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2010 BMW 3 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 BMW 3 Series do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 10 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

30 reports
44,000 miles · Aug 21, 2014
Air Bags

I AM 5'2", FAT AND WANTED EITHER AN ON/SWITCH FOR MY FRONT DRIVER'S AIRBAG, OR I WAS GOING TO APPLY UNDER YOUR GUIDELINES TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DISCONNECTED. BMW APPARENTLY CAN DO NEITHER SINCE THEIR AIRBAG IS TIED INTO ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT A RUN AROUND REGARDING WHAT FOR ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE.…

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I AM 5'2", FAT AND WANTED EITHER AN ON/SWITCH FOR MY FRONT DRIVER'S AIRBAG, OR I WAS GOING TO APPLY UNDER YOUR GUIDELINES TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DISCONNECTED. BMW APPARENTLY CAN DO NEITHER SINCE THEIR AIRBAG IS TIED INTO ITS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT A RUN AROUND REGARDING WHAT FOR ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO BE DECAPITATED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. DO YOU HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER THIS THAT WOULD MAKE BMW COMPLY WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627101

61,500 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER STARTED TO BLINK QUICKLY. THE BRAKES AND TAIL LIGHTS USE A BULB WHILE THE BLINKER HAS APPROXIMATELY 15 LEDS. THEREFORE THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL OF THE LEDS DO NOT LIGHT UP AND THE ONES THAT DO ARE DIM. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BLINKER DID THE SAME THING. T…

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NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER STARTED TO BLINK QUICKLY. THE BRAKES AND TAIL LIGHTS USE A BULB WHILE THE BLINKER HAS APPROXIMATELY 15 LEDS. THEREFORE THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL OF THE LEDS DO NOT LIGHT UP AND THE ONES THAT DO ARE DIM. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BLINKER DID THE SAME THING. THIS CONCERNS ME AS ANOTHER DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT I AM TURNING UNTIL IT IS TO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597574

80,000 miles · Apr 27, 2013
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityPower Train

DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT CURLED UP AT FRONT AND WAS CAPTURED BY CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN CHANGING GEAR. WHEN CLUTCH WAS AGAIN ENGAGED, MAT WAS PULLED UP AND INTERFERED WITH SUBSEQUENT BRAKE OPERATION BEFORE FREEING ITSELF AND FALLING BACK ONTO FLOOR WELL. SINCE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509785

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2012
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS EXITING A FREEWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PASSED THE VEHICLE AND ACCELERATED IN ORDER TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR BEHIND ME. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN I "PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL", I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. MY CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER FOR ABOUT 5 - 8 SEC…

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I WAS EXITING A FREEWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PASSED THE VEHICLE AND ACCELERATED IN ORDER TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR BEHIND ME. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WHEN I "PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL", I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. MY CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER FOR ABOUT 5 - 8 SECONDS. THE CAR I HAD JUST PASSED NEARLY REAR-ENDED ME BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EXPECT ME PASS AND THEN REDUCE MY SPEED. I TOOK MY CARE TO THE BMW DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY CHECKS OUT THE CAR (IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS OLD) AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE MORE OFTEN IN SPORT MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES OVER THE LAST 21 MONTHS AND THE DEALER HAS SAID EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448436

4,000 miles · Oct 18, 2011
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE 205/55/R16, DOT NUMBER: 1LT4 BXH62711. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES WOULD CONSISTENTLY LOOSE AIR AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE 205/55/R16, DOT NUMBER: 1LT4 BXH62711. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES WOULD CONSISTENTLY LOOSE AIR AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 11/17/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. SHE ALSO STATED THE TIRES MUST BE CHECKED ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10430693

7,000 miles · Jun 14, 2011
Tires

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RUN FLAT TIRES CAUSE NOISE AND VIBRATION AFTER 7000KM ON A 2010 BMW 328IX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406802

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2010 BMW 328I. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE, MY FOOT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR AND I AM AFRAID THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAVE HAD OTHER BMW'S AND HAVE…

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I HAVE A 2010 BMW 328I. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKE, MY FOOT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR AND I AM AFRAID THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I HAVE HAD OTHER BMW'S AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A 2009 ESCALADE AND THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386048

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2010
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO TRAFFIC, ALL WINDOWS CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS HOLE IN THE SUNROOF …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO TRAFFIC, ALL WINDOWS CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMAL CRACKING SOUND. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THEN NOTICED THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS HOLE IN THE SUNROOF AND SHATTERED GLASS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE IMPACTED THE WINDOW TO BREAK IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED SOMETHING HAD IMPACTED THE WINDOW TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. UPDATED EVOQ 08/03/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10343343

2,500 miles · Jun 13, 2010
Fuel System, Diesel

WE LEASED A NEW 2010 BMW 335D (DIESEL) ON 12/12/09. ON 2/28/10, THE CAR FAILED TO START FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER A VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY BMW DEALER. WE TOLD THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR THAT WE BELIEVED THERE WAS WATER IN THE SYSTEM RESULTING FROM THE RAIN. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, HE TOLD US THAT THE CAR'S FAILUR…

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WE LEASED A NEW 2010 BMW 335D (DIESEL) ON 12/12/09. ON 2/28/10, THE CAR FAILED TO START FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER A VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY BMW DEALER. WE TOLD THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR THAT WE BELIEVED THERE WAS WATER IN THE SYSTEM RESULTING FROM THE RAIN. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, HE TOLD US THAT THE CAR'S FAILURE TO START TWICE AFTER A HEAVY RAIN WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE, THAT THERE WAS NO WATER IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF FAULTY GLOW PLUGS, WHICH WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO COME FROM GERMANY. HE ALSO INFORMED US THAT REPAIR EFFORTS WOULD BE FURTHER DELAYED BECAUSE NO DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA HAD TRAINED DIESEL MECHANICS AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONSULT A DIESEL EXPERT ON THE EAST COAST. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON 3/11/10. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE CAR STARTED ERRATICALLY AND RAN POORLY, SO WE RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER A MONTH OF FAILING TO FIX THE CAR, THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD SENT THE FUEL TO A LAB TO BE TESTED (THIS LATER TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE) AND HAD DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE FUEL, THAT THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE FUEL COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY US AND THAT WE WERE, THEREFORE, FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS. EXHAUSTIVE EFFORTS TO GET BMW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM HAVE PROVEN USELESS. WE WILL FILE A "LEMON LAW" LAWSUIT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. SAFETY ISSUES: (1) OUR PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE OUR CAR HAPPENED TO BE STATIONARY. IF, AS WE BELIEVE, THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF THE RAIN, THE STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT OTHER BMW DIESEL CARS MIGHT STALL WHILE ON THE ROAD IN BAD WEATHER AND PERHAPS AT HIGH SPEEDS. (2) IT IS CLEAR THAT BMW IS SELLING ITS BMW DIESEL CARS WITHOUT HAVING IN PLACE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF TRAINED DIESEL MECHANICS, MEANING THAT OWNERS OF BMW DIESEL CARS HAVE NO ASSURANCE THAT THEIR CARS ARE BEING PROPERLY REPAIRED & MAINTAINED. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT MISTAKES COULD BE MADE BY UNTRAINED MECHANICS WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336006

450 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Seats

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEAD REST WOULD NOT GO DOWN FAR ENOUGH AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY AN INCH AND A HALF FROM THE TOP OF THE SEAT. ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE IS FIVE FEET TWO INCHES AND THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. BMW STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HEAD REST WOULD NOT GO DOWN FAR ENOUGH AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY AN INCH AND A HALF FROM THE TOP OF THE SEAT. ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE IS FIVE FEET TWO INCHES AND THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. BMW STATED THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THERE WERE UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 450. UPDATED 03/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10302486

Official recalls

2

23V707000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Oct 20, 2023

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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.