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2007 BMW 328XI

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

140 reports with mileage · 58 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 36 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 reports11 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2021
Steering

DASHBOARD INDICATES, "ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED". CAR IS CURRENTLY DRIVABLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF BMW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN UNTIL THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON. THE MALFUNCTIONING FEATURE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK) HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SUBSEQUENT MODEL…

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DASHBOARD INDICATES, "ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK ENGAGED". CAR IS CURRENTLY DRIVABLE, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF BMW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN UNTIL THE CAR WILL NO LONGER TURN ON. THE MALFUNCTIONING FEATURE (STEERING WHEEL LOCK) HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SUBSEQUENT MODELS, INDICATING THAT THE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZES THE MALFUNCTION. REPAIR INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1300.

NHTSA ODI #11428210

150,000 miles · Jul 2, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

FUEL PUMP IS BURNING OUT AND LIQUID ISN'T PASSING THROUGH THE TANK PROPERLY. THE CAR IS OVERHEATING ANF FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO START FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11105188

122,000 miles · May 18, 2018
Electrical SystemSteering

BMW WOULD NOT START CAUSING ME TO JUMP START MY CAR. UPON STARTING MY CAR, MESSAGE ON SCREEN SAYS THAT STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS HAPPENED TODAY, MAY 18,2018 AT 3:30. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI #11096787

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2018
Steering

I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT BUT MY CAR WOULDN'T START, I HAVE THE CAR JUMP START, NO GO, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED THEY HAD TO TOW THE CAR AND GET A TOW TRUCK THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR LIFTED BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS UP AND DRAINS THE BATTERY. DEALER S…

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I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT BUT MY CAR WOULDN'T START, I HAVE THE CAR JUMP START, NO GO, STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED THEY HAD TO TOW THE CAR AND GET A TOW TRUCK THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR LIFTED BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THIS WAS DUE TO FAULTY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS UP AND DRAINS THE BATTERY. DEALER SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEELS LOCK UP AND EVENTUALLY EATS UP THE BATTERY LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #11063001

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2017
Steering

I HAVE A 2007 BMW 328I. IN 2010, I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING ON THE DASH. CAR WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER...EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP.. TOLD THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($1500). ACCORDING TO MANY REFERENCES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT. ALSO, ACCORDIN…

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I HAVE A 2007 BMW 328I. IN 2010, I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING ON THE DASH. CAR WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER...EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP.. TOLD THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($1500). ACCORDING TO MANY REFERENCES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT. ALSO, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL REFERENCES, THERE IS NO WARNING OR PREDICTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WILL FAIL IN THE LOCKED POSITION. IF YOU ARE FIRST GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS FAILED IN THE LOCKED POSITION, IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE ENGINE. THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHETHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAN FAIL IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. APPARENTLY, THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE. I HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS SEVERAL BMW WEBSITES. THE RESULTS ARE, THEY DON'T KNOW OR THE ANSWERS HAVE BEEN INCONSISTENT AND OFTEN CONTRADICTORY. ASIDE FROM THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM BEING FAR TOO FREQUENT TO IGNORE BY BMW, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERN. BMW CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10983247

10 miles · Feb 15, 2017
Steering

I HAD THE RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON MY CAR ABOUT 2 WEEK AGO. I BEEN DRIVING WITH IT ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET INTO THE DEALER. IT ALWAYS STARTED FOR ME, BUT I FEEL MY STEERING GETTING HARD. AND I SEE ON BMW FORM THAT CAR NEED TO GET REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. AND MY CAR ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANT…

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I HAD THE RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK ON MY CAR ABOUT 2 WEEK AGO. I BEEN DRIVING WITH IT ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET INTO THE DEALER. IT ALWAYS STARTED FOR ME, BUT I FEEL MY STEERING GETTING HARD. AND I SEE ON BMW FORM THAT CAR NEED TO GET REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. AND MY CAR ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND WOULD HAVE COST ABOUT 1K OTHERWISE. AND I SEE A LOT OF CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10954967

117,000 miles · Nov 29, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

BATTERY DIED. GOT A CHARGE AND RED STEERING LIGHT WITH A LOCK TURNED ON. LOCKED STEERING AND UNABLE TO START CAR AFTER CHARGING.

NHTSA ODI #10928649

70,000 miles · Jul 29, 2015
Steering

ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCITON. VEHICLE CANNOT START. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPGRADED.

NHTSA ODI #10744668

133,000 miles · Jul 1, 2015
Steering

DROVE TO MALL. PARKED CAR. CAME BACK OUT TO A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK ON THE DASH. I PUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. PRESSED THE BUTTON, CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I SEARCHED THE SYMBOL TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM "INTERMITTENT IR IMMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL LOCKOUT". …

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DROVE TO MALL. PARKED CAR. CAME BACK OUT TO A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK ON THE DASH. I PUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. PRESSED THE BUTTON, CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I SEARCHED THE SYMBOL TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM "INTERMITTENT IR IMMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL LOCKOUT". I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT BMW SAID WAS THE ONLY OPTION. DIAGNOSIS NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. NO WARNING. NO STEERING ISSUES. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. JUST AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED OUT AND LEFT STRANDED.

NHTSA ODI #10731458

68,000 miles · Feb 24, 2015
Steering

STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAN'T START THE VEHICLE. I SEE NOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO DEAL WITH THIS NOW. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10690471

Official recalls

4

24V513000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 3, 2024

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags:frontal

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

20V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 15, 2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

17V676000 · Electrical System:wiring

Oct 25, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

13V564000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Nov 12, 2013

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

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.