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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.

About this comparison →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

6 reports
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100,000 miles · Dec 18, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or OtherFire

I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS AT ROUGHLY 3AM ON MY WAY BACK FROM MY COMMUTE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 60 MILES. I NOTICED IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD VENTS, I PARKED THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HEAT COVER FOR THE HOOD…

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I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS AT ROUGHLY 3AM ON MY WAY BACK FROM MY COMMUTE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 60 MILES. I NOTICED IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD VENTS, I PARKED THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HEAT COVER FOR THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH MOST OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. MY FRIEND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AS I RAN AND TRIED TO WARN NEIGHBORS , WITHIN 7 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARD. NO MAITNANCE LIGHTS WERE ON AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM. THE TWO RECALLS I NEVER RECEIVED BOTH WOULD EXPLAN THIS INCEDENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000

NHTSA ODI #11162148

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2018
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

FUEL REGULATOR FILTER PLASTIC HOUSING CRACKING CAUSING FUEL -GAS LEAKING IN SIDE THE CAR, AND GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR, SAFETY ISSUE, THERE IS RECALL FOR 333I 2007 FOR SAME FUEL LEAKING DEFECTIVE PLASTIC HOUSING BUT NO RECALL FOR 328I 2007.IT SI LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE. BEST REGARDS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FR…

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FUEL REGULATOR FILTER PLASTIC HOUSING CRACKING CAUSING FUEL -GAS LEAKING IN SIDE THE CAR, AND GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR, SAFETY ISSUE, THERE IS RECALL FOR 333I 2007 FOR SAME FUEL LEAKING DEFECTIVE PLASTIC HOUSING BUT NO RECALL FOR 328I 2007.IT SI LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE. BEST REGARDS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11063303

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2017
Unknown Or Other

I HEAR A GRINDING NOISE INSIDE THE CAR COME FROM AIR VENT UP BIN THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE AIR IS OFFF WHEN THE AIR IS ON I DON'T HEAR IT ANY MORE

NHTSA ODI #11043449

40,000 miles · Mar 28, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

WIRING INSULATION CRACKING DEGRADING LEAVING EXPOSED BARE WIRING CAUSING SHORTS AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESSES, WIRES ARE STATIONARY DO NOT MOVE. INSULATION IS CRAKED AND FALLING OFF WIRES. NOTICED FAILURE DURING BULB REPLACEMENT. MADE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER READING ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER BMW OWNERS NOTICING SAME FA…

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WIRING INSULATION CRACKING DEGRADING LEAVING EXPOSED BARE WIRING CAUSING SHORTS AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESSES, WIRES ARE STATIONARY DO NOT MOVE. INSULATION IS CRAKED AND FALLING OFF WIRES. NOTICED FAILURE DURING BULB REPLACEMENT. MADE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER READING ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER BMW OWNERS NOTICING SAME FAULT

NHTSA ODI #10969189

120,000 miles · Jan 14, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

NO STAR NO LIGHT NO POWER ONLY LIGHT FOR STEERING LOCK

NHTSA ODI #10820249

78,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR JUST STALLS OUT. SOMETIMES, WHEN I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN START TO GO, THE CAR HESITATE TO GO. IT STALLS IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TEST EQUIPMENT. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE HIT BY OTHER CARS BECAUSE OF IT. SINCE THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM…

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THE CAR JUST STALLS OUT. SOMETIMES, WHEN I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN START TO GO, THE CAR HESITATE TO GO. IT STALLS IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TEST EQUIPMENT. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE HIT BY OTHER CARS BECAUSE OF IT. SINCE THE DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT, I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING IT ON-LINE AND LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10609099

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.