RoadVitals

2007 BMW 328I Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Oct 26, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 397 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 BMW 328I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 26, 2022
Fire reported

My vehicle caught on fire while parked and unoccupied. Fire started in the engine compartment.

NHTSA ID
11490965
Incident
Oct 25, 2022
Body & structureExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Aug 11, 2021
Crash reported

I was driving just my 3rd day of having my car and i come outside and its wrecked someone hit the driver side front panel and bumper

NHTSA ID
11428705
Incident
Aug 8, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Nov 28, 2020

CHILD SAFETY LOCK WINDOW GET STUCK AND REMAIN STUCK, GLASS WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. THE ROTARY ON THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IS DAMAGED AND I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS RESEARCH TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A BIG COMMUNITY OF FRUSTRATED BMW OWNER WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT BMW IS NOT WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FAIL WINDOW MANUFACTURING ERROR. THIS IS THE REAR CHILD SEAT WINDOW AND IT STUCK. IT HAS STUCK BEFORE AT A PARKING LOT AT WORK AND I HAD TO END UP SEATING THERE TO FOR ALMOST AN HOUR UNTIL IT ROLL UP. THIS TIME IT WILL NOT ROLL UP AND I HAD TO LEAVE THE WINDOW DOWN WHILE PARKING THE CAR AT THE HOSPITAL. PLEASE DO DILIGENCE AND RESEARCH THIS AS MANY OWNER ARE FRUSTRATED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE 700 TO FIX IT!

NHTSA ID
11376840
Incident
Nov 24, 2020
Mileage
171,880 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed May 6, 2020
Fire reported

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. HOWEVER, BEGAN SEEING WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OF ENGINE HOOD. TRIED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OUT TO THE STREET AND MOVED ABOUT 10FT BEFORE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WITHIN 15-30 SECONDS A PLUME OF FIRE ERUPTED OUT OF THE FRONT HOOD THROUGH THE GRILL. WITHIN 3 MINUTES ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND ITS PROXIMITY TO OTHER CARS IN THE LOT CAUSED FIRE DAMAGE TO 4 OTHER VEHICLES. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS INCLUDING ALL POSSESSIONS WITHIN IT. ELECTRONIC LOCKS QUIT WORKING AS SOON AS FIRE STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323581
Incident
Mar 2, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 17, 2017

THE CENTRAL LOCKING FUNCTION STOPPED WORKING. THE UNLOCKING DOES NOT WORK THROUGH THE KEY FOB OR THE CENTRAL UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ONLY THE DRIVERSIDE DOOR IS ABLE TO BE UNLOCKED BY PULLING ON THE INNER DOOR HANDLE. THE OTHER 3 DOORS ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED AND POSE A SEVERE SAFETY RISK. THE FIX PER BMW IS TO REPLACE 15A FUSES WITH 20A. THIS WAS ALREADY DONE TO MY VEHICLE IN THE PAST AND THE PROBLEM HAS APPEARED AGAIN. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT HAS ALSO BEEN A FIX, BUT THAT DOES NOT WORK EITHER.

NHTSA ID
11033971
Incident
Oct 16, 2017
Mileage
143,300 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Sep 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK EVEN AFTER MANUALLY USING THE KEY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10903351
Incident
Sep 2, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 28, 2015

THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THANKFULLY, IT WAS REALIZED IN A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION. AFTER RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE IS POPULAR AMONG THIS YEAR ON THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID
10807294
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
107,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 16, 2015
Fire reported1 injury reported

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH PASSING VEHICLE ALLERTED ME OF FIRE AND SMOKE COMING FROM MY REAR. AS I SLOWED DOWN FLAMES AND SMOKE INCREASED. SMOKE FILLED INTERIOR UPON MY EXITING. REAR FIRE CO0NTINUED TO BURN UNTIL FIRE DEPARTMENT. DOOUSED CAR WITH WATER. POLICE REPORT TAKEN. CAR TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND DECLARED TO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10734437
Incident
Jun 8, 2015
Mileage
148,900 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 2, 2015

THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10669758
Incident
Nov 12, 2013
Mileage
58,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 28, 2014

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 TIME IT WAS TO GET ANYONE TO HELP GET THE DOORS OPEN. THE MOST DANGEROUS DESIGN I'VE EVER HEARD OF. INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT WORK AND NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668571
Incident
Aug 28, 2014
Mileage
68,243 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2014

HI, I THINK, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW HAS TO FIX. MY AUTOMATIC CAR LOCK GETS STUCK AND I CAN ONLY OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN. THE MANUAL LEVER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND BACK DOOR DOESN'T OPEN THE DOOR. MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE STUCK AND SOME HOW MANUALLY THEY CRAWLED OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL AND I WAS WONDERING IF MY SON WAS 20YRS OLD, HOW CAN HE COME THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FROM THE BACK SEAT. BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS NOT RECALLED THE CARS TO FIX THE MANUAL OVERRIDE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER DOESN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628467
Incident
Aug 25, 2014
Mileage
61,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Apr 5, 2014

LOCKED IN CAR DUE TO FAILED DOOR LOCKS. OPENED WINDOW TO ACCESS MANUAL DOOR KEY BUT PASSENGER CRAWLED OVER TO DRIVERS SIDE SINCE THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577595
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
44,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 13, 2014

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 AND SLIDE OUT THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. I WAS SCARED AND FRUSTRATED. IT WAS DARK AND IN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564301
Incident
Feb 13, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Aug 22, 2013

THE DOOR ACTUATOR SYSTEM ON MY 2007 BMW 3281 HAS FAILED TWICE, ONCE LOCKING ME IN AND THE OTHER TIME IMMOBILIZING THE CAR AND STRANDING ME FOR SEVERAL HOURS.I NOTICED THE FIRST FAILURE WHEN I STOPPED FOR GAS & COULD NOT OPEN THE FUEL FLAP. I DROVE TO THE DEALER BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, EITHER ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY, AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT LOWER AND THE OTHER THREE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. FORTUNATELY, THE SUN ROOF WAS NOT ON THE DOOR CIRCUIT & I WAS ABLE TO TOSS OUT THE FOB KEY FOR SOMEONE TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR AND LET ME OUT. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE 15 AMP FUSE IN THE DOOR CIRCUIT WITH A 20 AMP FUSE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. CONCLUSION: THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I DROVE HOME AFTER A STATE INSPECTION. WHEN I PARKED AND HIT THE FOB LOCK BUTTON, I HEARD A MUFFLED NOISE. THE FUSE HAD BLOWN AGAIN. I UNLOCKED THE CAR WITH THE FOB KEY AND AFTER MUCH TIME AND GREAT EFFORT, I INSTALLED A ANOTHER 20 AMP FUSE. BECAUSE THE PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CIRCUIT BLOWS, REPLACING THE FUSE IS VERY DIFFICULT, NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. IT REQUIRES AGILITY, KNOW-HOW, AND GOOD CONDITIONS--NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN COUNT ON IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION: GO BACK TO MECHANICAL LOCKING, ELECTRONIC LOCKING IS A BAD SOLUTION AT LEAST, YOU CAN GET OUT OF THE CAR. SECOND: REQUIRE BMW TO RECALL THE ORIGINAL ACTUATORS AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW DESIGNS THAT, IF THEY TOO FAIL, THEY FAIL IN A DOOR-OPEN MODE. AT THE VERY LEAST, CAR MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO OFFER BUYERS A CHOICE BETWEEN MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC DOOR OPENING. LIVES ARE AT STAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536758
Incident
Feb 3, 2013
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 12, 2012

MODEL: 2007 BMW 328I. THE ELECTRONIC "DOOR ACTUATORS" FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN ANY DOOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. WHEN THESE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS FAIL, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP (WEATHERFORD BMW, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA) EXPLAINED THAT HE NEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED A BULLETIN REGARDING THIS (MEANING THIS IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" TO BMW WITH THIS MODEL CAR! MY QUESTION WAS IF BMW HAS RECEIVED MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, WHY WOULD"NT IT BE RECALLED...HE ADVISED ME THAT ARE NORMALLY PERTAINED TO "SAFETY", WE"LL WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS SITUATION...SAFE? $900.00 WAS MY QUOTE TO HAVE THIS FIXED! RIDICULOUS!!! WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THIS DEFECT BE INVESTIGATED, AND THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BE RECALLED SO THAT THE DEFECT CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE DEATHS OR INJURIES OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10455007
Incident
Apr 11, 2012
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Oct 17, 2011

MY DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO UNLOCK (WITH BOTH THE REMOTE ENTRY AND THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH LOCATED IN THE CAR) WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR USING THE MANUAL KEY TURN. THIS WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430501
Incident
Aug 26, 2011
Mileage
42,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 3, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS ENTRY FUNCTION FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AFFECTED THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS DISALLOWING HIM TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACTUATOR AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,000.

NHTSA ID
10428304
Incident
Oct 1, 2011
Mileage
24,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 24, 2007

WHEN TRYING TO USE THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF- IT TRIES TO PUT ITSELF INTO THE TRUNK WHEN THE TRUNK IS CLOSED. ROOF GETS STUCK 1/2 WAY OPEN AND CLOSED. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. THE ROOF STILL CONTINUES TO TRY TO PUT ITSELF INTO THE TRUNK WITH THE TRUNK CLOSED. ROOF HAS BENT ITSELF TRYING TO PUT ITSELF INTO A CLOSED TRUNK. ROOF HAS BROKEN PARTS AS A RESULT OF ITS ATTEMPT TO PUT CONVERTIBLE ROOF INTO A CLOSED TRUNK. CAR IS INOPERABLE IN THIS CONDITION AS THE ROOF IS NOT SECURE. ANY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR MIGHT CAUSE THE ROOF TO BOUNCE AROUND AS IT IS NOT CONNECTED AND LOCKED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10197361
Incident
Jun 20, 2007
Mileage
7 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .