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

Visibility/wiper complaints

1 reports

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48,000 miles · Dec 12, 2012

Visibility/wiper

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THE BMW 3 SERIES (MINE INCLUDED) IDENTIFIED BY CHASSIS DESIGNATIONS E90, E91, E92, AND E93 (ALL US MODELS) HAVE A KNOWN DEFECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC EXTERIOR MIRROR MOVEMENT WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE DOORS USING THE KEY FOB. THE MIRROR MOVEMENT OCCURS REGARDLESS OF WHICH KEY FOB IS PRESENTED TO UNLOCK DOORS. A SINGLE KEYFOB UNLOCK PROCESS CAN TRIGGER INNUMERABLE EXTERIOR MIRROR POSITIONS. THE UNSUSPECTING DRIVER WHO DOES NOT CHECK BOTH HIS/HER DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS PRIOR TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SET THE PROPER MIRROR POSITIONS WHILE DRIVING OR LEAVE THEM MALADJUSTED UNTIL THE NEXT STOP, IMPAIRING THEIR ABILITY TO SEE VEHICLES ADJACENT OR ONCOMING VEHICLES FROM THE REAR, INCLUDING EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, ONLY CARS WITH EXISTING MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES ARE REPAIRED IF THIS ISSUE OCCURS. REF BMW SI B51 36 08 THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN LINKED TO CORROSION OF MIRROR MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. IT IS ALSO PLAUSIBLE THAT ALL ELECTRICAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS WOULD BE RENDERED AN IMPOSSIBILITY IF THE PROBLEM ESCALATES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488120

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.