOISE THAT I AM HEARING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. SINCE SUMMER OF LAST YEAR, I HAD HEARD SUBTLE CLICKING NOISES OCCASIONALLY WHICH I WASN'T ABLE TO LOCATE AT THE TIME AND HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT PARK AVE BMW SERVICE ON OCTOBER 2016 TO GET MY CAR CHECKED FOR FEW REASONS. ONE OF THE REASONS INCLUDED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHICH I HAD MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE AGENT AND THAT HE WOULD GET THIS CHECKED OUT ALONG WITH THE OTHER SERVICE MAINTENANCE. AT THE END OF THE SERVICE, HE STATED THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THERE ISN'T ANY ISSUES…
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.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
VEHICLE HAS 3,100 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED TO GET FUEL AND ON THE WAY BACK HOME THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE HEAVILY, THEN STALL OUT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR ENDED. LUCKILY THE CAR STARTED BUT FELT LIKE IT HAD ONLY 10% OF THE POWER, BMW TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY TO TELL MY MY ENGINE HAS FAILED. IM NOT SURE HOW IN 3,100 WELL CARED FOR MILES THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR-ENDED IN TRAFFIC. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW COULD RELEASE A CAR THAT COSTS $77,000 DOLLARS THAT HAS TOTAL…
2013 BMW M3: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 BMW M3 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 BMW M3; the most common categories were air bags (7, 53.8%), engine (4, 30.8%), power train (3, 23.1%). There are 2 safety recalls. 2 complaints mention a crash, 2 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW M3?
Across 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (53.8% of complaints), engine (30.8% of complaints), power train (23.1% of complaints), electrical system (15.4% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (7.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 BMW M3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2013 BMW M3; the most recent (campaign 20V017000, 2020-01-15) concerns Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own M3
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.