Is the 2007 BMW 328i a bad year?
398 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 328i years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 BMW 328i are in line with other 328i years. Electrical system, air bags and steering stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 328i owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 97,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 128 (32%) | 60k–121k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 105 (26%) | 70k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 56 (14%) | 53k–121k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 96 (24%) | 62k–124k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 18 (5%) | 58k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 36 (9%) | 38k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 15 (4%) | 51k–89k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 13 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 97,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 398 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 28 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 19 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was left stranded in a parking lot with the steering wheel lock light showing.
Just finished driving about 10 miles from home to work, about 70 degrees-f outside, sunny, good weather around 11AM.
I purchased a 2007 BMW 328I on 8/6/2011, 59,642 miles. Shortly after this purchase, I experienced this vehicle overheating and losing all power while driving twice in one week, october 25 and october 27, 2011.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 97,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 BMW 328i: 6
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit. 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.
The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat. Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
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. Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
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 connector for the positive battery cable connector and the corresponding terminal on the fuse box may degrade over time. If there is a loss of electrical power to the vehicle, the vehicle may unexpectedly stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from BMW: 97
Repair instructions BMW sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 BMW 328i. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Power Reduction, FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The - Service Engine Soon
N54T engine - inspect and replace injector(S)
65279;Power Reduction, FC 2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC 2A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Faults are Stored in DME
N55 Engine: Various Faults Stored in DME Related to VANOS and Camshaft Position
Neighbouring years
2008 328i: 239 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every BMW 328i year
2000 · 2001 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · All 328i years side by side
Other BMW models: BMW 128i · BMW 135i · BMW 3 Series · BMW 320i · BMW 323i · BMW 325ci · BMW 325i · BMW 325xi · BMW 328d · BMW 328xi · BMW 330ci · BMW 330i · BMW 330xi · BMW 335i · BMW 335xi · BMW 428i · BMW 5 Series · BMW 525i · BMW 528i · BMW 528xi · BMW 530i · BMW 530xi · BMW 535i · BMW 540i · BMW 550i · BMW 750Li · BMW 750i · BMW K1200LT · BMW M3 · BMW R1200 GS · BMW R1200 RT · BMW X1 · BMW X3 · BMW X5 · BMW X6 · BMW X7 · BMW Z4 · BMW i3. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 BMW 328i a bad year?
398 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 328i years. At 97,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 BMW 328i?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (128), air bags (105), steering (56), engine (96), body structure (18).
How many recalls does the 2007 BMW 328i have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 24V-513), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-017), Exhaust (NHTSA 17V-683), Electrical system (NHTSA 17V-676) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.