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.
Of the 2007 reports, 29 involved a crash and 61 involved a fire. 24 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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: steering
116 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 17, 2015
BATTERY DIED. JUMPSTARTED, DROVE FOR A BIT. TURNED OFF, TURNED BACK ON DROVE HOME. PARKED THE CAR. TRIED TO RESTART AND THE RED ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR WAS ON. PLENTY OF JUICE IN THE BATTERY, CAR WILL NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. CAN NOT GET INTO NEUTRAL TO TOW OUT. CAR IS DEAD WHERE IT SITS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. THANK GOODNESS WE WEREN'T IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
Steering, Jul 29, 2015
ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCITON. VEHICLE CANNOT START. STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND SOFTWARE UPGRADED.
Steering, Jul 1, 2015
DROVE TO MALL. PARKED CAR. CAME BACK OUT TO A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A PADLOCK ON THE DASH. I PUT THE KEY IN THE CAR. PRESSED THE BUTTON, CAR WOULD NOT START. TRIED TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I SEARCHED THE SYMBOL TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM "INTERMITTENT IR IMMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL LOCKOUT". I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT BMW SAID WAS THE ONLY OPTION. DIAGNOSIS NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. NO WARNING. NO STEERING ISSUES. NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. JUST AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED OUT AND LEFT STRANDED.
Steering, May 28, 2015
A MESSAGE IN RED APPEARED ON THE DASH WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND PADLOCK. CAR WOULD NOT START. WAS TOLD STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 26, 2015
I PARKED ON MY DRIVE WAY NORMALLY WITH EVERYTHING FINE. THE NEXT DAY WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR ON, IT WOULDN'T START AND IT GAVE ME A STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 22, 2015
I WAS DRIVING ON AN EMPTY ROAD WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, THE CABIN LOST ALL POWER AND THE CAR WENT ON BLACK OUT MODE. I BEGAN TO PRESS THE BRAKE BUT IT WAS ROUGH AND UNRESPONSIVE, I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO CONTINUE TO STOP SLOWLY, ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I BEGAN TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE AND SEEMED TO BE FINE, I POPPED THE HOOD OPEN, EXAMINED A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR FLUIDS OR SIGNS OF OVER HEATING AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, CALLED A TOW TRUCK, THE DRIVER TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY WAS NOT TAKING THE CHARGE, SO HE TOWED ME HOME, THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE BATTERY TO THE PLACE I PURCHASED IT FROM SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THIS BATTERY HAD A 2 YEAR WARRANTY AND WAS USED FOR 8 MONTHS. I INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND THE POWER IN THE CABIN AND DASH WAS REESTABLISHED, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SHORTLY AFTER I TRY TO START THE CAR AND A CLICKING NOISE FROM WHERE THE FUSE BOX IS LOCATED, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BEGAN. I PULLED THE KEY OUT, ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND AN ICON OF A STEERING WHEEL AND LOCKED POPPED UP, ALL IN RED. I CEASED TO ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, I RESEARCHED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE BMW DEALER, ON TUESDAY 4/22 THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THE BATTERY WAS DEAD ONCE AGAIN AND THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE STEERING COLUMN MECHANISM WHICH WAS LOCKED, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE $1200 TO PERFORM THE LABOR, APPARENTLY THEY RESET THE CODE AND THE CAR WAS TURNED ON, ONCE I REALIZED THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND THAT THERE IS NO SPECIAL CODING TO PERFORM THE JOB, I ASKED FOR THE CAR TO BE RELEASED AFTER PAYING $160. THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE BATTERY TO PUT OUT HIGHER VOLTAGE THAN THE CAR NEEDS AND THEREFORE CAUSES THE BATTERY TO MALFUNCTION. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 16, 2015
MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2007 BMW 328I. IN 2010, WE GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING ON THE DASH. WE TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT AND THEY STATED IT WAS A "FAULT CODE". WE HAD THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE IN 2012 AND 2014 WITH THE SAME RESULT, "FAULT CODE". WE NOW HAVE THIS ICON WARNING AGAIN. THIS TIME WE ARE TOLD THAT THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED ($1200). ACCORDING TO MANY REFERENCES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT. ALSO, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL REFERENCES, THERE IS NO WARNING OR PREDICTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WILL FAIL IN THE LOCKED POSITION. IF YOU ARE FIRST GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK HAS FAILED IN THE LOCKED POSITION, IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO START THE ENGINE. THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHETHER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAN FAIL IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. APPARENTLY, THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN RAISED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE. I HAVE ASKED THIS QUESTION TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS SEVERAL BMW WEBSITES. THE RESULTS ARE, THEY DON'T KNOW OR THE ANSWERS HAVE BEEN INCONSISTENT AND OFTEN CONTRADICTORY. ASIDE FROM THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM BEING FAR TOO FREQUENT TO IGNORE BY BMW, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERN. BMW CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Mar 10, 2015
YELLOW WARNING LIGHT INDICATED WHEEL IS LOCKED; CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEREAS IT DID NOT AFFECT MY DRIVING, IT AFFECTED DRIVEABILITY. HAVE BEEN FAR FROM HOME LATE IN THE DAY -WORK RELATED. DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHAT IF WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING? SHAME ON BMW. *TR
Steering, Mar 8, 2015
JUST THE OTHER DAY I DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP TO THE STORE . I STEPPED IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO STATE IT. I GOT THE ( ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION ) IT AUTOMATICALLY DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED . I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND IT WOULD COST ME UP TOWARDS $1500 OUT OF POCKET .. THAT IS CRAZY !! NOW I HAVE A HEAVY AND EXPENSIVE PAPER WEIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY . I DID SOME RESEARCH ON A COUPLE OF BMW FORUMS TO DO SOME HOME WORK I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE . THE KICKER IS ITS A DEALER PART ONLY . I HAVE NOW CHOICE BUT TO GO THE DEALERSHIP AND BE FORCED TO PAY PREMIUM PRICES FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THE IS COMMON TO BREAK . ITS A SENSOR THAT IS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE CAR THAT FAILS . BMW DESIGNED THE STEERING COLUMN TO BE ONE UNIT SO I HAVE TO CHANGE OUT THE WHOLE COLUMN INSTEAD THE EFFECTED PROBLEM WHICH COST NOTHING IN COMPARISON. HOW IS THIS MY FAULT . WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY THIS OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF MY HANDS . *TR
Steering, Feb 24, 2015
STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAN'T START THE VEHICLE. I SEE NOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO DEAL WITH THIS NOW. *JS
Steering, Feb 18, 2015
STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM. ITS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS BUT BMW DOESN'T ISSUE A RECALL BUT WILL REPLACE AND REPAIR FOR 1500.00. *TR
Steering, Oct 6, 2014
VEHICLE HAS A CONSTANT STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT ACTUALLY LOCK, BUT THE WARNING IS CONSTANT. DEALER HAS STATED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. *TR
Steering, Aug 19, 2014
THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A KNOWN AND CONSISTENT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, YET NO RECALL. A FAULTY LOCK MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN COULD LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Steering, Jul 28, 2014
STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED AND STRANDED CONSUMER. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE 2007 328XI AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING OTHER THAN FORCE THE CONSUMER TO MAKE EXPENSIVE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING FLAW. *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Jun 12, 2014
EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I HADN'T NOTICED ANY CHANGES EXCEPT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. THEN I NEEDED A JUMP AND IT TOOK RIGHT AWAY. THE NEXT TIME I NEEDED A JUMP IT WOULDN'T TAKE. TOOK THE BATTERY TO AUTOZONE AND HAD IT CHECKED AND IT WAS FINE. SO REALIZED IT WASN'T THE BATTERY. ID TRY TO START THE CAR BUT NOTHING HAPPENS NOT EVEN A CLICKING NOISE NOTHING. BUT THE LIGHTS STILL CAME ON WINDOWS STILL ROLLED DOWN RADIO EVEN WORKED IT JUST WOULDN'T START. *TR
Steering, Apr 24, 2014
RED WARNING LIGHT STEERING PROBLEM STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY. BMW AND INTERNET STATES THIS WAS COMMON PROBLEM $1800+ TO FIX I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT STILL COST ME APPROX $600. *TR
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Apr 15, 2014
MY SERPENTINE BELT (DRIVE BELT) SNAPPED AND SHATTERED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. THIS BELT DRIVES ALL THE ACCESORIES( ALTERNATOR, POWER STEERING, AC, ETC). THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, THERE IS A SIB 11 09 08 THAT STATES THE ISSUE AND HOW TO GO ABOUT CHECKING IT BY THE DEALER. THE ISSUE IS THE DESIGN FLAW IN THE POWER STEERING PULLY HITTING THE SUB FRAME AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BELT AND IN TURN THE BELT SNAPPING. THIS CAN/WILL CAUSE A FATALITY ONE DAY BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLS. THE BELT ON MY VEHICLE WAS REPLACED BEFORE ON 12/20/12 FOR THE SAME REASON AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN 1.5 YEARS AND THE SAME PROBLEM. *TT
Steering, Air bags, Apr 9, 2014
PASSENGER AIRBAG SEAT PAD DOES NOT DETECT. STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAULT BOTH THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES OF SAME MODELS SAME YEAR BUT NOT MINE. BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE AND I REFUSE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED WHEN OTHERS GET THERE COVERED WITH A RECALL. *TR
Steering, Feb 20, 2014
STEERING WHEEL LOCK SIGN KEEPS APPEARING AND LOCKING ME OUT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED EVERY TIME AND 3 OF THE TIMES A TOW TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO REACH MY CAR TO TOW IT. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER FOR A WEEK NOW AND THE SIGN HAS NOT POPPED UP FOR THEM SO THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING. WHEN I DROPPED OFF THE CAR TO THEM AFTER BEING STUCK FOR 45 MIN, AS SOON AS I PARKED IT AT BMW THE SERVICE WOMAN TRIED TO GO INTO IT AND START IT AND IT SHOWED THE SIGN. THE SERVICE TEAM HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SO I AM PICK UP THE CAR TODAY WITH NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO IT AND IT WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS SINCE IT WILL BE DRIVEN NORMALLY. *TR
Steering, Jan 26, 2014
I HAD JUST EXITED OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHT WHEN THE STEERING "LOCKED UP". I COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO STEER AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKILY, THE CAR "COAST" TO THE SIDE OF THIS NON-BUSY ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO DRIVE BACK HOME WITHOUT ANY ISSUES A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. HOWEVER, THIS INCIDENT HAS ME AND MY FAMILY FREAKED OUT AS WE FREQUENTLY TRAVEL WITH OUR CHILDREN. I CANNOT IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES IF THIS LOCK UP WERE TO HAPPEN ON A FREEWAY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60MPH. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FOLKS COMPLAIN OF THIS ISSUE AND AM AFRAID IT MAY RESURFACE ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. I'LL HAVE MY CAR TAKEN TO A SERVICE SHOP NEAR MY HOME AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE, BUT HAVING READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS IT APPEARS TO BE ALONG SIMILAR LINES OF THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUE. HAS BMW OWNED UP TO THIS AND ARE THEY ISSUING A RECALL? *TR
Steering, Jan 17, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY 328I WITH 48K MILES AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON CAME UP ON THE DASH PANEL. IT KEPT GIVING THE WARNING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO START IT. I DROVE IT HOME AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF, I WAS ABLE TO CRANK IT BACK UP AND HAD NO PROBLEM WITH STEERING IN TEST DRIVE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE COLUMN BECAUSE IT COULD ACTUALLY LOCK. THIS WOULD BE DISASTROUS ON A FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CAL WHERE I LIVE. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BMW 328I MODELS BECAUSE I AM READING OTHER ONLINE POSTS STATING THE STEERING DID LOCK. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT, HOPING THAT ANY SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA WILL SEE THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT YET THEY WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
Steering, Dec 30, 2013
THE CAR FORTUNATELY WAS NOT IN MOTION HOWEVER THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS NOT ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE AS WELL AS PREVENTING THE CAR TO START. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON INHERENT PROBLEM WITH BMW. IN WHICH COSTS THE CONSUMER ~$1800 TO FIX EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MOST LIKELY A SOFTWARE ISSUE AND NOT A PARTS ISSUE. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. *TR
Steering, Dec 4, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK (ELV) IN THE STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Steering, Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Jul 25, 2013
DRIVING NORMALLY, ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A STREET MY POWER STEERING FAILS AND I GET A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT BATTERY CHARGING MALFUNCTION. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT TURNS OUT MY ACCESSORY BELT THAT DRIVES THE AC COMPRESSOR, POWER STEERING PUMP AND ALTERNATOR WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED AND NOT ON THE PULLEYS. I HAVE DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE PULLEYS IN MY CAR. MY POWER STEERING PULLEY IS MISSING BIG CHUNKS BECAUSE OF IMPACT WITH THE SUB-FRAME. THIS IS A KNOWN SERVICE BULLETIN ( SIB 11 09 08 ) THE POWER STEERING PULLEY IMPACTS THE SUB-FRAME BECAUSE OF MOTOR MOVEMENT WHEN HITTING BUMPS ETC.. THIS CAUSED MY BELT TO BE RIPPED INTO SHREDS AND BREAK OFF BIG CHUNKS OF MY POWER STEERING PULLEY. *TR
Steering, Jul 14, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK DISPLAYED ON CAR DASH BOARD. IT WILL NOT START AND CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ONLINE. BMW NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS ISSUE I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BMW THE REST OF MY LIFE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. *TR