Car · BMW recalls
2013 BMW X3 recalls
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2013 BMW X3, filed between September 26, 2013 and August 14, 2024. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.
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| Part | Filed | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling: pump | August 14, 2024 | Dealer fix |
| Air bags: inflator module | July 11, 2024 | Dealer fix |
| Air bags: inflator module | August 8, 2017 | Dealer fix |
| Child seat: latch strap | May 23, 2016 | Dealer fix |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | October 7, 2014 | Dealer fix |
| Air bags | November 15, 2013 | Dealer fix |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: vacuum | September 26, 2013 | Dealer fix |
Engine and engine cooling: pump
Campaign 24V608000 · Filed August 14, 2024
What is wrong. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
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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.
What could happen. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The fix. 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.
Air bags: inflator module
Campaign 24V527000 · Filed July 11, 2024
What is wrong. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models.
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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.
What could happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix. 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.
Air bags: inflator module
Campaign 17V495000 · Filed August 8, 2017
What is wrong. The affected vehicles have a driver's frontal air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded.
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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.
What could happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator housing could separate from the base plate and result in metal striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix. 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.
Child seat: latch strap
Campaign 16V333000 · Filed May 23, 2016
What is wrong. 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.
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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.
What could happen. Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix. 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Campaign 14V627000 · Filed October 7, 2014
What is wrong. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
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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.
What could happen. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. 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.
Air bags
Campaign 13V570000 · Filed November 15, 2013
What is wrong. Due to a production process error, the tear seam on the instrument panel was not manufactured correctly.
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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.
What could happen. In the event of a crash, the air bag could improperly deploy, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the air bag's protection and increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger. In addition, parts or fragments from the air bag system could strike and injure the front passenger or other vehicle occupants.
The fix. 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 [email protected].
Service brakes, hydraulic: vacuum
Campaign 13V454000 · Filed September 26, 2013
What is wrong. Due to insufficient lubrication, the vacuum pump that supplies brake power assistance may fail.
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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.
What could happen. A failure of the brake vacuum pump results in a reduction in braking power that could increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. 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 [email protected].
Check that your car is on the list
Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2013 BMW X3 may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN at NHTSA to see whether a campaign is open for your exact car.
How to confirm the repair is free
- Call any authorized BMW dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
- Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
- If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
- Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.
If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, BMW may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or BMW customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.
Other model years of the X3
- 2026 (2)
- 2025 (9)
- 2024 (3)
- 2023 (4)
- 2022 (7)
- 2021 (10)
- 2020 (16)
- 2019 (10)
- 2018 (11)
- 2017 (6)
- 2016 (5)
- 2015 (7)
- 2014 (6)
- 2012 (2)
- 2011 (4)
- 2010 (4)
- All years
More: all BMW recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.
2013 BMW X3 recall questions
How many recalls does the 2013 BMW X3 have?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2013 BMW X3. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.
Is a recall repair on a 2013 BMW X3 free?
Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized BMW dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.
How do I know if my 2013 BMW X3 was already fixed?
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows whether a campaign is open for that exact car. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.
Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-29. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.