2007 Bmw X3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
111,260 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 98 complaints (36.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Seats | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Air Bags: 36; Engine: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Seats: 13; Unknown Or Other: 12; Electrical System: 9; Power Train: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 62 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2017: 19; 2018: 32; 2019: 8; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 17; 2023: 9; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11002369 · 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL....RECALL ISSUED 2/5/2016 AND BMW SAYS NOT YET READY TO REPLACE. SO FOR 17 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS THAT ARE KNOWN TO KILL PEOPLE, AND WE ARE UNABLE TO SELL THE VEHICLE.....ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO FIX A KNOWN AND DEADLY PROBLEM!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11002369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002807 · 2017-07-03 (July 3, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BRAMAN BMW (LOCATED AT 2060 BISCAYNE BLVD, MIAMI, FL 33137, TEL: [phone removed]) STATED THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11002807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003254 · 2017-07-06 (July 6, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE GLENNFIELD BMW DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003649 · 2017-07-07 (July 7, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11004056 · 2017-07-10 (July 10, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11004056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11004190 · 2017-07-11 (July 11, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL--- AIR BAG SEAT DASH LIGHT IS ON.I THINK THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MAY BE DEFECTIVE
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11004190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11005417 · 2017-07-14 (July 14, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL. CALLED TO HAVE AN OPTION FOR REPLACEMENT AS I RECEIVED A LETTER THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. MY CLOSET BMW SERVICE CENTER IS OVER 200 MILES AWAY. WHEN I CALLED IN TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A PART SENT TO MY CITY THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SHIPMENT AND THE REPAIR. MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT AND DRIVE MY CAR OVER 400 MILES ROUND TRIP FOR THE REPAIRS. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER OPTION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11005417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019600 · 2017-08-25 (August 25, 2017)
THE INTERIOR OF THE BMW X3 HAS AN UNFAMILIAR ODOR THAT HAS GIVEN ME ITCHINESS IN THE EYES AND MAKES ALL THE PASSENGERS SICK TO THE STOMACH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11019600 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V605000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2017-09-28 (September 28, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V683000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
Reported: 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V017000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗