FaultScore

2007 BMW 3 Series engine problems

23 of the 190 complaints about the 2007 BMW 3 Series are about the engine — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 87,500 miles.

F

23

Complaints

3

Crashes

2

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 22 95.7%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 4.3%

Engine & Cooling across every BMW 3 Series year

2006 15 26.8%
2007 23 41.1%
2008 18 32.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 100,000 miles Vallejo, CA Fire

ENGINE

I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS AT ROUGHLY 3AM ON MY WAY BACK FROM MY COMMUTE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 60 MILES. I NOTICED IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD VENTS, I PARKED THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HEAT COVER FOR THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH MOST OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. MY FRIEND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AS I RAN AND TRIED TO WARN NEIGHBORS , WITHIN 7 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARD. NO MAITNANCE LIGHTS WERE ON AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM. THE TWO RECALLS I NEVER RECEIVED BOTH WOULD EXPLAN THIS INCEDENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000

NHTSA complaint #11162148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, SC

ENGINE

RECALL FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT & PCV VALVE HEATER NOT COMPLETE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS TO REPAIR THESE RECALLS.

NHTSA complaint #11161124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lithonia, GA

ENGINE

DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ON MY ENGINE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL PRODUCT THE PCV VALVE. DEALER SAYS THEIR NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, THEIR JOB IS TO REPLACE THE RECALL PART

NHTSA complaint #11154758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 149,102 miles Rosemead, CA

ENGINE

VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN 10E-A02: N54 CAR IS SMOKING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS DUMPING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. FUEL LEAKING AND FUMES/SMELL, HAZARD, WILL CAUSE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #11089880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spotsylvania, VA

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE OR ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE CAR IS THUS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 6 WEEKS AT LEAST WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. SECONDLY, THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONA RECALLS THAT HAVE NO "FIX" AT THIS POINT WHICH COULD ALSO RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A HAZARD AND COMPLETELY USELESS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. THE TWO ADDITIONAL RECALLS ARE BOTH FIRE HAZARDS AND ARE NOT CORRECTABLE AT THIS JUNCTURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11053341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2 miles Cooper City, FL

ENGINE

VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE RAMP TO ENTER A HIGHWAY AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME UP. THE ENGINE HAS ONLY 42000 MILES. TOOK IT TO BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VANOS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE BOLTS PROBABLY CAME OFF. A RECALL IS IN PLACE FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE FOR OTHER 3 SERIES, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND BMW IS NOT COVERING THE REPAIR. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED ON A RECALL GIVEN THAT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #11046571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Granada Hills, CA Crash 1 injured

ENGINE

POWER STEERING PULLEY COMES INTO CONTACT OF AXLE CARRIER, IT'S A CLEAR DESIGN FLAW AND THIS CAR HASN'T HAD MUCH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DONE, THE COMPANY KNOWINGLY PUT AN UNSAFE BETA CAR ON THE MARKET. MY BELT BROKE BECAUSE OF THE PULLEY TO FRAME CONTACT AND STALLED ON THE 405 FREEWAY AND ENDED UP GETTING INJURED WHEN THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED AT 60MPH. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN WITHIN BMW'S SYSTEM DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE AND THEY WANT CONSUMERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. I SPOKE TO CORPORATE AND THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE COLD SHOULDER SO FAR. MY MISSION IS TO GET THIS ESCALATED TO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.

NHTSA complaint #11046022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Springfield, PA 1 injured

ENGINE

2 COMPLAINTS: 1ST COMPLAINT ADDRESSES "TAKATA RECALL" DATED FEB. 5, 2016 RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.16V-071 DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG. *BMW SERVICE CENTER "OTTO'S" IN WEST CHESTER, PA STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS GOING ON 2YRS. * 2ND COMPLAINT ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING (55MPH) ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF- NO POWER! . IT WAS A HUMID SUMMER (JULY) MORNING BMW FAULT COULD HAVE KILLED MANY, A VERY DANGEROUS PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS UNABLE TO DRIVE BMW. *ADDING INSULT TO INJURY THE HIGH HUMIDITY COULD HAVE SET-OFF THE AIRBAG FAULT UNRESOLVED BY BMW 18 MONTHS & COUNTING. OTTO'S SERVICE CENTER WANTED ALMOST $4K TO REPAIR PLUS AN ADDITIONAL HEFTY SUM UNDER ADVISEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO REPAIR THE WORK THEY COMPLETED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO (>$3K) FOR ENGINE LEAKING OIL - CAR OVER-HEATING

NHTSA complaint #11011855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles EL Paso, TX Fire

ENGINE

I HAVE HAD A MAJOR FIRE ON MY CAR DUE TO AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM MY VALVE COVER. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE INVOLVING VALVE COVER LEAKING OIL ON THE EXHAUST AND CREATING A FIRE ON THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE AND A FIRE HAPPEN. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10945603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union City, NJ

ENGINE

THIS IS STILL NOT RESOLVE AND I AM LOOKING COOLANT AND THERE IS NOT ANSWER OTHER THAN TO REPLACE. IT COSTING ME TO MUCH TO KEEP REVIEWING THIS ISSUE , I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR FREE

NHTSA complaint #10939714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Export, PA

ENGINE

RED ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON ON SCREEN AND CAR WILL NOT START OR TURN OVER. RADIO WORKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE BUT CAR WILL NOT START. WHEN BATTERY DIED, AND I CHARGED IT FULL, THEN WENT TO START THE CAR AND THIS RED ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK CAME ON. HAD TO GET CAR SERVICED

NHTSA complaint #10823314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Carmel, CA

ENGINE

BATTERY DIED. JUMPSTARTED, DROVE FOR A BIT. TURNED OFF, TURNED BACK ON DROVE HOME. PARKED THE CAR. TRIED TO RESTART AND THE RED ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR WAS ON. PLENTY OF JUICE IN THE BATTERY, CAR WILL NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. CAN NOT GET INTO NEUTRAL TO TOW OUT. CAR IS DEAD WHERE IT SITS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK. THANK GOODNESS WE WEREN'T IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #10764851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,000 miles Pittsford, NY

ENGINE

BURNING SMELL IN CABIN. CHANGED CABIN AIR FILTER WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENT. DEALER. OIL FROM VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKAGE IS AN ISSUE IN THIS MODEL. DID INTERNET RESEARCH. APPARENTLY NOT UNCOMMON AT ALL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD-SMOKE INHALATION AND ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THIS CAN HAPPEN. NO FURTHER INFORMATION GIVEN.

NHTSA complaint #10662936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 122,000 miles Warminster, PA

ENGINE

I WAS PARKED, PLACED MY CAR IN REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED (4X4 MALFUNCTION, ABS BRAKE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION) THEN MY CAR LOST POWER. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE SET POSITIONING MOTOR FAILING ON THESE VEHICLES. THE BMW DEALER PART # IS 27 10 7 546 671. THERE IS AN INTERNAL GEAR, WITH IN THE SET POSITIONING MOTOR, MADE OUT OF PLASTIC THAT WEARS PREMATURELY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW'S AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. MY VEHICLE BECOME DISABLED WITH OUT WARNING, LEAVING ME STRANDED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10651519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Pleasanton, CA

ENGINE

ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS: WAS DRIVING OUR CAR YESTERDAY AND WENT OVER SOME TRAIN TRACKS. THEY WERE BUMPY BUT NOT JARRING OR EXCESSIVE. RIGHT AFTER THAT A STRONG VIBRATION STARTED GOING THROUGH THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND FOUND THE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET TO THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD ALL SHEARED OR FALLEN OUT. THE ENGINE IS NOW SITTING AT AN ANGLE.

NHTSA complaint #10616665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Miami, FL

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PALMETTO EXPRESS WAY AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALL I WAS DOING ABOUT 50 MILES/HOUR,ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING OUT OF THE OVERKILL TANK,THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPEN AND ALWAYS ON THE HIGHWAY,WHICH IS VERY DANGER.

NHTSA complaint #10588532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Colton, CA

ENGINE

WHEN I START MY CAR IT WANTS TO TURN OFF. BMW ISSUED A RECALL I TOOK IT IN TO FIX IT BUT PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. THEN MY CAR HAS 63000 MILES AND IT KICKS A LOT IN FIRST GEAR. FOR LOW MILES THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

NHTSA complaint #10577512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moorpark, CA

ENGINE

REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 13V044000 MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES AS EXACTLY OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL NOTICE SUCH AS THE STARTING ROUGH, NOT STARTING, BATTERY INDICATOR LAMP LIT, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER & DEGRADED PERFORMANCE WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN A CRASH BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL MY CAR OVER. I SPOKE WITH BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT SPECIFIED BY THIS RECALL AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA TO GET THIS RESOLVED. I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY OTHER 2007 3-SERIES OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE COVERED BY THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10522277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Redding, CA Crash

ENGINE

MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: HPFP, FUEL INJECTORS, WASTEGATE. FAILURE- LONG CRANK, ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT, ENGINE SERVICE SOON LIGHT, CLICKING(RATTLING) COMING FROM BOTTOM OF CAR(WASTE GATE), CAR LOSE POWER ON FREEWAY, WHEN REV CLICKING IN THE FUEL INJECTORS. PLEASE HELP I HAVE READ MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE WERE ISSUE A RECALL. I HAVEN'T GOT ONE AND AM 100% POSITIVE THESE THREE ITEMS NEEDS REPAIR. MY CAR IS A 2007 BMW 335I AND HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED THE RECALL FOR THOSE 3 FAILURES. 89450 MILEAGE PLEASE ISSUE ONE. THANK YOU I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AS OF 5/15/2013 FROM PRIVATE OWNER AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM TILL 6/12/2013 AND STILL EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS DAILY.

NHTSA complaint #10519471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield Center, CT Crash

ENGINE

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT CENTER LANE OF INTERSTATE 384 IN MANCHESTER CT. THE CAR STALLED AND SHE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY 3 OTHER VEHICLES. SHE SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL OF BMWS FOR A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE. BMW WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE TRADED THE CAR IN BECAUSE WE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE OR RELIABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10499434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles APO, AE

ENGINE

MY WIFE WAS DEPARTING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE ON BASE HERE IN GERMANY. SHE ACCELERATED TO 35 MPH AND EXPERIENCED STALLED ACCELERATION AS SHE WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE MAIN ROAD. MY WIFE WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS AND THE CAR APPEARED NOT TO BE RUNNING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT ROLLED TO A STOP. SHE WAS STUCK IN THE RIGHT HAND TURN LANE ON A TWO LANE ROAD AND WAITED FOR SECURITY FORCES PATROLMAN THAT STOPPED AND HELPED PUSH THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10491571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Atlanta, GA

ENGINE

I HAVE A 2007 BMW 335I COUPE WITH 30000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS REVEALED IN A NORMAL SERVICE APPOINTMENT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THAT PARTICULAR MODELS MOTOR ( N54 ). THE TOLERANCES OF THE PULLEY WHEEL THAT SUPPORTS ALL THE CARS SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE AND CAN RUB ON THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO FAIL CAUSING ALL OF THE CARS SYSTEMS TO STOP WORKING. THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IF YOUR IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION TO HAVE ALL SYSTEMS FAIL. BMW RECOGNIZES THE ISSUE AND PRODUCED A SIB 11 09 08. THE LOCAL BMW SHOP GLOBAL IMPORTS AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE REFUSE TO FIX THE DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED THAT IF THE PULLEY CONTINUES TO RUB ON THE SUBFRAME IT CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE THE MOTOR TO DROP FROM THE CAR CHASIS. AN EVEN MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. GLOBAL IMPORTS WILL FIX THEIR KNOW ISSUE FOR CLOSE TO $4000. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY MANY OF THAT MODELS OWNERS. HTTP://WWW.N54TECH.COM/FORUMS/SEARCH.PHP?SEARCHID=722576 THERE IS A WEBSITE THIS ISSUE SHOULD INVOLVE A RECALL OR REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10471155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Richmond, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE. HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4875087&POSTED=1#POST4875087 BMW HAS A TICKING PROBLEM WITH ALL 2007 AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES. BMW HAS A TSB TO "BLEED" THE VEHICLE. BMW IS AWARE THIS WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BMW NEEDS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD TO FIX THE DEFECT. BMW HAS REDESIGNED THE 2009 CYLINDER HEAD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BMW IS PUTTING ITS CONSUMERS THROUGH A FRAUDULENT SCHEME TO ATTEMPT FRIVOLOUS REPAIRS WHILE KNOWING A FULL CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. ACCORDINGLY, I ASK THAT THIS GOVERNMENT SERVICE DEMAND BMW ISSUE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT TO ITS 2007 AND 2008 BMW 3 SERIES VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10264463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2007 BMW 3 Series problems

← Full 2007 BMW 3 Series report