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2007 BMW 3 Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 3 Series years

Owner complaints for the 2007 BMW 3 Series are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Seat Belts complaints

10 reports
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71,555 miles · May 30, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11098714

148,000 miles · Jun 21, 2017
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PRODUCES A FAULT IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, ON A HIGHWAY, AND WHEN TURNING. …

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THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PRODUCES A FAULT IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, ON A HIGHWAY, AND WHEN TURNING. THERE IS NO DAMAGE OR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS USED NORMALLY AND AS INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THE SEAT MAT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE OF PEOPLE SITTING ON IT. OVER TIME THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT FAILED AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SINCE THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI #11000535

950,000 miles · May 24, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

WHEN TURN IN ON THE CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WHEN ON AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA ODI #10991324

62,347 miles · Mar 8, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

PASSENGER SEAT DETECTION MAT NOT WORKING. SEAT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY EMPTY FPR YEARS FAULTY PRODUCT.. DANGEROUS FOR A PASSENGER WHEN I HAVE ONE. AIR BAG MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAULTY MAT DETECTION I FEEL BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED DUE TO THEY ONLY COVER CERTAIN VIN'S F…

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PASSENGER SEAT DETECTION MAT NOT WORKING. SEAT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY EMPTY FPR YEARS FAULTY PRODUCT.. DANGEROUS FOR A PASSENGER WHEN I HAVE ONE. AIR BAG MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAULTY MAT DETECTION I FEEL BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED DUE TO THEY ONLY COVER CERTAIN VIN'S FOR THAT YEAR..

NHTSA ODI #10845545

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

105,000 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL LISTING MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMWUSA AND A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP WITH BOTH CLAIMING MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATE IS SPECIFICALLY LI…

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THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL LISTING MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMWUSA AND A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP WITH BOTH CLAIMING MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATE IS SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTICE LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS LISTED OR WHY BMW IS NOT ASSISTING FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633712

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

FAULT CODE "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARS ON THE VEHICLE. NO ACCIDENT THE CODE IS FAULTY. CODE COULD AFFECT THE PASSENGER IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10628984

91,500 miles · Apr 30, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION, AIRBAGS DISABLED. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT FAILURE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585706

90,000 miles · Jan 2, 2014
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

I OWN A BMW 3 SERIES 2007 THAT I PURCHASED 3 YEARS AGO WITH A DEALER. SIX WEEKS AGO A DASH BOARD LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". A DETAILED MESSAGE SAYS "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. HAVE THE SYSTEM…

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I OWN A BMW 3 SERIES 2007 THAT I PURCHASED 3 YEARS AGO WITH A DEALER. SIX WEEKS AGO A DASH BOARD LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". A DETAILED MESSAGE SAYS "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY THE NEAREST BMW CENTER". I HAVE SEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS BMW 3 AND 5 SERIES CARDS MANUFACTURED IN 2003 - 2008 HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD RECALL AND FIX IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558234

80,000 miles · Aug 5, 2013
Seat Belts

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533683

Official recalls

1

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.