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BMW 328XIModel year report

2007 BMW 328XI Problems

Complaints
198filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,000miles, 140 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 17 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2007 BMW 328XI (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 328XI report door lock actuators that stop responding, leaving doors that can only be opened from the driver's side or through a window, along with frequent oil leaks from the valve cover and oil filter housing area at moderate mileage. Electrical gremlins, passenger-seat airbag sensor faults, and an electronic steering column lock warning that can prevent starting also come up repeatedly in complaints.

  1. Latches, locks and linkages

    Door locks won't unlock from inside or remote

    • 33 complaints (17%)
    • median 52,887 mi at 5.3 yrs old (30 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2018

    Complaints describe power door locks that stop responding to the key fob, the dashboard lock button, and the interior handles; often only the driver's door opens, and sometimes only with the physical key blade from outside. Several owners note the fuel door stays locked as well, and some say a fuse replacement restored function only for the problem to return. Owners describe having to climb through windows or over seats to let passengers out. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly between about 25,000 and 90,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Test every door repeatedly with the fob, dash button and interior handles, and confirm the fuel filler door unlocks. Ask whether lock actuators or fuses have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The vehicle was stationary in a garage. With vehicle either running or not running, we were unable to exit the vehicle as we were unable to unlock and open both front and the left rear doors, from the inside (using the door levers, central locking system button, and remote) or from the outside (using the door handle, key, and remote). The only ways to exit the vehicle were to climb through a window or over the front seats (difficult) to access the right rear door. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11162240, filed 2018-12, 78,799 miles

    “None of my doors will unlock in my 2007 328XI with only 52,000 miles. I have to roll down the window and use the manual key and then it only unlock my driver door...all other doors and the gas tank will not unlock....not even pulling the handles from the interior. This is a very bad design flaw and a major safety hazard. I have a 5 and a 2 year old. What if I were to have an emergency where my battery were to die and the windows were up. I and my children would perish in the heat of our georgia summer. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10407416, filed 2011-06, 52,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    Passenger airbag/occupant sensor light stays on

    • 38 complaints (19%)
    • median 88,544 mi at 8.0 yrs old (23 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2009–2025

    Owners report the passenger airbag or restraint warning light staying lit with an adult in the seat, and the passenger airbag-off indicator remaining on. Dealers commonly diagnosed a failed front passenger occupant detection mat or seat sensor and quoted replacement; some owners note the fault returned within a year or two after the part was replaced. Several complainants say they were told their vehicle was not covered by the occupant classification system campaign. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 120,000 miles, with some at higher mileage.

    Recall 13V564000Recall 20V017000Recall 24V5130005 related service bulletins

    What to check: With the ignition on, sit in the passenger seat and watch whether the airbag-off light goes out; ask if the occupant mat or sensor has been replaced and whether any open airbag campaigns apply to the VIN.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Passenger seat airbag sensor is on. There are other 2007 with the same symptoms but my Bmw dealership is telling me that my car wasn't part of the recall.”

    NHTSA complaint #10583104, filed 2014-04, 13,500 miles

    “Passenger air bag light is lit even when passenger is sitting. There's no difference as to if the passenger sits down with the car on or off, if the belt is fastened with the car on or off, moving or stationary.”

    NHTSA complaint #11298020, filed 2020-01, 123,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Oil leaks from valve cover and filter housing

    Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe oil leaking around the plastic valve cover and oil filter housing, sometimes smoking off the exhaust or catalytic converter and producing a burning oil smell or smoke visible near the windshield. Owners report repeat replacements of the valve cover and gasket, and some mention oil odor in the cabin along with a check engine light. Dealers in several cases attributed the leak to the valve cover gasket rather than an open recall. Typically reported from roughly 45,000 to 120,000 miles, in some cases after years of slow leakage.

    Recall 17V676000

    What to check: Inspect the top and back of the engine and the area under the plastic engine cover for oil residue and burning smells, and ask for records of valve cover or gasket replacement.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “A car with 118k miles that has had numerous oil leaks around the valve cover and oil filter housing. It has been leaking oil for the last 50k miles. I've already replaced the plastic valve cover and filter housing each. Now the plastic valve cover is cracked. I'm waiting for it to catch on fire. Every Bmw blog has numerous examples this issue. I've owned 10 cars over the past 30 years and all of them added together haven't leaked oil as much as this poorly designed engineered vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10809224, filed 2015-12, 70,000 miles

    “Had the valve cover replaced and mechanic says it will need a engine the car only had 81000 miles bought it with 60000 miles on it only had it 2 years.”

    NHTSA complaint #10682331, filed 2015-02, 82,000 miles
  4. Steering

    Electronic steering wheel lock warning / no start

    • 22 complaints (11%)
    • median 68,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (19 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 9 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2021

    Owners report a steering wheel lock warning on the dash, sometimes with the car still driving normally and sometimes with the vehicle refusing to start. Dealers reportedly said the electronic steering column lock had failed and that the steering column needed replacement, in some cases with a software update; repairs were described as expensive. Some owners say the car was left stranded and had to be towed. Reported mostly between about 28,000 and 110,000 miles.

    What to check: Watch for a steering lock message at key-on, try several start cycles, and ask whether the steering column lock or column has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “A red steering wheel and lock appeared on the dash of my 2007 328XI which displays steering wheel lock alert and reads that the car should not be turned off or engine may fail to start. This appears to be an ongoing issue with this model which is quite expensive to fix. The manufacturer should be held responsible to fix this known defect as it is quite common in this model and there are many similar complaints regarding the same issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10496258, filed 2013-02, 34,000 miles

    “Steering column lock failed and stranded consumer. This is a well known issue in the 2007 328XI and the manufacturer has done nothing other than force the consumer to make expensive repair/replacement of an obvious manufacturing/engineering flaw.”

    NHTSA complaint #10616859, filed 2014-07, 110,000 miles
  5. Engine

    Stalling or sudden power loss while driving

    Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the engine shutting off or losing power without warning, at times on the highway or while pulling away from a stop. Owners report fuel pump replacement, fuel sensor replacement, or a fuse box replacement as attempted fixes, with the cause sometimes remaining undiagnosed. A few complaints describe a delay when accelerating from a stop after braking. Reported from about 25,000 to 110,000 miles.

    What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or no-start events and fuel pump or fuse box work, and have a mechanic check for stored fault codes and service campaign status before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a complaint/situation with my 2007 Bmw 328ix sedan. Bmw refuses to repair at their cost a significant life safety fuel problem. On august 1, 2014 while driving along a paved street in pullman washington, the cars engine abruptly shut down without warning. I was barely able to get the vehicle off the road. I had the vehicle towed to camp Bmw in spokane washington for examination and repair. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10621163, filed 2014-08, 110,000 miles

    “On november 19, 2017, I was traveled from nyc to lowell, ma. The car experienced of excessive vibration and raddling noise from right front passenger side. I investigated the raddling and vibration issue found that front right engine mount bolts all three bolts snapped without warning. The bolts found to be an aluminum bolts. I believe this bolts should not be an aluminum, because there are a lot of force in this location. I believe an engine mounts should not be allowed with aluminum. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11048516, filed 2017-11, 122,000 miles

Buying note. Check the door locks thoroughly, confirm the passenger airbag indicator behaves correctly with someone in the seat, and look for oil residue around the valve cover; ask for service records on the steering column lock and fuel system. A pre-purchase inspection by a BMW specialist is worthwhile, and it is worth confirming which open recalls and campaigns apply to the specific VIN.

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.

NHTSA recorded 198 consumer complaints for the 2007 BMW 328XI. 140 of the complaints include a mileage, and 27% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 11 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 125 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (6), Body and structure (5), Vehicle speed control (5), Brakes (4), Seats (4), Tires (4), Suspension (3), Wheels (3), Electronic stability control (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Equipment (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “I understand there was a recall for electrical failure on certain Bmw's. Recall 13v044. My vehicle bad a complete electrical failure in early december 2019. It now sits in my garage. Apparently my car was not part of the recall which I cannot understand. It exhibits all the failures indicated in the original recall. Please help”

NHTSA complaint #11291817, filed 2019-12, 104,000 miles

Air bags: “My passenger airbag sensor light for the seat keeps going on I've had this reset twice and it just keeps coming back on and now it does not go off . I was told there was a recall on this about 4 years ago it obviously wasn't fixed.. I was driving this last time when the light came on.”

NHTSA complaint #11129659, filed 2018-09, 150,000 miles

Engine: “The car will not stop over heating and cuts off when in the middle of the highway when I was going 65 MPH I almost wasn't able to make it off the road because I didn't have any power steering when it cut off. I have had the thermostat water pump radiator n hoses and reservoir replaced. And the car still over heats there is a open recall on the car and the dealer hasn't informed me when I can bring it in to be serviced.”

NHTSA complaint #11073528, filed 2018-02, 89,647 miles

Latches, locks and linkages: “I have a 1999 Bmw 328i that I purchased in 2005 for $25,000 I just purchased a 2007 Bmw 328XI on may with 54k miles on 11/1/10 it turned out that I bought a $35,000 death trap with the doors not opening or the gas tank to take it to the dealership so now it just sits there in my driveway. My 1999 with still does that same problem but off and on not like this 2007 death trap. I'm never ever buying a Bmw again.”

NHTSA complaint #10364290, filed 2010-11, 56,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

27% of the 140 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 48,000 and 95,000 miles.

3%0–104%10–2520%25–5024%50–7528%75–10016%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (140 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’10’13’1628’19’22’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2007 BMW 328XI. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
3 Series · wagon w/sab RWDnot rated4 / 4———
3 Series · sedan (side air bags) RWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2007 BMW 328XI version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
328xi 4WD/AWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual172620$4,100
328xi 4WD/AWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172520$4,100
328xi Sport Wagon 4WD/AWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed manual172620$4,100
328xi Sport Wagon 4WD/AWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2007 BMW 328XI → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 125 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 125 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW 328XI

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2015146,9232———Not enough data
20141725,0003———Rising
20132733,1202——42 · TypicalStable
20116779,0003——50 · TypicalStable
20101788,5003———Falling
200911100,0004———Not enough data
20089965,0003—2055 · TypicalFalling
200719870,0004—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2006533,0003———Not enough data

All BMW 328XI model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2007 BMW 328XI?

Owners of the 2007 328XI report door lock actuators that stop responding, leaving doors that can only be opened from the driver's side or through a window, along with frequent oil leaks from the valve cover and oil filter housing area at moderate mileage. The issues reported most often: Door locks won't unlock from inside or remote; Passenger airbag/occupant sensor light stays on; Oil leaks from valve cover and filter housing.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2007 BMW 328XI have?

NHTSA recorded 198 consumer complaints for the 2007 BMW 328XI as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2007 BMW 328XI is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 61 complaints (31% of the total), followed by air bags with 40.

Has the 2007 BMW 328XI been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2007 BMW 328XI get?

The EPA rates the 2007 BMW 328XI (328xi, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2007 BMW 328XI reported?

Among the 140 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,000 miles and the middle half falls between 48,000 and 95,000 miles; 27% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.