KnownCarProblems2007 BMW 328i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 399 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 BMW 328i, most often about the electrical (32% of complaints, typically around 97,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about 328i model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2007 BMW 328i problems
Electrical
129 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, alternator/generator/regulator, instrument cluster/panel.
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…
The door locks and central locking system are malfunctioning. Key fob will not unlock driver's door and other doors. Key must be used for entry. BMW admits in bulletins that fuse amperage was designed improperly. Taken into dealership for repair, dealership claims that all four door latches need to be replaced at a…
Air bags
105 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles. Parts named most often: sensor, frontal, side/window.
The contact owned a 2007 BMW 328i. While driving approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver side door of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a pole. The air bags did not deploy. There was a police report filed. The contact sustained injuries to the right hand and back, and…
BMW recall dated 11/12/2013, NHTSA campaign number: 13v564000. Recall up to 76,565 units for failures of front seat occupant protection mat. Air bag will not deploy in the event of an accident. Contacted BMW and was told my VIN does not fall into BMW range but I've been experiencing the exact failure since yesterday…
Engine
100 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
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.
Vehicle intermittently and unexpected shuts down while driving. Cruising about 50 MPH when check engine light came on and rpms drop to 0 requiring vehicle to be pulled over and restarted.
Steering
56 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: linkages, column.
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.
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…
Doors and locks
36 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
Repeated door lock actuator failure in 2007 BMW 3281. When this happens, both rear doors and the front passenger doors are impossible to open from outside or inside. This is an obvious safety hazard.
Drivers side door will not unlock from inside. Pulling on handle will not unlock the door nor will the unlock button for all locks on car. In addition the remote key fob will not lock or unlock the door. Random occurrence. Worked perfectly fine in the morning and then malfunctioned later on in the day. Serious safety…
Body and structure
18 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 80,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Door locks would not open leaving me locked out of the car and stranded. Had to have the car towed 300 miles to get it back home where a BMW repair place was available. Had to replace both front door actuators at a cost of $600.00 just to get back inside my car. If a baby was trapped in the car it could of died by the…
I was trapped inside my vehicle with the driver's side door unable to unlock. I could not use the manual door handle on the inside or out. The interior door open button located on the dashboard would not unlock the driver's side door. The key fob would not unlock it. I finally had to maneuver across the center console…
Fuel system
15 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system.
I purchased the car from an independent dealer with somewhere around 60k or 65k miles it now has around 80k miles and since the car has been purchased it has had one problem after the next. The electrical for the windows,mirrors,door locks,GPS system,head lights were not working properly. I received a fault warning…
Sensor in fuel tank did not report amount of gas in tank to dash. Car did not have any gas but reported a quarter tank. While driving at roughly 45 miles an hour, car suddenly died in center lane. Barely had enough time to pull over. The worst part is I was about to enter the highway and my speed would have been…
Seat belts
15 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 76,500 miles.
Warning light came on so we took the care to a technician who found the following fault code: "-93c3 seat occupancy detector, passenger, currently present, 95x0". This failure seems to be extremely common with this vehicle. When I contacted BMW customer relations, they stated: "thank you for contacting BMW of north…
The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328i. The contact stated that the front seat occupant protection mat sensor failed and caused the air bag, seat belt, and passenger side disabled sensor lights to illuminate when operating the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2007 BMW 328i recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed august 30, 2024. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 series sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 series sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 series sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or m-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 degradat
Engine: crankcase (pcv)
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: wiring
Risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on november 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and m3, 2007-2011 328i xdrive, 335i xdrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners with an interim notification letter in january 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, bmw sent a second letter in august and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 series with standard seats, 5 series with comfort seats, and z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact bmw customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email bmw at customerrelations@bmwusa.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america llc (bmw) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750li, and 760li sedans, and model year 2006 x5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. 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.
Electrical: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk: If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery cable connector and secure it with an improved method, free of charge. The recall began on march 13, 2013. Owners may call bmw at 1-800-525-7417 or email bmw at [email protected].
Full defect summary
Bmw is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 1-series coupes and convertibles manufactured december 2007 through september 2011; and 2007-2011 3-series coupes and convertibles manufactured march 2007 through october 2011; 2007-2011 3-series sedans manufactured march 2007 through october 2011; 2007-2011 3-series sports wagons manufactured march 2007 through june 2011; and 2009-2011 z4 vehicles manufactured march 2009 through june 2011. In february 2013, bmw recalled 504,545 vehicles. In july 2013, bmw informed the agency that it was adding 1-series, 3-series, and z4 vehicles, representing an additional 12,094 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 516,791. The connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. Over time, the high current flow and heat from electrical resistance may lead to a break
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2007 BMW 328i
- What are the most common problems with the 2007 BMW 328i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (129 complaints, typically around 97,000 miles); air bags (105 complaints, typically around 83,000 miles); engine (100 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2007 BMW 328i have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 3, 2024 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2007 a bad year for the BMW 328i?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about 328i model year since 2000, with 399 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.