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
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2015
Air BagsEquipment Adaptive/mobilitySeats
THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT IN THE 2007 BMW 328XI IS DISPLAYED ON MY DASH INSTRUMENTATION FOR OVER A YEAR.IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD BE DEACTIVATED RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT INDICATED THAT THE MODEL WAS RECALLED. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RE…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT IN THE 2007 BMW 328XI IS DISPLAYED ON MY DASH INSTRUMENTATION FOR OVER A YEAR.IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD BE DEACTIVATED RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT INDICATED THAT THE MODEL WAS RECALLED. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE MADE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR VEHICLE AND RECALLS ARE USUALLY INITIATED IN THIS MANNER. REGARDLESS OF THE PRODUCTION TIME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MADE, MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY BMW.
NHTSA ODI #10724520
60,000 miles · May 11, 2015
Exterior Lighting
SHIELDING ON DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAS FRAYED AND IS PEELING. ADDRESSED THIS MATTER WITH DEALERSHIP WHO IN TURN REFERRED ME TO REGIONAL BRAND MANAGER. BRAND MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE WIRE JUST DOESN'T FRAY AND I MUST HAVE MODIFIED MY VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY STOCK EXCEPT FOR A K&N FILTER HAS HAD A…
Read full complaint
SHIELDING ON DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS HAS FRAYED AND IS PEELING. ADDRESSED THIS MATTER WITH DEALERSHIP WHO IN TURN REFERRED ME TO REGIONAL BRAND MANAGER. BRAND MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE WIRE JUST DOESN'T FRAY AND I MUST HAVE MODIFIED MY VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY STOCK EXCEPT FOR A K&N FILTER HAS HAD ALL SERVICES PERFORMED AT THE DEALER UNTIL ABOUT A 10 MONTHS WHEN THE FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. I STILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAJOR SERVICES BUT PERFORM OIL CHANGES AND SPARK PLUG CHANGES ON MY OWN. BRAND MANAGER OFFERED TO DISCOUNT A NEW SET OF HEADLIGHTS BY 20% TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT AT OVER $1K FOR EACH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IT SEEMS UNREASONABLE FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'M ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM NOW AS MY DRL BULBS (H8'S) HAVE BLOWN ON EACH SIDE TWICE OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS AND THE SHIELDING DRL HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY PEELED AWAY. A POTENTIAL FIRED HAZARD AS BOTH NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE LEADS ARE EXPOSED. HAVING THE HID ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXPOSED HARNESS SEEMS LIKE A POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #10715817
48,000 miles · Apr 14, 2015
Air Bags
THERE IS MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN SAYING FAULT IN RESTRAINT SYSTEM. DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. I THINK THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10705640
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2015
Air Bags
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (SRS) FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR (OC3) MAT FAULTY. VERY DANGEROUS! PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT! BMW SHOULD RECALL THIS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10703543
74,800 miles · Mar 10, 2015
Steering
YELLOW WARNING LIGHT INDICATED WHEEL IS LOCKED; CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEREAS IT DID NOT AFFECT MY DRIVING, IT AFFECTED DRIVEABILITY. HAVE BEEN FAR FROM HOME LATE IN THE DAY -WORK RELATED. DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT IF WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING? SHAME ON BMW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10693239
93,000 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. ITS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS BUT BMW DOESN'T ISSUE A RECALL BUT WILL REPLACE AND REPAIR FOR 1500.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10684129
81,201 miles · Jan 26, 2015
SeatsFire
ON A VERY COLD DAY, I GOT INTO MY CAR, AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY X3. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE SIDE OF MY WAIST FELT HOT AS IF I WAS ON FIRE. I REALIZED THAT IT MUST BE THE SEAT HEATER SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF. I STOPPED MY CAR, GOT OUT AND NOTICED MY COAT HAD BEEN BURNT. I NOTIC…
Read full complaint
ON A VERY COLD DAY, I GOT INTO MY CAR, AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY X3. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE SIDE OF MY WAIST FELT HOT AS IF I WAS ON FIRE. I REALIZED THAT IT MUST BE THE SEAT HEATER SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF. I STOPPED MY CAR, GOT OUT AND NOTICED MY COAT HAD BEEN BURNT. I NOTICED A BURNED HOLE ON THE SIDE OF MY SEAT, IN WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF MY COAT CATCHING FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10678990
110,000 miles · Dec 16, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts
A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME UP SAYING THAT MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664715
93,000 miles · Dec 8, 2014
Engine
BURNING SMELL IN CABIN. CHANGED CABIN AIR FILTER WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT. DEALER. OIL FROM VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKAGE IS AN ISSUE IN THIS MODEL. DID INTERNET RESEARCH. APPARENTLY NOT UNCOMMON AT ALL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD-SMOKE INHALATION AND ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOL…
Read full complaint
BURNING SMELL IN CABIN. CHANGED CABIN AIR FILTER WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT. DEALER. OIL FROM VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKAGE IS AN ISSUE IN THIS MODEL. DID INTERNET RESEARCH. APPARENTLY NOT UNCOMMON AT ALL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD-SMOKE INHALATION AND ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THIS CAN HAPPEN. NO FURTHER INFORMATION GIVEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10662936
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…
Read full complaint
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
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