Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
1525–50K
2550–75K
2275–100K
14100–150K
1150K+
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
120,000 miles · Mar 13, 2017
Exterior Lighting
INSULATION FAILED ON WIRING INSIDE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, CRUMBLING OFF AND CREATING MULTIPLE EXPOSED BARE COPPER WIRING. DISCOVERED DURING LAMP REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE NOV 21, 2015. I OVERLAID ALL ACCESSIBLE WIRES WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE IN HOPES TO PREVENT A SHORT AND FIRE. SINCE THEN I'VE READ OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED BY SEVERA…
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INSULATION FAILED ON WIRING INSIDE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, CRUMBLING OFF AND CREATING MULTIPLE EXPOSED BARE COPPER WIRING. DISCOVERED DURING LAMP REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE NOV 21, 2015. I OVERLAID ALL ACCESSIBLE WIRES WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE IN HOPES TO PREVENT A SHORT AND FIRE. SINCE THEN I'VE READ OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED BY SEVERAL BMW OWNERS ON BIMMERFORUMS.COM, WITH ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCES FROM BMW DENYING ANY PROBLEM. DEALERS AND REPUTABLE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10960264
75,000 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Electrical System
GAS GAUGE DOESN'T REGISTER FULL VS. EMPTY TANK. MY GAS GAUGE ALWAYS SAYS EMPTY EVEN RIGHT AFTER I FILL IT UP. SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER ISSUE, PER MY GOOGLE SEARCH AND THINK IT NEEDS A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10949911
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2017
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND NIELLO BMW (LOCAL SACRAMENTO DEALER) REFUSE TO RESPOND TO MY COMMUNICATIONS AS TO WHEN MY CAR WILL BE FIXED. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO.
NHTSA ODI #10948949
130,000 miles · Jan 17, 2017
EngineFire
I HAVE HAD A MAJOR FIRE ON MY CAR DUE TO AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM MY VALVE COVER. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE INVOLVING VALVE COVER LEAKING OIL ON THE EXHAUST AND CREATING A FIRE ON THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE AND A FIRE HAPPEN. THIS HAPPEN …
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I HAVE HAD A MAJOR FIRE ON MY CAR DUE TO AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM MY VALVE COVER. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE INVOLVING VALVE COVER LEAKING OIL ON THE EXHAUST AND CREATING A FIRE ON THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE AND A FIRE HAPPEN. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10945603
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2017
Air BagsEngine
THIS IS STILL NOT RESOLVE AND I AM LOOKING COOLANT AND THERE IS NOT ANSWER OTHER THAN TO REPLACE. IT COSTING ME TO MUCH TO KEEP REVIEWING THIS ISSUE , I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR FREE
NHTSA ODI #10939714
24,000 miles · Oct 28, 2016
Air Bags
MANY MONTHS AGO A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2007 BMW 3281I CARS. NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS SPRING (2016) I CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO SAID IT HAD HEARD NOTHING FROM BMW. IS NHTSA MONITORING BMW? IF NOT, WHY NOT? IT'S NOT BEYOND THE REALM FOR BOTH PARTIES TO HOPE THAT THE ISSUE WILL BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND IT WILL GO AWAY. MY DEALER IS …
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MANY MONTHS AGO A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2007 BMW 3281I CARS. NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS SPRING (2016) I CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO SAID IT HAD HEARD NOTHING FROM BMW. IS NHTSA MONITORING BMW? IF NOT, WHY NOT? IT'S NOT BEYOND THE REALM FOR BOTH PARTIES TO HOPE THAT THE ISSUE WILL BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND IT WILL GO AWAY. MY DEALER IS BMW OF FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA. BOTH DEALER AND DISTRIBUTOR NEED TO BE TOLD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10919798
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL: A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW WAS ISSUED IN MARCH OF 2016. AS OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2016, BMW NORTH AMERICA LLC. STILL CAN NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE NOT REMEDIED THE SITUATION AT ALL AND WILL NOT OFFER ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO HELP CUSTOMERS WITH THE POTENTIALLY DEATH CAUSING AI…
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TAKATA RECALL: A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW WAS ISSUED IN MARCH OF 2016. AS OF OCTOBER 11TH, 2016, BMW NORTH AMERICA LLC. STILL CAN NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE NOT REMEDIED THE SITUATION AT ALL AND WILL NOT OFFER ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO HELP CUSTOMERS WITH THE POTENTIALLY DEATH CAUSING AIRBAG EXPLOSIONS. BMW NORTH AMERICA LLC IS ACTING IN BAD FAITH, ALLOWING AND INSTRUCTING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES WHILE BEING AWARE THAT THEY COULD CAUSE DEATH TO THE DRIVER. (SOURCE - PHONE CALL WITH RECALL CAMPAIGN ESCALATION MANAGER FOR BMW NORTH AMERICA)
NHTSA ODI #10915406
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2016
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NEED FOR INSTALLATION OF NEW AIRBAGS IN MARCH 2016. WE WENT INTO DEALER 2X BUT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. IT IS SIX MONTHS LATER, AND STILL WE HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION THAT REPLACEMENT FOR FAULTY AIRBAG IS AVAILABLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN FATAL CONSEQUENCES, THE OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM …
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TAKATA RECALL WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NEED FOR INSTALLATION OF NEW AIRBAGS IN MARCH 2016. WE WENT INTO DEALER 2X BUT NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. IT IS SIX MONTHS LATER, AND STILL WE HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION THAT REPLACEMENT FOR FAULTY AIRBAG IS AVAILABLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN FATAL CONSEQUENCES, THE OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM BMW STATED. THE DELAY IS DANGEROUS AND UNCONSCIONABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10904792
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2016
Air Bags
I HAVE PHONED TOWSON BMW ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS AND REQUESTED THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THEY STATE THAT I WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO CALL ME ABOUT IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE FIXED ASAP!
NHTSA ODI #10897157
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.
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.
2007 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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