2007 BMW 328I Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical problems — interior wiring that overheats or melts, power that cuts out, and power door locks that stop unlocking — along with an airbag warning light tied to the front passenger seat sensor. Engine complaints center on stalling and rough running, and later reports in the sample describe overheating and smoke from under the hood. Most of these appear in complaints filed at higher mileage, though the door-lock and seat-sensor reports show up much earlier.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Overheating, coolant loss and smoke from the hood

   • 65 complaints (16%)
   • median 106,000 mi at 11.2 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $573 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners report the engine overheating while driving, sometimes with steam or smoke from under the hood and coolant leaking underneath, and a few say the vehicle would not restart afterwards or that the engine was later found to have failed. Some complaints mention a burning plastic or smoke smell from the vents, and several owners reference a recall for engine and engine cooling but state the parts were not available. Others describe a water pump failure with no prior warning. Mostly reported between 85,000 and 190,000 miles.

   Recall 17V6830002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue around the water pump, expansion tank and radiator, and ask whether the crankcase ventilation heater recall has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Water pump failure leaving us stranded on the side of the road 200 miles from home. No repair shops anywhere near. No signs of trouble at all and no way of telling what the temperature of the coolant got to.”

   NHTSA complaint #10668563, filed 2014-12, 69,253 miles

   “Just finished driving about 10 miles from home to work, about 70 degrees-f outside, sunny, good weather around 11am. Did not operate air conditioner, heater or vent fan. Car seemed to drive fine, no strange noises. Had no recent major repairs. We are second owners of certified pre-owned Bmw, have had vehicle for the past 7 years and driven about 50k miles since purchase. After arriving at workplace, stopped at workplace parking lot with engine idling for a few seconds to wait for parking gate to open. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323581, filed 2020-05, 110,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag warning light / seat occupancy sensor

   • 91 complaints (23%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2024

   Owners describe the airbag or seat-belt warning light staying on whether or not someone is in the passenger seat, and some say the passenger airbag is shown as deactivated. Complaints state the dealer diagnosed a failed seat occupancy sensor mat in the passenger seat and quoted repairs; several note their vehicle was not covered by the airbag recalls, while others report waiting on parts. A few mention the light coming on after someone knelt or sat on the seat. Reported from about 24,000 miles upward, with many complaints between 70,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 13V564000Recall 24V513000Recall 20V0170004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the ignition on with and without a passenger and confirm the airbag/seat-belt light behaves normally. Ask whether the seat occupancy mat or the driver airbag inflator has been replaced under a recall or support program.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since I got this car my oil was leaking. I had to replace the val cover. I can't remember how much that cost me. My steering lock module was replaced and it cost me 1,181.07. I had my belt tensioner replaced because it was bent. It cost me $327.04. This was done 3/6/2015. A recall on srs air bag. I still have the air bag warning light. Bmw recommended to replace of exhaust lifters and roller drag levers with updated unit to eliminate ticking noise at idle which will cost me 1,466.40. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10954352, filed 2017-02, 104,000 miles

   “The front passenger air bag seat occupancy sensor (oc3) mat has failed in my car. Bmw extended the warranty on the e90 sedan and e91 wagon version of the 2007 328I but not the e93 convertible (which I have) the seat components are identical on all 3 model versions of that year. Why is the safety of e93 passengers less important than the passengers in the e90 and e91 when they share the same sensor? Repair cost is $1,200 for a sensor Bmw knows will fail. I want the 2007 e93 to be included in the extended warranty si b01 09 14”

   NHTSA complaint #11206634, filed 2019-05, 49,000 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Doors will not unlock; power lock failure

   • 118 complaints (30%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (97 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,206 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Complaints describe power door locks that stop responding to the key fob or the central lock button, leaving occupants unable to open doors from inside and climbing out through the windows or over the front seats. Some say only the driver's door opens, and that even the manual inner handle does not release the other doors. Owners report the dealer replacing latch actuators or changing a fuse, and some say the problem returned after that work. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 145,000 miles, with several complaints filed under 60,000 miles.

   Recall 13V0440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test every door, including the rear doors and fuel filler door, with the fob, the central lock button and the inner handles. Ask whether the latch actuators or the fuse referenced in the electrical-system recall have been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is the second time I am reporting this issue. A few years ago I was not able to open my doors caused by an obvious electrical issue. The dealership determined it was faulty actuators and they had to be replaced. It was a very expensive repair. This is a serious safety concerned to not be able to get in or out of your car to both the driver and passengers. After some research, it was determined this a known issue by Bmw yet they refuse to do a recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10787523, filed 2015-11, 46,000 miles

   “The doors on my 2007 Bmw 328I would not open with the push button lock. I removed the manual key and was able to open the door from the outside. When I returned to my house, I reviewed the owners manual and checked to see if the setting was wrong with the key. Pushing the key, open-close button the doors locked but would not open. I had the foresight to roll my window down prior to checking the lock. If I had not done so, I would have been locked in the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10330265, filed 2010-05, 52,726 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Stalling, rough idle and engine cut-out

   • 42 complaints (11%)
   • median 72,855 mi at 7.0 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2026

   Complaints describe the engine losing power or stalling at low speed, at stops and while turning, sometimes with rough idling beforehand and a check-engine light; most owners were able to restart. Dealers variously diagnosed an eccentric shaft sensor, ignition coils, fuel pump or fuel tank connection, or reprogrammed the engine, and some complaints say no cause could be found. A few mention rattling or ticking from the engine area alongside the running problems. Spread from about 12,000 to 170,000 miles, including several reports under 60,000 miles.

   Recall 17V6830004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records covering ignition coils, fuel pump, eccentric shaft sensor and VANOS-related work, and take a test drive that includes idling in traffic and low-speed stops.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 12/15/07 I pulled onto the highway from the dirt median. The car engine lost power and the vehicle came to a virtual stop on the highway with high speed traffic quickly approaching. I was pushing the gas pedal to the floor but no power was being applied to the wheels and engine RPM did not increase. This lasted for many seconds. I had time to confirm I was still in first gear. I then depressed the clutch, revved the engine to high RPM and took off in second gear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10212027, filed 2007-12, 15,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Bmw 328I. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. After a few minutes, the vehicle started and operated as designed. The contact also stated that the failure occurred once before. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed no cause for failure could be found. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage 54,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10500910, filed 2013-03, 54,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: no-start, dead battery and melted wiring

   • 95 complaints (24%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (69 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe intermittent total power loss, no-start conditions where the car later starts normally, and accessories such as the heater, mirror motor or wipers running on their own and draining the battery. Several reports mention a burning smell from the vents and wiring or connectors found melted in the footwell or headlight harness. Some owners say the vehicle had already been repaired under an electrical-system recall when the symptoms came back. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 170,000 miles, with many complaints above 100,000 miles.

   Recall 17V676000Recall 13V0440004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the blower-wiring recall and the fuse/circuit-breaker recall were completed, check for a scorched smell or melted connectors near the footwell and headlights, and have the battery and charging system tested.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The heater turns on by itself when the car is off and kills my battery....having lots of other electrical problems with the car not starting..the driver side mirror motor turns on sparatically which drains the battery...now the car doesn't start at all and the windshield wipers engage when I push the start button”

   NHTSA complaint #11311324, filed 2020-02, 140,000 miles

   “After, I parked my car in the garage. (nothing out of the ordinary, daily routine, normal conditions). My car wouldn't start. It displayed a power steering wheel locked icon warning when I tried to start the ignition. The ignition spark wasnt there. The lights also dimmed as I tried to get started.”

   NHTSA complaint #10766445, filed 2015-09, 163,500 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the door locks, airbag warning light, cooling system and interior wiring is worthwhile, and the recall history should be checked by VIN and confirmation obtained that the open campaigns were completed. Service records for ignition, fuel and cooling components help show how the car has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.