2007 BMW 3 Series

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 1,040 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 1,040

Of the 2007 reports, 29 involved a crash and 61 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system288 reports · 28% of complaints
Owner complaints1,040Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship2 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system288
  2. Air bags226
  3. Engine163
  4. Fuel system124
  5. Steering116
  6. Gasoline113
  7. Latches/locks/linkages93
  8. Engine and engine cooling66

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: gasoline

113 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 12, 2008

    I HAD A 2007 BMW 335I SEDAN THAT EXPERIENCED A BAD FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE SERVICED BUT THEY STATED THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL AN ERROR CODE WAS THROWN. THE CAR RAN LIKE COMPLETE GARBAGE AND WOULD SHAKE FERVENTLY WHILE IDLING. NOW, I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335I AND AFTER ABOUT 4800 MILES, 2 SPARK PLUGS AND 2 IGNITION COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM ABSOLUTELY FUMID PAYING THIS MUCH FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAS ZERO RELIABILITY. THIS CAR ALSO SHAKES RATHER ROUGHLY AT IDLE AND MAKES ME QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF THE MANUFACTURER'S FUELING SYSTEM. *TR

  2. Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 11, 2008

    THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM ON MY 2007 BMW 335 FAILED AT SPEED ON THE EXPRESSWAY CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER AND BE FORCED TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER AND CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. *TR

  3. Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 10, 2008

    FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR

  4. Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 10, 2008, crash

    ENTERING A FREEWAY ON RAMP DURING A TURN, THE CAR'S FUEL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO 'SHUTTER' (SAME FEELING AS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT). THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP OVER AFTER HITTING A DITCH. THE CAR HAS ALREADY HAD TWO FUEL PUMPS REPLACED AND BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SO FAR, BMW DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR INABILITY TO FIX THIS KNOWN 335I PROBLEM. THERE ARE ALREADY 11 COMPLAINTS (NOT INCLUDING THIS ONE) REGARDING THE ISSUE ON THIS WEBSITE. BMW ASSIST ALSO FAILED IN THE CRASH AS IT DID NOT CONTACT BMW ASSIST CALL CENTER AFTER THE CRASH. *TR

  5. Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 13, 2008

    THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A FREEWAY ON-RAMP, RESULTING IN A NEAR REAR- END COLLISION AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE FOR WHICH PRODUCTION CONTINUED, KNOWING FULL WELL THE POTENTIAL FOR EVENTUAL MALFUNCTION, WITHOUT DISCLOSURE TO THE PURCHASER. *TR

  6. Fuel system, Gasoline, Jan 7, 2008

    FAILED FUEL PUMP, (TWICE NOW) ONCE AT 8,000 MILES, AND NOW AGAIN AT 23,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW. IT'S A 2007 BMW 335I. *TR

  7. Fuel system, Gasoline, Oct 24, 2007, crash

    2 FUEL PUMP FAILURES RESULTING IN OVER ONE MONTH WITHOUT VEHICLE. *TR

  8. Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 20, 2007

    I JUST BOUGHT A BMW 335 IN DECEMBER 2006, LESS THAN 7,000 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY THE MALFUNCTION ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR STARTED TO IDLE AND THERE WAS ALMOST COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE THE CAR TO SERVICE THEY INITIALLY REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BECAUSE I HAD NOT MADE AN APPOINTMENT. SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR AND ITS FALLING APART JUST A FEW MILES AFTER. FINALLY THEY LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE HIGH PRESSURE GASOLINE PUMP. I'VE READ ONLINE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT STILL BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. *TR

  9. Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 14, 2007

    MY NEW BMW 335I SEDAN STARTED LOSING POWER AND EVENTUALLY VIBRATED TO A HALT. FUEL PUMP FAILURE. DEALER HAD MEMO ON DCS BUT FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE SO. *JB

  10. Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 28, 2007

    HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN BMW 335I COUPE. 4 WEEKS TO REPLACE. *TR

  11. Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 26, 2007

    EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2007 BMW 335I AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS DRIVING BEHIND ME ON MY WAY TO WORK. STARTED EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AS RECENTLY AS A MONTH AGO, SUCH AS LONG ENGINE CRANK TIMES, VERY ROUGH IDLING UPON STARTUP, AND OCCASIONAL "LIMP MODE" PERFORMANCE. IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WORK ON MY CAR UNTIL I EXPERIENCED A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" (SES) WARNING LIGHT. THE FUEL PUMP PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD SHUDDER WHEN REVVING OVER 2000RPMS, AND THE CAR PERPETUALLY REMAINED IN LIMP MODE WHERE IT IS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN A SAFE ENOUGH MANNER TO DRIVE ON PUBLIC ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIR WHEN THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AT 7/25/07 ON MY 02/07 PRODUCTION VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS OVER A ONE MONTH WAIT FOR A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. *JB

  12. Fuel system, Gasoline, Fuel system, Other, Jul 22, 2007

    BMW 335 COUPE HPFP (HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FOR DIRECT INJECTION) FAILED BEFORE 4,000 MILES. NO SIGNS OF FAILURE, CAR STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE, AND THEN WOULD NOT RESTART WITHOUT DYING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I HAD TO WAIT 7+ WEEKS WITH THE CAR IN SERVICE BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WAS ON INTERNATIONAL BACKORDER WITH 400+ UNITS ON BACKORDER! PUMP WAS REPLACED AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP FOR 7+ WEEKS, AND CAR IS RUNNING GOOD AGAIN.

  13. Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 22, 2007

    HIGH RATE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURES FOR THE 335I BMW, IF OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY LEADS TO VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR