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2007 BMW 3 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 3 Series years

Owner complaints for the 2007 BMW 3 Series are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

92 reports with mileage · 23 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports4 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
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24,000 miles · Aug 7, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFT BADLY - LUNGES FORWARD - TENDES TO STALL -TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS GOES IN TO 5 OR 6 GEAR STEP ON GAS PADDLE TAKES TO LONG TO SHIFT DOWN AND JUMPS FORWARD. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW AND GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON.

NHTSA ODI #10893809

122,000 miles · Oct 30, 2014
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

I WAS PARKED, PLACED MY CAR IN REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED (4X4 MALFUNCTION, ABS BRAKE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION) THEN MY CAR LOST POWER. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE SET POSITIONING MOTOR FAILING ON THESE VEHICLES. THE BMW DEALER PART # IS 27 10 7 546 671. THERE IS AN INTERNAL G…

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I WAS PARKED, PLACED MY CAR IN REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED (4X4 MALFUNCTION, ABS BRAKE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION) THEN MY CAR LOST POWER. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE SET POSITIONING MOTOR FAILING ON THESE VEHICLES. THE BMW DEALER PART # IS 27 10 7 546 671. THERE IS AN INTERNAL GEAR, WITH IN THE SET POSITIONING MOTOR, MADE OUT OF PLASTIC THAT WEARS PREMATURELY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW'S AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. MY VEHICLE BECOME DISABLED WITH OUT WARNING, LEAVING ME STRANDED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651519

63,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
EnginePower Train

WHEN I START MY CAR IT WANTS TO TURN OFF. BMW ISSUED A RECALL I TOOK IT IN TO FIX IT BUT PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. THEN MY CAR HAS 63000 MILES AND IT KICKS A LOT IN FIRST GEAR. FOR LOW MILES THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577512

50,000 miles · Jan 6, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

MY WIFE WAS DEPARTING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE ON BASE HERE IN GERMANY. SHE ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH AND EXPERIENCED STALLED ACCELERATION AS SHE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE MAIN ROAD. MY WIFE WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE CAR APPEARED NOT TO BE RUNNING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT ROLLED TO A STOP. S…

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MY WIFE WAS DEPARTING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE ON BASE HERE IN GERMANY. SHE ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH AND EXPERIENCED STALLED ACCELERATION AS SHE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE MAIN ROAD. MY WIFE WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE CAR APPEARED NOT TO BE RUNNING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT ROLLED TO A STOP. SHE WAS STUCK IN THE RIGHT HAND TURN LANE ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND WAITED FOR SECURITY FORCES PATROLMAN THAT STOPPED AND HELPED PUSH THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491571

39,890 miles · Feb 20, 2012
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW BMW X3 IN 2007. THERE WERE SMALL ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT WITHING MY MANUFACTURER WARRENTY PERIOD. I HAD MY REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JAN 23, 2012. ON JAN 30, 2012, WHEN I DROVE MY X3 OUT MY SUBDIVISON TO GO TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND 4/4 LIGHT ALL ON, PLUS LOAD CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM REAR, IT …

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I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW BMW X3 IN 2007. THERE WERE SMALL ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT WITHING MY MANUFACTURER WARRENTY PERIOD. I HAD MY REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JAN 23, 2012. ON JAN 30, 2012, WHEN I DROVE MY X3 OUT MY SUBDIVISON TO GO TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND 4/4 LIGHT ALL ON, PLUS LOAD CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM REAR, IT WAS DIFFICAULT TO MAKE A U-TURN, MANAGED BACK TO HOME, CALLED BMW UNITEDBMW DEALER AND TOWED MY VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY FIRST TOLD ME THAT IS SOFTWARE FAILURE, THEY WOULD TRY REPROGRAM TO FIX, THEN CALLED TO TELL THE RE-PROGRAM DID NOT WORK, IT WAS MECHANICAL TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR BROKEN, A NEW ONE MUST BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL CHARGE FOR REPAIR (PART + LABOR - DISCOUNT) IS $2354.97. IT WAS IN THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT IT WAS MY BAD LUCK, NOT CAR'S OWN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE MILAGE IS LESS THAN 40K. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, FOUND THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF SIMILAR CASES AND CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS. LOOKS LIKE BMW (2007 AND 2008) MODELS HAVE LUBRICANT PROBLEM, LATER BMW SWITCHED WITH DIFFERENT LUBRICANT. INTERNET ESTIMATION SAYS THAT ~30% OF THE VEHICHLES (2007 & 2008) DEMONSTRATED THIS ISSUE. AS A CONSUMER, I AM TRYING TO URGE ANY CAR MAKER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. BUT I NEVER GET ANY NOTICE OR RECALL FROM BMW DEALERS OR MAKER IN THE PAST AND WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448551

Official recalls

1

22V119000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Mar 2, 2022

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. 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.