Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports

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34,000 miles · Oct 9, 2014

Electrical SystemSteering

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WHILE TURNING ON A CONSTANT RADIUS CLOVER-LEAF ON-RAMP (RIGHT OR LEFT), A SUDDEN CHANGE IN STEERING ANGLE WAS REQUIRED TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE. AS THE ELECTRICALLY-ASSISTED STEERING WAS QUICKLY ADJUSTED, A FLAT SPOT (OR A HEAVY SPOT OR A DELAY IN BOOST) IN THE STEERING WHEEL/FEEL WAS ENCOUNTERED. IN OTHER WORDS, MORE FORCE WAS REQUIRED THAN EXPECTED TO QUICKLY CHANGE THE STEERING ANGLE. IF THIS IS NORMAL, IT COULD INTERFERE WITH EMERGENCY MANEUVERS TO AVOID OBSTACLES. PERSONALLY, I FIND IT TO BE UNSAFE AS THE STEERING FEEL IS UNPREDICTABLE. THIS UNPREDICTABLE STEERING FEEL OCCURS ANYTIME I NEED TO MAKE AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN STEERING ANGLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643740

27,899 miles · Jul 18, 2013

Electrical SystemSteering

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AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR (BUT DURING IGNITION, THE KEY SLIPPED IN MY FINGERS CAUSING A MISSED START, I THEREFORE HAD TO TURN THE KEY AGAIN TO GET ENGINE TO TURN OVER.) AND DRIVING FROM MY DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE STEERING ASSIST WHICH CAUSED EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STEERING/CORNERING. I PULLED OVER, THINKING IT HAD TO DO WITH THE MISSED START, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT; STILL NO POWER ASSIST. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO A COMPUTER RESET WHICH RESTORED POWER ASSIST, BUT TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT SAY IF OR WHEN IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I COULD OPT FOR COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $3500! I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 MONTHS AND MAYBE PUT 400 MILES ON IT? THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS A THING TO LET GO, I DON'T THINK THIS IS SAFE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525558

Official recalls

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.

17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Oct 30, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. 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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.