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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

What owners actually said

115 reports
60,000 miles · Jul 31, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngineInjury

2 COMPLAINTS: 1ST COMPLAINT ADDRESSES "TAKATA RECALL" DATED FEB. 5, 2016 RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.16V-071 DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG. *BMW SERVICE CENTER "OTTO'S" IN WEST CHESTER, PA STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS GOING ON 2YRS. * 2ND COMPLAINT ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING (55MPH) ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH …

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2 COMPLAINTS: 1ST COMPLAINT ADDRESSES "TAKATA RECALL" DATED FEB. 5, 2016 RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.16V-071 DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG. *BMW SERVICE CENTER "OTTO'S" IN WEST CHESTER, PA STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS GOING ON 2YRS. * 2ND COMPLAINT ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING (55MPH) ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF- NO POWER! . IT WAS A HUMID SUMMER (JULY) MORNING BMW FAULT COULD HAVE KILLED MANY, A VERY DANGEROUS PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS UNABLE TO DRIVE BMW. *ADDING INSULT TO INJURY THE HIGH HUMIDITY COULD HAVE SET-OFF THE AIRBAG FAULT UNRESOLVED BY BMW 18 MONTHS & COUNTING. OTTO'S SERVICE CENTER WANTED ALMOST $4K TO REPAIR PLUS AN ADDITIONAL HEFTY SUM UNDER ADVISEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO REPAIR THE WORK THEY COMPLETED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO (>$3K) FOR ENGINE LEAKING OIL - CAR OVER-HEATING

NHTSA ODI #11011855

148,000 miles · Jun 21, 2017
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PRODUCES A FAULT IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, ON A HIGHWAY, AND WHEN TURNING. …

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THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PRODUCES A FAULT IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, ON A HIGHWAY, AND WHEN TURNING. THERE IS NO DAMAGE OR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS USED NORMALLY AND AS INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THE SEAT MAT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE OF PEOPLE SITTING ON IT. OVER TIME THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT FAILED AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SINCE THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #11000535

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA INFLATORS YOUR WEB SITE SAID ON 2.5.2016 THAT MY BMW 321 2007 WAS RECALLED BY AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THREE MONTH LATER THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS. SINCE THEN I'VE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE DEALER. SOME MONTHS AGO I CALLED THE NHTSA & YOUR REP SAID THEY HAD NO CURRENT INFORMATION. MY Q…

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TAKATA INFLATORS YOUR WEB SITE SAID ON 2.5.2016 THAT MY BMW 321 2007 WAS RECALLED BY AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THREE MONTH LATER THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED NO REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS. SINCE THEN I'VE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE DEALER. SOME MONTHS AGO I CALLED THE NHTSA & YOUR REP SAID THEY HAD NO CURRENT INFORMATION. MY QUESTION: ARE YOU FOLLOWING UP THE RECALL AND REQUIRING BMW TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS IN THE 2007 BMWS. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI #10993425

83,000 miles · Jun 1, 2017
Steering

THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL IS MALFUNCTIONING AND PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING.

NHTSA ODI #10992687

950,000 miles · May 24, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

WHEN TURN IN ON THE CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WHEN ON AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ODI #10991324

42,000 miles · May 22, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

I'VE OWNED A 2000 AND 2007 BMW 3 SERIES AND A 2010 X6 ALL WITH AIRBAG RECALLS BUT I DON'T OWN ANY OF THESE VEHICLES ANYMORE. AS A MATTER OF FACT I HIT A CURB AND MY DRIVERS AIRBAG BROKE MY FACIAL BONES WITH JUST HITTING A CURB AND WAS TOTALED OUT. WOULD I QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION THROUGH THIS LARGE RECALL? AND WHAT INFO WOULD I …

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I'VE OWNED A 2000 AND 2007 BMW 3 SERIES AND A 2010 X6 ALL WITH AIRBAG RECALLS BUT I DON'T OWN ANY OF THESE VEHICLES ANYMORE. AS A MATTER OF FACT I HIT A CURB AND MY DRIVERS AIRBAG BROKE MY FACIAL BONES WITH JUST HITTING A CURB AND WAS TOTALED OUT. WOULD I QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION THROUGH THIS LARGE RECALL? AND WHAT INFO WOULD I NEED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10990848

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2017
Air Bags

"TAKATA RECALL" THIS VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD. WHERE IS THE NEW AIR BAG? HOW MUCH TIME IS REASONABLE?

NHTSA ODI #10972378

87,000 miles · Apr 8, 2017
Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER TURN SIGNAL BULB WAS THOUGHT TO BE OUT. BROUGHT TO LOCAL BMW DEALER AND HAD THEM TELL ME I NEED A WHOLE HEADLIGHT SINCE THE TURN SIGNAL BURNED INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10971454

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

108,000 miles · Mar 28, 2017
SteeringWheels

STEERING WHEEL LOCK (RED SYMBOL ON THE NOTIFICATION SCREEN). VEHICLECLE WILL NO LONGER START. NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10969116

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.