AI Damage2013 BMW Active Hybrid 3: common problems
Owners of the 2013 BMW Active Hybrid 3 filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 13% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- Air bags: 4 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Waste gate rattle or turbo rattle, the vehicle rattles during cold start, rattle upon deceleration,loss of power, check engine illumination, manufacture specific obd troupe code p30ff, engine light turns on and off and off after refilling gas.the turbo charger must be replaced.
Hit a pot hole for the second time blow out a rim but now the indicators say drive train malfunctions and wont start who knows where the oil goes keeps running low even though no leaks haven't seen my car in months put something on the seat it says to lock seat belt these cars are lemons what's with all the sensors…
Since that time, I get two fault messages every time I start the car, regarding an error in the passenger air bag or seat belt restraint system. Message states to ensure passenger wears seat belt as they air bag may not operate.
Tomorrow I have no vehicle since car won't start. Contacted dealer to come and deliver rental vehicle. I have to work! Error appears when vehicle is in motion always. I am concerned with my safety - not sure what else will take place while vehicle is in motion.
At least up to 5 issues with the back up and front camera systems, and an issue with the navigation system. The camera systems are especially troubling since the go out at random. The last time the dealer replaced the entire camera module system and the issue came up again.
Without warning while driving, I was bombarded with driver's airbag and seat belt faults, informing me of "malfunction in seat belt, air bags, or belt tensioner. Continue wearing seatbelt, consult nearest service center".
During low speed braking brake pedal feels hard, but pressing harder does not stop car. You feel like you lost control of the brakes. Car will roll and slowly decelerate, but not enough. After a few feet of slow deceleration, brakes kick in and provide a large bite which stops the car.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,896 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Active Hybrid 3 has 3 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 8, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 BMW Active Hybrid 3?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (38%), won't start (25%), A/C or heater (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 BMW Active Hybrid 3?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 BMW Active Hybrid 3 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.