NHTSA Complaint #11279761 — 2013 BMW X3

WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET. WE RECEIVED A "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WARNING, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED AS A MINOR ISSUE. WE NOTICED A CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE AND PERFORMANCE, WHICH WAS UNUSUAL. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, A "LOW OIL PRESSURE" WARNING CAME ON AND THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT, WHERE WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND ADVISED US THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THANKFULLY, WE WERE OPERATING UNDER THE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IS SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THROUGH RESEARCH, WE NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL. WE ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WERE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE.