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, Jun 28, 2013
THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT. IF I DRIVE NORMAL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORMAL IT LOCKS. I CAN'T RESTART THE CAR. I TURN THE STEERING BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. I HAVE EVEN GONE AS FAR AS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEM RESTART IT. I'M SCARED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHILE I'M DRIVING I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I DON'T WANT OUT LIVES AT JEOPARDY. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, May 27, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WILE DRIVING - VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CASE # 10194169. MY DAUGHTER WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CAME TO A HARD STOP. WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT SHE WOULD NOT MAKE THE TURN, SHE TRIED TO TURN IT BACK TO THE LEFT BUT IT IMMEDIATELY LOCKED HARD IN PLACE. SHE PULLED FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP IN THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SHE STOPPED SHE NOTICED THAT THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. SHE THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ABOUT A MILE TO THE HOUSE. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER - THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS WHERE THEY REVIEWED FAULT CODES (FOUND NONE), TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (COULD NOT DUPLICATE), AND TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART (BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM). THE DEALER DID IMPLEMENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V044000, BUT SAID THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, BUT HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE AT THE TIME. CAN THE NHTSA PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR
Steering, Engine, Mar 13, 2013
UPON TRYING TO START CAR, CONTROL MESSAGE CAME ON SAID STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, ENGINE WILL NOT START. TURN WHEEL TO START ENGINE. THIS DID NOT WORK, MANY TRIES!. CAR IS NOT RUNNING. IN CHECKING THE INTERNET, FOR A SOLUTION, I FIND MANY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME MODEL & EVEN YEAR BMW. SOMETHING SOUNDS FISHY. THERE WAS JUST A RECALL ON THE 3 SERIES FOR SOME SHORT INVOLVING FUSE BOX TO BACK OF CAR WRITTEN UP IN MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER. BMW SAID MY CAR IS NOT INVOLVED. COULD THESE TWO ISSUES BE RELATED? I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR PER RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE! BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAID THE WHEEL LOCK PROBLEM IS NOT WARRANTEED NOR IS IT A RECALL ISSUE. SOUNDS LIKE TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS NOT TO BE A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BY BMW AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE! *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 2, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK SENSOR ACTIVATED. *TR
Steering, Feb 27, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGED NOT WHILE DRIVING. CAR WAS PARKED WENT TO GET IN CAR AND START IT BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS ENGAGED. TURN STEERING WHEEL TO START ENGINE WAS THE MESSAGE THAT APPEARED ON SCREEN. TRIED EVERYTHING EVEN CALLED BMW DEALERSHIP TO ASK FOR HELP. TRIED EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME FOR HOURS. IT STILL WONT START. NEEDS TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND FIXED. WHERE THE CAR WASN'T MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE I HAVE READ MANY OF FORUMS AND THREADS ABOUT STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON 07 335I AND HAVING MANY PROBLEMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THANKYOU *TR
Steering, Feb 3, 2013
A RED STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK APPEARED ON THE DASH OF MY 2007 328XI WHICH DISPLAYS "STEERING WHEEL LOCK" ALERT AND READS THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE TURNED OFF OR ENGINE MAY FAIL TO START. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS KNOWN DEFECT AS IT IS QUITE COMMON IN THIS MODEL AND THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Jan 19, 2013
ON THE WAY TO WORK THAT MORNING A RED WARNING LIGHT "STEERING WHEEL WITH A PAD LOCK ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER" CAME ON, AFTER PARKING AT WORK I GOT THE MANUAL OUT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRIC STEERING-WHEEL LOCK FAULT , THE CAR MIGHT NOT START IF SHUT OFF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER, AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE SAYING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. GOT THE WARNING AGAIN IN DECEMBER, WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND NOW THEY SAY A SENSOR IS BAD. THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $1000.00. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Nov 7, 2012
BATTERY SEEMED TO HAVE DRAINED...WHEN GIVEN A JUMP AND POWER WAS RESTORED, THE CAR HAD A THE STEERING LOCKED LIGHT UP RED. THE CAR TURNED ON FOR A FEW TIMES AND NOW IT DOESN'T TURN ON AT ALL. THERE SEEMS TO BE POWER IN THE CAR AS EVERYTHING LIGHTS UP BUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START NOTHING HAPPENS AND THE ONLY LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS THE ONE OF THE STEERING LOCKED IN RED!!!! THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT!!! *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 18, 2012
MY 2007 BMW 328XI COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS FORCED TO "COAST" INTO A SIDE LANE ON A BUSY ROAD DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. SINCE THIS FIRST INCIDENT MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE - RECENTLY, MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY. I FEEL AS IF THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ISSUE SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON INCREDIBLY BUSY STREETS AND I COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN INTO SOME FORM OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 11, 2012
ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK LIGHT ON MY 2007 BMW 328I COUPE COMES UP IN RED AND CAR WON'T START... INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT AFTER GETTING A JUMP START AND THE POWER FLICKERED OFF AND ON DIFFERENT FEATURES IN THE CAR THE CAR NEVER STARTED, THE KEY FOB KEPT BEING REJECTED FROM THE IGNITION BOX AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY WENT DEAD. I HAD TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK DOORS AND LEFT IT SITTING OVER NIGHT. THE CAR WAS JUMP START AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND RADIO, LIGHTS, TRUNK, DOOR LOCKS, AND SEAT BELTS, ETC. APPEAR TO BE WORKING FINE ELECTRONICALLY BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START... THE BRAKES FEEL TIGHT AND THE STEERING COLUMN IS TIGHT BUT CLICKS WHEN TURN LEFT AND RIGHT (FEELS SEMI-ENGAGED IF THAT'S POSSIBLE)... WAS WONDERING IF THE BATTERY IS JUST LOW AND DOESN'T TRIGGER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK? SHOULD WE DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RECONNECT OR REPLACE TO SEE IF IT TRIGGERS THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK? THE ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHT CAME UP YELLOW HOWEVER THE CAR STARTED IN THE PAST AFTER JUMP STARTING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I?M FORMALLY COMPLAINING IF THIS IS THE CASE FOR I?M TRYING TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY COSTLY REPAIRS SUCH AS REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN OR REPROGRAMMING IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE IF A KNOWN FIX IS AVAILABLE OR FAULTY PRODUCT IS THE CAUSE. I ALSO FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD :-/ *TR
Steering, Sep 10, 2012
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR 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 CRANK 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, BUT I WILL HAVE TO VISIT MY LOCAL BMW REPAIR SHOP TOMORROW. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER BMW OWNER'S WHO SAYS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM MORE THAN ONCE AND I FOUND A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET FORUMS. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BMW 328I MODELS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD ALSO LOCK IF A PERSON WAS DRIVING, ALSO. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT, HOPING THAT ANY SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA WILL REVEAL ANY SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
Steering, Engine, Jul 9, 2012
VEHICLE WILL NOT START, REPLACED BATTERY AND ICON DISPLAYING ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK (ELV) SHOWS IN THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WILL NOT START AS STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAN NOT BE RELEASED DEALER SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, DEALER SAID THE SEE ABOUT 3 CARS A WEEK WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Steering, Jul 3, 2012
DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK" ALERT. NO OTHER OUTWARD SYMPTOMS. CAR IS DRIVABLE. DEALER SAYS WHEEL COULD LOCK UP AT ANY TIME AND SAYS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT ($1400) IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY PERVASIVE PROBLEM ON MANY BMW MODELS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SO BAD THAT BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN WITH ONE WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM WITH THE PART. MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO AN INHERENT AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. BMW SHOULD MAKE THIS REPAIR AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *JS
Steering, Jun 27, 2012
RED INDICATOR FOR ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. CAR FAILED TO START UNLESS MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK COLUMN BY INSERTING AND REMOVING KEY. DEALER SAYS THE COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CAR REPROGRAMMED TO "ACCEPT" THE NEW COLUMN. THE CAR IS COVERED UNDER A CPO WARRANTY, SO THE PARTS WILL BE COVERED, BUT THE "REPROGRAMMING" IS NOT. AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR "BMW ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION" RETURNS MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE MODE. IN SOME CASES MULTIPLE TIMES PER VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US! BMW IS IGNORING THE ISSUE OR KICKING-THE-CAN DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Steering, Mar 20, 2012
STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WHICH IS INHERENT ON THIS MODEL. BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THE ITEM. THEY HAVE SINCE CORRECTED THE MALFUNCTION ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. REPAIR COST $1800 MIN. I WILL ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO THE EVER GROWING LIST I AM SURE YOU HAVE ON THIS MODEL. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ATTEND TO THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS YOU CRASH. *KB
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 18, 2012
MY 2007 BMW 335I BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER DURING A DRIVE DOWN A STEEP GRADE. A BATTERY NOT CHARGING ERROR WOULD APPEAR ON DASH SHORTLY AFTER... HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND NEEDING TO BREAK HARD ON A TURN TO AVOID HITTING A DEAD ANIMAL ON THE ROAD I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND THEN HEARD A NOISE THIS NOISE I DISCOVERED LATER IN THE DAY WAS MY POWER STEERING BELT BREAKING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING WENT OFF THE ROAD OUT OFF CONTROL DUE TO LOSE OF POWER STEERING AND ALMOST HIT A BIKE RIDER AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO GOING OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD. LATER THAT DAY I DECIDED TO GOOGLE MY PROBLEM AND SEE IF THERE WOULD BE AN EASY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM. I DISCOVERED THERE IS NOT AN EASY FIX FOR A BROKEN BELT ON MY MODAL OF CAR. I DISCOVERED THIS IS COMMON ON MANY BMW MODELS AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT SEE SIB 11-09-08. I QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. BMW KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT RECALLED ANY CARS. THERE DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM IS UNDER SIB 11-09-08. I WILL BE BRINGING MY CAR BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVE AND HOPE THEY FOLLOW THE SIB 11-09-08 WHICH NOTES NEW STYLE SUB FRAME REPLACEMENT WILL BE REQUIRED. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE MADE REGARDING POWER STEERING BELTS BREAKING. THESE BELTS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING UNDER THE CONDITION I WAS DRIVING AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HOPE TO SEE THIS RESOLVED SOON BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. AT THIS TIME I DON'T FEEL THE CAR WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 14, 2012
I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHT SHOWING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR AT ALL AND I WAS UPSET BECAUSE I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST PLACE WHICH WAS AN EXTREME BURDEN ON ME FINANCIALLY. *TR
Steering, Mar 12, 2012
RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT. I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY BMW OWNERS AND HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING QUIET OFTEN. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 23, 2012
MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP ON ME OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BMW DEALER IN RALEIGH NC (LEITH BMW ON CAPITAL BLVD) SAID THAT TO FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. *TR
Steering, Feb 22, 2012
A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR (STEERING WHEEL WITH PAD LOCK). I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD CALLED EARLIER WHICH I HAD NOT. I WAS SOMEWHAT ALARMED THAT THIS SOUND LIKE A COMMON ISSUE ALTHOUGH IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS CONCERN. I WAS INFORMED THAT NORMALLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE. *TR
Steering, Feb 15, 2012
I WAS DRIVING AND A RED LIGHT WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND PAD LOCK CAME ON. I CONTACTED SOMEONE REGARDING THIS LIGHT AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON AND THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY LOCK UP ON ME. I CONTACTED IRVINE BMW TO INQUIRE ON THE COST AND SOMEONE ANSWERED ASKING ME IF I HAD SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I RESPONDED NO IT WAS MY FIRST TIME CALLING. I BELIEVE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND AM REQUESTING THAT SOMEONE LOOK INTO THE MATTER. I'M HAVING TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN WHICH COST $1460 AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST ENDED AND MY VEHICLE JUST CAME ON ITS 5TH YEAR. *TR
Steering, Jan 25, 2012
WE DID NOT BUY BMW JUST FOR THE LOOK BUT WE BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF HOW GOOD THEY MAKE THERE CARS AND NOW THIS HAPPEN AND BOY I WAS FOOLED. *TR
Steering, Jan 20, 2012
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT
Steering, Jan 20, 2012
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT
Steering, Nov 30, 2011
STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PER DEALER. *KB