U.S. public vehicle records

2007 Bmw 3 SERIES problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

115 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

61,174 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 115 complaints (30.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	16	13.9%
Steering behavior	15	13.0%
Engine operation	9	7.8%
Fuel system concerns	6	5.2%
Braking behavior	5	4.3%
Transmission and shifting	4	3.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags

Electrical System

Engine

Steering

Seat Belts

Latches/Locks/Linkages

Exterior Lighting

Fuel/Propulsion System

Air Bags: 35; Electrical System: 31; Engine: 22; Steering: 15; Seat Belts: 10; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 9; Exterior Lighting: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 23 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 8; 2012: 13; 2013: 13; 2014: 18; 2015: 11; 2016: 11; 2017: 22; 2018: 12; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10354096 · 2010-09-07 (September 7, 2010)

BMW E90 3 SERIES SEDAN, AFTER THE DOOR LOCK FUSES BLOW THERE IS NO WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE EXCEPT BY A WINDOW. IS A FAILING IN ALL THESE MODELS AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD LATCHES THAT ARE BEING REPLACED AS THEY FAIL UNDER WARRANTY, THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM FOR EXITING THE VEHICLE IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 22,156 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354096 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10408425 · 2011-06-21 (June 21, 2011)

I HAVE A 2007 3 SERIES. PRIOR TO THAT, I OWNED A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES THAT NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH REMOTE. AFTER CHECKING TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T THE BATTERY IN THE FOB, I THEN HAD TO MANUALLY USE KEY TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THEN UPON BEING INSIDE CAR, I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK DOOR USING BUTTON ON DASH. MY CAR IS IN SHOP AND I AM TOLD IT IS A BLOWN FUSE NEEDING AN ACTUATOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD IT'S ALSO AFFECTING MY GAS TANK, MEANING I WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN GAS TANK TO PUT IN GAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10436827 · 2011-11-23 (November 23, 2011)

THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR IS ON. MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE STEERING WHEEL. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AT IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AS TONS OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436827 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10448004 · 2012-02-15 (February 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 C…

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448004 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10229224 · 2008-05-29 (May 29, 2008)

1. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ISSUE ON MAY 21ST LED TO THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING. ALSO PUT THE CAR IN "LIMP MODE" (REDUCED POWER). ALSO, RUN-FLAT TIRES ON THE CAR HAVE ALL BUBBLED/POPPED- HAVE HAD CAR ONLY FOR 5 MONTHS WITH 6800 MILES. 2. CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD STALL ALMOST EVERY TIME WHEN CAR WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THREE DAYS LATER THE CAR STALLED AT LEAST 5 TIMES- BMW REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP YESTERDAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229224 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10236960 · 2008-08-05 (August 5, 2008)

I DRIVE A 2007 BMW XI AND IT IS LESS THAN 1.5 YEARS. THIS IS ALL ABOUT A WEEK APART FROM EACH INCIDENT. THE HAD BEEN ACTING FUNNY FOR A WEEK OR SO AND I BROUGHT IT INTO BMW AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY GAVE ME BACK THE CAR AND A WEEK LATER, THE CAR STALLED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DISCOVERED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PICKED UP MY LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, IT STALLED AGAIN! MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10445376 · 2012-01-24 (January 24, 2012)

CONSUMER STATED, MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 10-15 MPH HER BMW SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE HYDRAULIC PUMP UNIT AND DSC FAILED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20,074 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447655 · 2012-02-12 (February 12, 2012)

AFTER BEING SERVICE BY DEALER FOR 4 DAYS WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HEAVY TOXIC SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATOR OF AC SYSTEM. I IMMEDIATELY STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND IN A FEW MINUTES SMOKE AND FLAMES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT BURN THE CAR. FLAMES AND BLACK PLASTIC WERE COMING ALSO UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT RIGHT IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER QUOTED $25000 FOR REPAIR AND I…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447655 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10509780 · 2013-04-27 (April 27, 2013)

YOU CAN'T HIT A POT HOLE WITHOUT BENDING A RIM MY DAUGHTER JUST BOUGHT 09 328 WITH 7800 MILES, DROVE IT 3000MILES, HAS ONE CRACKED RIM, TWO BENT RIMS AND THE SHOP SAID SHE HAS TWO DAMAGED TIRES. SHE BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES. I'M SORRY I TOLD HER TO BUY BMW. MY SON BOUGHT 08 335XI WITH 60000 MILES. DROVE IT FOR A FEW MONTHS, THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDED 3 RIMS STRAIGHTEN. ALSO BECAUSE IT HAD A MIS THE DEALER GAVE HIM AN ESTIMATE FOR $18,000.00 TO FIX THE RIMS, THE TWO LEAKS AND THE TRANSMISSION. HE GOT RID OF IT AS FAST AS HE COULD AND TOOK A BEATING.…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509780 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10521630 · 2013-06-25 (June 25, 2013)

CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE INTERMITTENT ABS BRAKE FAILURE AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR. BMW WON'T REPAIR UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD 1 ELECTRICAL RELATED SAFETY RECALL DUE TO BATTERY CABLE. SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE BMW FORUM HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AS WELL, HERE IS JUST 1 EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=558662 SEE BELOW TSB #SIB270212 FOR THE ABS BRAKE FAILURE: ___________________________ VEHICLE: 2007 BMW 3 SERIES ________________________________________ NATURE OF DEFECT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION B…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521630 at NHTSA ↗