2010 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 274 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 8 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, engineOct 20, 2023
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2010-2012 1 Series Coupe, 1 Series Convertible, 3 Series Sedan, 3 Series Convertible, 2010-2011 3 Series Sportswagon, 3 Series Coupe, 5 Series Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, X3 xDrive 30i, X5 xDrive30i, and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The aluminum bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and possibly break.
Loose or broken VANOS unit bolts can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the four VANOS bolts, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 23V707000 on NHTSA.gov
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: engine
116 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 9, 2015
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE INTERSTATE MY CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PROBLEMS WITH HESITATION BECAME WORSE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD ALMOST STALL WHEN I CAME TO A STOP. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILINING IGNITION COIL IN CYLINDER #3 WHICH WAS REPLACED. ON 11/28 THE CAR STARTING DOING THE SAME THING. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP THAT WAS CLOSER TO MY WORK BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY AND I FELT VERY UNSAFE. AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAS 53440 MILES ON IT. RIGHT OUT OF WARRANTY! I CALLED BOTH DEALERSHIPS AND COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BMW. I WAS CHARGED $681.06 FOR A KNOWN ISSUE AND THIS BEING THE 2ND TIME MY CAR HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. THIS TIME THE FAILURE WAS IN CYLIDERS 2 AND 6! AND WAS TOLD TO PAY TO REPLACE ALL AS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL! I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP BMW OF TOWSON AND NEVER RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THIS SERVICE AS BMW OF CATONSVILLE WOULD HAVE DONE THE REPLACEMENT FOR FREE AS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I COULDNT DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO BMW OF CATONSVILLE BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOW ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR A REFUND OF $681.06 AS I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR SOMETHING THAT BMW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 2, 2015
EXCESSIVE SOOT AND CARBON BUILD UP IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND INTAKE VALVES OF THE 335D WHICH IS A DIESEL CAR. THIS CAUSES ROUGH IDLING, MISFIRES, AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 20K MILES AND CONTINUOUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. FINALLY, THE DEALER AGREED IT WAS CARBON BUILD UP BUT THAT IT IS NOT COVERED. THE REPAIRS FOR THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW AS IT IS EMISSIONS RELATED AND CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ENGINE PROBLEMS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE ON OTHER DIESEL CARS BY OTHER MANUFACTURERS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 13, 2015
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 295 AROUND 67 MPH. WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 10 MINUTES I FELT A LOSS OF SPEED ABOUT FIVE TIMES. IT FEEL LIKE I LET GO THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I NEVER DID. AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS ON 67 MPH. I TRY TO PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIDE LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. I TRY TO START THE CAR BACK UP BUT IT WON'T START. I KEEP TRYIN FOR ABOUT TEN TIMES AND IT ABOUT HALF AN HOUR WENT BY IT START BACK UP AGAIN. *TR
Engine, Dec 26, 2014
I STARTED MY CAR AND BEGIN PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND PULLED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER SIGNIFICANTLY, STALLED, AND THE CAR DIED ON ME WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THERE WERE SEVERAL MESSAGES THAT APPEARED ONCE THE ENGINE HAD DIED INCLUDING "ENGINE MALFUNCTION", "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" AND "DSC - REDUCED DRIVABILITY". THE LATTER STATED THAT IT WAS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR THOUGH CAUTION SHOULD BE USED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TRIED RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, IT WOULD CRANK AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO START, BUT WOULD NOT ACTUALLY START. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET A FEW PEOPLE IN THE AREA TO PUSH ME SAFELY OUT OF THE ACTIVE TRAFFIC LANE I WAS STALLED IN INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE CAUSE OF ISSUE IS STILL BEING DIAGNOSED; SO I STILL DO NOT KNOW ROOT CAUSE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED, HOWEVER, THE THOUGHT THAT THE ENGINE COULD JUST STOP AND DIE ON ME AT ANY POINT, SUCH AS WHEN DRIVING AT 60+ MPH ON THE FREEWAY, IS RATHER TERRIFYING. FURTHER, GIVEN THE LOW MILES AND YEARS ON THE CAR, RUNNING INTO SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE IS RATHER UNSETTLING. *TR
Engine, Dec 17, 2014
I WAS DRIVING AND JUST GOT OF THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WAS STILL ON BUT WOULD NOT MOVE DUE TO BAD WATER PUMP THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD HAVE JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. $1350 TO FIX. THIS CAR IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF JUNK THEY ARE MAKING THEM VERY POORLY, I 2 YEARS I'VE REPLACED ABOUT 20 TIRES ON THE RUN FLAT, WATER PUMP, FUEL PUMP (THROUGH RECALL) SOME BATTERY CABLE (THROUGH RECALL) ONE OTHER THE TURBOS, AND FUEL INJECTORS. *TR
Structure, Engine, Dec 10, 2014
CAR FRONT END SHAKING AND BANGING. BROUGHT TO REPAIR. WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS WERE SHEARED OFF. NEED TO HAVE BOLTS REMOVED AND REPLACED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Sep 25, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE HOOD OF VEHICLE WAS OPEN, HE OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THE EMISSION VALVE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 22, 2014
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTE CAMPAIGN NO. 14V-176 VANOS ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON MY 2010 BMW 328I IN JUNE. IT IS NOW THE END OF AUGUST AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT REPAIRS. THE NEAREST GARAGE HASN'T THE PARTS AND SAYS NOTHING OF THE SAFETY OF MY FAULTY VEHICLE OR WHEN PARTS MAY APPEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. I NEED TO USE IT, BUT THE LETTER SAYS IT CAN CAUSE A CRASH. HOW LONG WILL THIS CRAP GO ON? I TRIED TO CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE OVER A WEEK AGO.....NO RESPONSE. I TRIED TO CALL THE VEHICLE SAFETY OFFICE AT FED GOV.....LONG WAIT ON THE PHONE.....I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS FROM ANYBODY. IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE COUNTRY HAS GONE ON VACATION. WHO'S IN CHARGE? WHEN WILL MY CAR BE FIXED? CAN I DRIVE THE CAR IN THE MEANWHILE WITHOUT RISKING MY LIFE? *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Engine, Jun 17, 2014
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE PA TURNPIKE NEAR THE QUAKERTOWN EXIT AT 75 MPH IN THE LEFT HAND LANE WHEN MY CAR SHUT DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP IN ACTIVE TRAFFIC. AS THE CAR WAS SHUTTING DOWN I HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING BUT WAS ABLE TO BRAKE. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE ERROR CODES OR LIGHTS TO INDICATE ISSUE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR, THE ENGINE WOULD ROLL BUT I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. I CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT A STATE FARM HIGHWAY WORKER STOPPED TO PROTECT ME FROM HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND ME UNTIL I COULD BE SAFELY MOVED OFF OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO WEST GERMAN BMW IN FORT WASHINGTON, PA. COST FOR THE ABOVE SERVICE WAS PAID FOR BY BMW UNDER A "WARRANTY EXTENSION" AS THIS IS A "KNOWN ISSUE." I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS NO RECALL OR SERVICE NOTICES HAVE BEEN SENT BY BMW TO INSPECT OR REPAIR FAILING FUEL LINES. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE ISSUES FOUND IN MY CAR ARE EXCEPTIONALLY SERIOUS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE THESE REPAIRS WILL APPEAR ON MY CARFAX AND WILL POSITION MY CAR TO OTHER BUYERS AS ONE WITH MAJOR ISSUES. DURING INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCESS SEVERAL ISSUE WERE NOTED. 1. NO FAULTS WERE STORED IN THE VEHICLE. 2. UPON CHECKING THE FUEL PRESSURE, NONE WAS FOUND @ RAIL 3. UPON REMOVING THE FUEL TAN COVER THEY DISCOVERED THAT A HOSE POPPED OFF INSIDE THE TANK 4. AFTER REATTACHING, THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, ONLY TO HAVE THE HOSE COME OFF AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AS IT WAS GOING THROUGH THE COURTESY CAR WASH 5. AFTER OPENING THE CAR AGAIN, THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINE THAT WAS CLAMPED ON "LINE A" RUPTURED, FULL FUEL TANK AND ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. *TR
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 25, 2014
DUE TO PREMATURE BUILD UP OF EXCESSIVE SOOT AND CARBON IN THE EGR, INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND INTAKE VALVES OF DIESEL ENGINES, IT WAS CAUSE ENGINE VIBRATIONS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. WITHOUT COSTLY REPAIRS REQUIRING EGR CLEANING/REPLACING, INTAKE MANIFOLD CLEANING/REPLACING, AND CYLINDER HEAD CLEANING/ REPLACING, THE CAR WILL NOT PASS MANDATORY EMISSIONS TESTING. BMW NEEDS TO EXTEND THEIR WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jun 17, 2013
OIL PUMP PRESSURE WENT OUT ON 36,000 MILES AFTER A RECALL WAS DONE ON MY CAR BY BMW ON MAY 2013. THE RECALL WAS CHANGING THE ELECTRICAL BATTERY CABLES. RIGHT AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN MY CAR I HAD THIS ERROR ON MY COMPUTER: "ENGINE OIL PRESSURE TOO LOW. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGES, SWITCH OFF ENGINE. CONTINUED DRIVING IS NOT POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BME CENTER" RIGHT AFTER THE RECALL WAS MADE MY ENGINE START LOOSING POWER. I CALLED AND COMPLAIN BMW OF NA AND THEY DENIED MY COMPLAINS. I REALLY BELIEVE THIS OIL PUMP SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE I GOT 2 RECALLS ALREADY ON MY CAR. FIRST RECALL WAS THE FUEL PUMP NOW THE OIL PUMP. HOW MANY THINGS WILL HAVE TO BREAK IN THIS 2010 335XI UNTIL THEY WILL RECOGNIZE IT AS A LEMON CAR? I BELIEVE THAT MY OIL PUMP WAS GOING OUT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL THAT THEY HAD ON THE ELECTRICAL BATTERY CABLES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 14, 2013
THIS 335D HAD A HISTORY OF ENGINE LIGHT-ON EVENTS PRIOR TO POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC UNCOMMENTED ENGINE RUNAWAY. ON JAN 13, 2013 CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT CRUISE CONTROL AT SPEED SETTING 83 MPH ON TURNPIKE AT 11PM. SUDDENLY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER OUTPUT. ENGINE WAS UNABLE TO HANDLE POWER REQUIREMENT TO KEEP CRUISE CONTROL SPEED AT 83 AND VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED TO LOW 70-IES MPH. ECU DID NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED. SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCOMMENTED BACK TO THE SET CRUISE CONTROL SPEED OF 83 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO BMW SERVICE ON JAN 16 2013 AND REMAINED THERE FOR OVER 2.5 MONTHS! MANY PARTS WERE REPLACED AND ENGINE LIGHT-ON EVENT WAS REPLICATED SEVERAL TIMES BY SERVICE MECHANICS. BMW CENTER MANAGER STATED "WE DO NOT WANT TO SELL YOUR CAR TO ANY OF OUR CUSTOMER, THEY MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS YOU HAD". IRONICALLY, VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO CUSTOMER ON MARCH 27, AFTER 70 DAYS OF REPAIRS AND TROUBLESHOOTING. CUSTOMER WAS SHOWN PICTURES BY SERVICE MANAGER OF CYLINDER HEAD, ONE OF THE MANY PARTS THAT WAS REPLACED, THAT WAS FULL OF GUNK AND CARBON BUILD UP. CYLINDER HEAD WAS THEN APPARENTLY MAILED TO BMW GERMANY FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. BMW SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. . . . NO ROOT CAUSE WAS EVER PROVIDED ABOUT VEHICLE'S ENGINE LIGHT, SIGNIFICANT CARBON BUILD UP IN CYLINDER HEAD AND SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 3, 2011
REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WARNING CAME. THE NEXT INCIDENT WAS ON 03/28/2011 MILEAGE AT 9008, THE SAME HAPPENED AT SPEED OF 65 WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 24, 2010
I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON A CROWDED STRETCH OF US101 IN A 2010 BMW 335I COUPE WITH LESS THAN 3200 MILES ON IT. MY CAR WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST ALMOST ALL ENGINE POWER, MAKING ACCELERATION IMPOSSIBLE. I HAD TO EASE MY WAY OFF THE HIGHWAY AND, AFTER STOPPING TO TAKE STOCK OF THE SITUATION, I DROVE HOME VIA SIDE STREETS. MY CAR CONTINUED TO SUFFER FROM LACK OF POWER ALL THE WAY BACK AND COULD BARELY ASCEND SOME OF THE HILLS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 30, 2010
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CAME ON. POWER WAS SUDDENLY REDUCED TO LESS THAN 35MPH. THIS WARRANTED AN IMMEDIATE MOVE TO THE SLOW LANE OF TRAFFIC AND HAD TO GO SEVERAL MILES UNTIL IT WAS SAFE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO ATTEMPT A RESTART. RESTART DID NOT HELP, HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR AT 35 MPH TO NEAREST DEALER FOR SERVICE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 30, 2010
PROBLEM 1 - ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR AT STARTUP. CAR DID NOT IDLE CORRECTLY AND RAN ROUGH WHEN DRIVEN. WHEN DRIVING, MISFIRES AND REDUCED POWER. MAX SPEED ACHIEVED WAS 35MPH. *TR