2007 BMW 3 Series

Routine

Owners filed 115 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

91 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags31
202
Electrical System23
110
Steering11
000
Engine11
111
Exterior Lighting5
010
Seat Belts3
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
000
Fuel/Propulsion System3
100
Fuel System, Gasoline3
100
Wheels2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Crankcase (pcv)22V119000
Filed Mar 2, 2022917,106 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan12E029000
Filed Aug 10, 2012585 vehiclesValeo

Defect. This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.

Risk. This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.

Remedy. Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger
Filed Jun 8, 201965 milesVA

THE SEAT BAG SENSOR IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE SEAT. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 65K, THE CAR NOW HAS 106K...IS THIS DANGEROUS TO A PASSENGER? OF COURSE, THIS SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THE SEATBELT LIGHT ALSO...

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Dec 18, 2018100,000 milesCA

I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS AT ROUGHLY 3AM ON MY WAY BACK FROM MY COMMUTE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 60 MILES. I NOTICED IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD VENTS, I PARKED THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HEAT COVER FOR THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH MOST OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. MY FRIEND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AS I RAN AND TRIED TO WARN NEIGHBORS , WITHIN 7 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARD. NO MAITNANCE LIGHTS WERE ON AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM. THE TWO RECALLS I NEVER RECEIVED BOTH WOULD EXPLAN THIS INCEDENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000

Air Bags
Filed Dec 13, 2018SC

RECALL FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT & PCV VALVE HEATER NOT COMPLETE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS TO REPAIR THESE RECALLS.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 29, 2018GA

DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ON MY ENGINE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL PRODUCT THE PCV VALVE. DEALER SAYS THEIR NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, THEIR JOB IS TO REPLACE THE RECALL PART

Electrical System
Filed Nov 11, 201873,000 milesCA

STATIONARY IN PARKING LOT. FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH ANY METHOD ATTEMPTED. DRIVERS DOOR WILL ONLY UNLOCK USING EMERGENCY KEY FROM EXTERIOR.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 6, 2018FL

DESPITE REPEATED PHONE CALLS TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND STOPPING AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY BMW FOR A RECALL REGARDING A SPONTANEOUS FIRE THAT CAN OCCUR WITH MY VEHICLE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS GARAGED AND NOT IN USE. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPEATEDLY TELLS ME THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I LEARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM A YEAR AND A HALF AGO FROM THE NEWS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW, ALTHOUGH I VERIFIED WITH THEM THEY HAVE MY VIN NUMBER AND MY CAR IS PART OF THE RECALL. I HESITATE TO EVEN DRIVE MY CAR AND HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT A SPONTANEOUS FIRE SPARKED BY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. IT SEEMS UNACCEPTABLE AS A CONSUMER NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO REMEDY WHAT COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE (MY HOUSE BURNING DOWN FOR ONE). I AM GETTING NOWHERE WHEN I CONTACT BMW.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 23, 2018TX

WATER LEAKS IN MY CAR ON DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND BACK SEAT CARPET IS SOAK AND SMELL. NOT THE FIRST WHEN GOING TO GET A CAR WASH LEAKS OCCUR. THIS IS MY SECOND BMW I HAD A 2004 325L SAME PROBLEM WITH LEAKAGE. ALSO, NO DOUBT RUST HAVE OCCUR IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ON GOING LEAKS.

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Sep 7, 2018TX

REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR TWICE 4 MONTHS 1ST ONE MADE NOISE AND STOP BLOWING AIR OUT VENTS NOW SECOND ONE IS MAKING LOUD RATTLING NOISE. CONSTANT TAIL LIGHT BULB ISSUES DISPLAY TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger
Filed Aug 22, 201890,000 milesVA

PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT FAILURE - BMW'S, IN PARTICULAR 3 SERIES AND E90 MODELS, HAVE A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE WHERE THE SEAT BASED ELECTRICAL MAT FAILS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR AS THE SEATS OFTEN GO UNUSED BUT SIMPLY FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE ERROR CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEFAULT TO ALWAYS ON, WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO CHILDREN OR SMALL PASSENGERS IN THAT SEAT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS USUALLY $200 FOR PARTS AND $400 FOR LABOR WHICH MEANS MANY DRIVERS SIMPLY DON'T FIX IT CREATING A VULNERABILITY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RECURRING WITH BMWS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND ACROSS MODEL TYPES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS ITS A POORLY MADE PART AND SET UP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES ON BMW FORUMS AND A PARTIAL RECALL FOR SOME MODELS WAS IMPLEMENTED. A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED ON ALL CARS AFFECTED, INCLUDING 2007 3 SERIES MODELS. THE ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR FIXED UNTIL THE F MODEL 3 SERIES CAME OUT. HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4746508#POST4746508 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-496444.HTML

Air Bags
Filed May 30, 201871,555 milesCA

FOR OVER A YEAR NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS ONLY TURNING ON WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. NOW IT TURNS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PERSON SO I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE IS MALFUNCTIONING TOO. IN ADDITIONAL THE SEATBELT LIGHT IS TURNING ON TOO NOW. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT IS THE AIRBAG AND SEAT SENSORS THAT HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. EACH TO FIX IS OVER $500. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS AND TO WAIT FOR A SUPPOSABLY RECALL LETTER. HOWEVER, THAT WAS A YEAR AGO AND I NOW HAVE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT GOING OFF. I'VE ALSO COME ACROSS MANY BMW FORUMS (OWNERS) TALKING ABOUT THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. IT'S SURPRISING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT YET NOTHING IS BEING RESOLVED. THERE HAS TO BE A REMEDY FOR THIS ANNOYANCE AND LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY BMW. IF ANYTHING THERE HAS TO BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS ON BMW'S PART SINCE THE CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEM FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE YEARS NOW.

Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2018149,102 milesCA

VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN 10E-A02: N54 CAR IS SMOKING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS DUMPING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. FUEL LEAKING AND FUMES/SMELL, HAZARD, WILL CAUSE FIRE.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 17, 2018CA

FUEL REGULATOR FILTER PLASTIC HOUSING CRACKING CAUSING FUEL -GAS LEAKING IN SIDE THE CAR, AND GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR, SAFETY ISSUE, THERE IS RECALL FOR 333I 2007 FOR SAME FUEL LEAKING DEFECTIVE PLASTIC HOUSING BUT NO RECALL FOR 328I 2007.IT SI LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE. BEST REGARDS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 16, 2018CA

WHEN DRIVING, THE SMELL OF BURNING OR MELTING PLASTIC IS SO STRONG, I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THE SMELL OCCURS ABOUT 5 TIMES A WEEK AND CAN BE SMELLED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. IT OCCURS AT VARIOUS TIMES...ON THE FREEWAY, ON SURFACE STREETS, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ETC. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL, FOR POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION(PCV) VALVE HEATER, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN OR METHOD OF FIXING THIS. SINCE IT CAN LEAD TO A FIRE, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT EVEN HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE WEBSITE AND LETTER TELLS YOU TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THEY TELL YOU TO CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA, HOWEVER THEY DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE. THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR AT THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SHIP IN GLENDALE CA HAS NOT RETURNED MY MESSAGES AND THE NUMBER THEY REFER ME TO, BMW NORTH AMERICA AT 800.831.1117 JUST KEEPS RINGING...NO ANSWER. I DON'T FEEL SAFE INHALING THE PLASTIC FUMES AND IT COULD LEAD TO MY CAR CATCHING ON FIRE. BMW NEEDS TOANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE RATHER THAN REFERRING ME TO ADVERTISEMENTS TO PURCHASE A NEW BMW. (THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS ON THEIR "RECALL" WEBSITE). I WOULD LIKE THEM TO PROVIDE A CAR AND KEEP MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THEY FIGURE THIS OUT. I THINK THEY WOULD FIND A SOLUTION VERY QUICKLY IF THEY HAD TO PROVIDE ALTERNATOR TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 26, 2017CA

I HAVE A 2007 BMW 328I WITH 120,000 MILES. MY CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE GAS JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO, EVERY TIME I GO INTO MY CAR IT SMELLS LIKE GAS IT GIVES ME A HEADACHE.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 7, 2017VA

TAKATA RECALL THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE OR ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE CAR IS THUS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 6 WEEKS AT LEAST WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. SECONDLY, THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONA RECALLS THAT HAVE NO "FIX" AT THIS POINT WHICH COULD ALSO RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A HAZARD AND COMPLETELY USELESS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. THE TWO ADDITIONAL RECALLS ARE BOTH FIRE HAZARDS AND ARE NOT CORRECTABLE AT THIS JUNCTURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 23, 201722,000 milesWA

BOTH PUGET SOUND AREA DEALERS WERE TOTALLY INDIFFERENT ABOUT LIFE TREATING RECALL NOTICES, UPON CALLING IN IN MID 2017' I WAS ASKED WHAT RECALLS ARE YOU CALLING ABOUT AND BOTH DID NOT GIVE ANY IN FORMATION WHEN I SAID I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL. NOTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU NOW CHECK BACK LATER I WAS TOLD. IN NOVEMBER WHEN I CALLED BACK I WAS AGAIN GREETED WITH SURPRISE THAT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AT SEATTLE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ME TO BE SPECIFIC ON A EXACT RECALL THAT MAYBE IN EFFECT. AFTER GIVING EXACTE REQUIRED DETAILED RECALL INFO ON THIS LIFE TREATING DEFECTIVE RECALLI WAS TOLD THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PARTS AND TO CHECK BACK NEXT YEAR! WHERE THE HELL IS THE WASHINGTON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL? THIS IS A DISGRACE AND BMW IN MY VIEW SHOULD BE SPENDER FROM SELLING CARS IN WASHINGTON STATE UNTIL THEY MAKE THIS RIGHT. ONE DEATH WOULD COST FAR MORE THAN ALL THE JERKING AROUND AND BAD WILL THEY ARE CAUSING TODAY! I'M WRITING THIS BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT LIVING ,AND HAVE NO PICTURES TO POST. CAN NOT ALLOW HOW THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS A MAJOR CAR COMPANY TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, TOTAL DISGRACE!

Engine
Filed Nov 16, 20172 milesFL

VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE RAMP TO ENTER A HIGHWAY AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME UP. THE ENGINE HAS ONLY 42000 MILES. TOOK IT TO BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VANOS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE BOLTS PROBABLY CAME OFF. A RECALL IS IN PLACE FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE FOR OTHER 3 SERIES, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND BMW IS NOT COVERING THE REPAIR. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED ON A RECALL GIVEN THAT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE?

EngineCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 14, 2017125,000 milesCA

POWER STEERING PULLEY COMES INTO CONTACT OF AXLE CARRIER, IT'S A CLEAR DESIGN FLAW AND THIS CAR HASN'T HAD MUCH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DONE, THE COMPANY KNOWINGLY PUT AN UNSAFE BETA CAR ON THE MARKET. MY BELT BROKE BECAUSE OF THE PULLEY TO FRAME CONTACT AND STALLED ON THE 405 FREEWAY AND ENDED UP GETTING INJURED WHEN THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED AT 60MPH. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN WITHIN BMW'S SYSTEM DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE AND THEY WANT CONSUMERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. I SPOKE TO CORPORATE AND THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE COLD SHOULDER SO FAR. MY MISSION IS TO GET THIS ESCALATED TO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 5, 2017CA

I HEAR A GRINDING NOISE INSIDE THE CAR COME FROM AIR VENT UP BIN THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE AIR IS OFFF WHEN THE AIR IS ON I DON'T HEAR IT ANY MORE

Air Bags
Filed Oct 14, 201752,732 milesCA

I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AS DESCRIBED IN EXISTING RECALL NUMBER 17V605. I HAD THIS REPAIRED FOR OVER $1168.16 MY VEHICLE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.

20 of 115 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230100Routine
201321000Routine
20127300Routine
20111300Routine
201030310Routine
200953220Routine
200868340Routine
2007 — this page115240Routine
2006202410Above average
200525010Routine
200477030Routine
200373000Routine
200226000Routine
200136100Routine
200088120Routine
19996100Routine
19983400Routine
19975400Routine
19962400Routine
19953400Routine
19941300Routine
19930300Routine
19920300Routine

Compare every 3 Series year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 2, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.