NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
67 reports68,500 miles · Apr 16, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
MY VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE, WAS LOUDER WHEN RUNNING BUT SITTING STILL. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING APPARENTLY. I KNOW THIS HAPPENS TO CARS BUT MY BMW IS A 2011 WITH ONLY 65500 MILES AT THE TIME.. COSTED ME 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND A MONTH BEFORE THIS THEY DID A RECALL ON THE PCV VALVE AN…
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MY VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE, WAS LOUDER WHEN RUNNING BUT SITTING STILL. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING APPARENTLY. I KNOW THIS HAPPENS TO CARS BUT MY BMW IS A 2011 WITH ONLY 65500 MILES AT THE TIME.. COSTED ME 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND A MONTH BEFORE THIS THEY DID A RECALL ON THE PCV VALVE AND HAD IT TORE APART. MAYBE IT WAS SOMEONE'S MISTAKE WHEN REASSEMBLING THE PCV VALVE HEATER DURING RECALL AT BMW DEALER AT TOWNE AUTO IN WILLIAMSVILLE NEAR BUFFALO NY?? IDK BUT THAT IS LOW MILEAGE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN
NHTSA ODI #11196609
108,000 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
11/2016 - CAR STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE AND WOULDN'T RESTART. COMPLETE POWER FAILURE (ENGINE, BRAKES, STEERING) - MECHANIC REPLACED A GAS VALVE. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TWICE MORE. BMW REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND NOW WANTS TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE. ALL THIS WITHIN 3000 MILES. SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR FUEL SYSTEM FAIL…
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11/2016 - CAR STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE AND WOULDN'T RESTART. COMPLETE POWER FAILURE (ENGINE, BRAKES, STEERING) - MECHANIC REPLACED A GAS VALVE. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TWICE MORE. BMW REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND NOW WANTS TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE. ALL THIS WITHIN 3000 MILES. SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. 04/03/18-104795 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR -BLOWER MOTOR RECALL WAS PERFORMED DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOURS WAS INOPERABLE -PCV VALVE RECALL -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CAUSE WAS THE FUEL PUMP. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN 2766 MILES IN BETWEEN THE NEXT VISIT. 09/28/18-107561 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR -A/C SERVICE DUE TO THE A/C NOT BEING COLD ENOUGH. -SLUGGISH RUNNING (CAUSE WAS THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE SENSOR) AN EMISSIONS ITEM THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PUMP AND THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED THE (CHARCOAL CANISTER) REPLACED, ALSO AN EMISSIONS ITEM. CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN 487 MILES 10/23/18-108048 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR -AWD/ABS/EMERGENCY EBV LIGHT IS ON-( THIS IS CONTROLLED BY THE VTG MODULE) I'M NOT GETTING A SIGNAL FROM THIS MODULE. AFTER INSPECTING WHAT WE COULD OF THE MODULE THAT IS WHEN THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE PASSENGER REAR FLOORBOARD. -FUEL PUMP MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN (CAUSE IS THE EKPS MODULE) THE MODULE CONTROLS WHAT THE FUEL PUMP DOES. IF THIS MODULE IS MALFUNCTIONING THEN THE FUEL PUMP ISN'T OPERATING PROPERLY RESULTING IN THE 'FUEL PUMP' MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN. IT IS THE SAME ISSUE, YET THEY HAVE "FIXED" TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM ALREADY. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT A THIRD, EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE PART WOULD FAIL SO SOON?
NHTSA ODI #11150196
64,785 miles · Sep 25, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
BEFORE ANY PROMPTS ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN EVER CAME UP, I WOULD OFTEN SOMETIMES SMELL SOMETHING BURNING OR GIVING OFF A HOT RUBBER SMELL WHICH I ADDRESSED AS SOON I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM QUEENS AUTO MALL AUCTION, THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT IF I DID NOT SEE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY BM…
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BEFORE ANY PROMPTS ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN EVER CAME UP, I WOULD OFTEN SOMETIMES SMELL SOMETHING BURNING OR GIVING OFF A HOT RUBBER SMELL WHICH I ADDRESSED AS SOON I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM QUEENS AUTO MALL AUCTION, THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT IF I DID NOT SEE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 328 XI 2011 THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND A FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION DISPLAY PROMPTED ON MY NAVIGATION SCREEN. THE CAR STOPPED ON A BRIDGE IN THE LEFT LANE WITHOUT ME BEING ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START UP AGAIN AT ALL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. I DROVE IT BACK HOME 5 MIN AWAY AND GOT MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE BMW OF MANHATTAN WHERE THEY SAY THEY TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM. ONCE I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, I DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MINUTES BEFORE THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO SWITCH INTO THE RIGHT LANE SO I CAN PULL OVER AND HAVE ANOTHER TOW COME AND TAKE MY CAR TO BMW OF MANHATTAN JUST AN HOUR AFTER I HAD IT SERVICED. I HAD THE RECALL FOR THE PCV VALVE HEATER REPLACED AT THAT SERVICE SO I KNOW THE SAME FIRE/RUBBER BURNING SMELL CAN'T POSSIBLY BE FROM THAT VALVE RECALL. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 3 SERIES, AND I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY BE AN UNDERLYING ISSUE WITH ALL 3 SERIES BMW 2006-2011. IN BOTH OF THESE SEPARATE INSTANCES I WAS DRIVING AND WAS VERY SCARED THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT IN NEW YORK CITY
NHTSA ODI #11131624
111,000 miles · Sep 12, 2018
Electrical SystemFire
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS MY AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN BLOWING WARMER AIR THAN NORMAL BUT WAS TOLERABLE. A WEEK AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I SMELLED A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY MY AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF. FOLLOWING THAT THE RADIO AND DISPLAY SHUT OFF AS WELL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PUT T…
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FOR SEVERAL MONTHS MY AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN BLOWING WARMER AIR THAN NORMAL BUT WAS TOLERABLE. A WEEK AGO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I SMELLED A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY MY AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF. FOLLOWING THAT THE RADIO AND DISPLAY SHUT OFF AS WELL. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AT THAT POINT I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS IN THE DASH. I GRABBED SOME THINGS AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WITHIN 2 MINS OF NOTCHING THE BURNING SMELL, FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. MY CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE FD ARRIVED ON SCENE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS WITH THE FIRE CONTAINED FROM THE DASHBOARD BACK THROUGH THE CAB OF THE CAR. AFTER READING ABOUT THE BLOWER MOTOR RECALL, I SUSPECT THE AC NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WAS IN DIRECT RELATION TO THE ISSUE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL FIRE ISSUES. IT WAS NOT UNTIL MY CAR BURNED AND I STARTED RESEARCHING THAT I CAME ACROSS MANY REPORTS OF VERY SIMILAR ISSUES.
NHTSA ODI #11129081
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2018
Electrical System
2 RECALLS FOR RISK OF FIRE FILED IN OCT 2017. 17V676 & 17V683. NOTICE RECEIVED 12/02/ 2017. TO DATE 8/28/2018 NO REMEDY AVAILABLE! BOTH KNOWN FIRE RISK AND NO ACTION FROM BMW 9+MONTHS LATER.
NHTSA ODI #11122989
85,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
EnginePower Train
CAM BOLTS SHEAR OFF AND FALL INTO ENGINE RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE FREEWAY WHILE IN DRIVE, EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD FIX THIS HOWEVER ALL THEY DID AT BMW TRI CITIES WAS PUT NEW BOLTS ON AND THERE ARE MASSIVE ISSUES HAPPENING RELATED TO BOLTS FAILING, THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS
NHTSA ODI #11122787
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
AFTER 3 SEPARATE RECALLS, ALL BMW DEFECTS. NOW CHANGED BATTERY, AND WINDOWS AND DIRECTIONALS WONT WORK. NOW DEFECTIVE FOOTWELL PART COSTING 800PLUS. BMW WILL REPLACE, BUT ONLY IF I TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND HUGE EXPENSE TO DRIVE 4 HRS EACH WAY TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO TOW, EVEN THO THEIR PART WENT BAD. THEY AR…
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AFTER 3 SEPARATE RECALLS, ALL BMW DEFECTS. NOW CHANGED BATTERY, AND WINDOWS AND DIRECTIONALS WONT WORK. NOW DEFECTIVE FOOTWELL PART COSTING 800PLUS. BMW WILL REPLACE, BUT ONLY IF I TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND HUGE EXPENSE TO DRIVE 4 HRS EACH WAY TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO TOW, EVEN THO THEIR PART WENT BAD. THEY ARE FORCING ME TO DRIVE (CANT AFFORD TO TOW) A CAR WITH 2 SAFETY RECALLS AND A BAD COMPUTER SYSTEM TO ANOTHER STATE WITH NO VIABLE OPTIONS.
NHTSA ODI #11122335
74,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
Air BagsStructureWheelsCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN TOWN AT 4 PM ON A SUNNY DAY. THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND WHEN I WAS TRYING TO SLOW MY CAR TOO, IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I DID HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO MY RIGHT WRIST AND TO THE LEFT WRIST…
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I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC IN TOWN AT 4 PM ON A SUNNY DAY. THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SLOWED DOWN EVEN MORE AND WHEN I WAS TRYING TO SLOW MY CAR TOO, IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I DID HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO MY RIGHT WRIST AND TO THE LEFT WRIST. IT CAUSED PROFUSE BLEEDING BECAUSE THE AIR BAG CAUSED CUTS IN MY WRIST AREA, VERY CLOSE TO A VEIN. A FIVE INCH HEMATOMA APPEARED WITHIN MINUTES IN THE RIGHT WRIST AND THE SKIN WAS SCRAPED OFF BOTH WRISTS. SEVERAL BURN MARKS ARE ALSO VISIBLE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BEND OF MY ARMS. THE POLICE CAME WITHIN MINUTES AND THEY BANDAGED MY WRISTS TO TRY TO STOP THE BLEEDING. AN AMBULANCE WAS CALLED AND THE EMT WANTED TO TRANSPORT ME TO A HOSPITAL.
NHTSA ODI #11121766
49,500 miles · Aug 16, 2018
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats
PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT/SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING AIR BAGS TO TURN ON/OFF, AND TRIGGER FALSE POSITIVES AND FALSE NEGATIVES FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT OCCUPANCY, THEREBY TRIGGERING SEAT BELT ALARM, AND DISABLING/ENABLING AIR BAGS INCORRECTLY. THIS WAS A RECALL IN THE SAME CAR, MODEL YEAR 2006. I WOULD LIKE MY FEEDBACK ON THIS S…
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PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT/SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING AIR BAGS TO TURN ON/OFF, AND TRIGGER FALSE POSITIVES AND FALSE NEGATIVES FOR MINIMUM WEIGHT OCCUPANCY, THEREBY TRIGGERING SEAT BELT ALARM, AND DISABLING/ENABLING AIR BAGS INCORRECTLY. THIS WAS A RECALL IN THE SAME CAR, MODEL YEAR 2006. I WOULD LIKE MY FEEDBACK ON THIS SUBJECT TO HELP INITIATE THE SAME RECALL FOR THE 2011 MODEL YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11120434
83,479 miles · Aug 8, 2018
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY BMW OF ROCHESTER (4250 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, (585) 598-9213) PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY BMW OF ROCHESTER (4250 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623, (585) 598-9213) PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,479.
NHTSA ODI #11118536
Official recalls
3Jul 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.
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.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗