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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
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39,890 miles · Feb 20, 2012
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW BMW X3 IN 2007. THERE WERE SMALL ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT WITHING MY MANUFACTURER WARRENTY PERIOD. I HAD MY REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JAN 23, 2012. ON JAN 30, 2012, WHEN I DROVE MY X3 OUT MY SUBDIVISON TO GO TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND 4/4 LIGHT ALL ON, PLUS LOAD CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM REAR, IT …

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I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW BMW X3 IN 2007. THERE WERE SMALL ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT WITHING MY MANUFACTURER WARRENTY PERIOD. I HAD MY REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JAN 23, 2012. ON JAN 30, 2012, WHEN I DROVE MY X3 OUT MY SUBDIVISON TO GO TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND 4/4 LIGHT ALL ON, PLUS LOAD CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM REAR, IT WAS DIFFICAULT TO MAKE A U-TURN, MANAGED BACK TO HOME, CALLED BMW UNITEDBMW DEALER AND TOWED MY VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY FIRST TOLD ME THAT IS SOFTWARE FAILURE, THEY WOULD TRY REPROGRAM TO FIX, THEN CALLED TO TELL THE RE-PROGRAM DID NOT WORK, IT WAS MECHANICAL TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR BROKEN, A NEW ONE MUST BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL CHARGE FOR REPAIR (PART + LABOR - DISCOUNT) IS $2354.97. IT WAS IN THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT IT WAS MY BAD LUCK, NOT CAR'S OWN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE MILAGE IS LESS THAN 40K. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, FOUND THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF SIMILAR CASES AND CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS. LOOKS LIKE BMW (2007 AND 2008) MODELS HAVE LUBRICANT PROBLEM, LATER BMW SWITCHED WITH DIFFERENT LUBRICANT. INTERNET ESTIMATION SAYS THAT ~30% OF THE VEHICHLES (2007 & 2008) DEMONSTRATED THIS ISSUE. AS A CONSUMER, I AM TRYING TO URGE ANY CAR MAKER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. BUT I NEVER GET ANY NOTICE OR RECALL FROM BMW DEALERS OR MAKER IN THE PAST AND WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448551

45,000 miles · Feb 12, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes, HydraulicFire

AFTER BEING SERVICE BY DEALER FOR 4 DAYS WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HEAVY TOXIC SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATOR OF AC SYSTEM. I IMMEDIATELY STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND IN A FEW MINUTES SMO…

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AFTER BEING SERVICE BY DEALER FOR 4 DAYS WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HEAVY TOXIC SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATOR OF AC SYSTEM. I IMMEDIATELY STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND IN A FEW MINUTES SMOKE AND FLAMES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT BURN THE CAR. FLAMES AND BLACK PLASTIC WERE COMING ALSO UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT RIGHT IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER QUOTED $25000 FOR REPAIR AND INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT TOTAL LOSS. CAR WAS DELIVERED TO DEALER WHO HAS KEPT IT FOR A MONTH, ENGINEER FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA CAME AND INSPECTED BUT NO REPORT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THEM OR DEALER. THIS COMPANY HAS NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF CONSUMERS AND SHOULD BE PENALIZE. AFTER HAVING OWNED SIX BMW'S I FEEL THESE AUTOS ARE NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447655

20,074 miles · Jan 24, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED, MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 10-15 MPH HER BMW SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE HYDRAULIC PUMP UNIT AND DSC FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10445376

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.